Following a decade-long hiatus, Bruce Springsteen and the iconic E Street Band reunited in 1999, marking a historic moment captured in the HBO special, DVD, and album “Live in New York City.” This reunion ignited a new era of consistent touring for Springsteen, predominantly alongside the beloved E Street Band members. Their journey together has been punctuated by remarkable tours, including the impactful 2004 Vote for Change benefit tour and the record-breaking 2002 Rising Tour, which featured an astounding 10 nights at Giants Stadium. The momentum continued with the Wrecking Ball World Tour in 2012 and The River Tour in 2016, both achieving the pinnacle of success as the highest-grossing tours of their respective years.
Renowned globally for their unparalleled live performances, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band’s 2023 international tour represented their eagerly awaited return to the stage since the conclusion of the monumental River Tour in 2017. That 14-month tour had been celebrated as 2016’s top global tour by both Billboard and Pollstar, setting an incredibly high bar. The 2023 tour commenced in February with a series of electrifying U.S. arena dates and expanded to Europe, bolstered by the dynamic energy of the E Street Horns and the soulful harmonies of the E Street Choir. The European leg alone sold over 1.6 million tickets, garnering widespread critical acclaim and solidifying their status as live performance legends. Billboard hailed their shows as “the greatest show on earth,” while The Daily Telegraph proclaimed it “one of the greatest shows ever,” echoed by five-star reviews from prestigious publications such as The Times, The Independent, and NME.
As summer drew to a close, the band’s first U.S. stadium show in seven years at Chicago’s Wrigley Field was met with rapturous praise. The Chicago Tribune described it as “something without equal,” and The Chicago Sun-Times lauded it as one of “Wrigley Field’s brightest moments.” A triumphant three-night homecoming at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey over Labor Day weekend further cemented their legendary status. Salon characterized these performances as “blistering and time-eclipsing,” and Rolling Stone captured the essence of the experience as “a joyous affair where nobody felt like saying goodbye,” underscoring the enduring bond between Bruce Springsteen, the E Street Band members, and their devoted fans.
