After a brief hiatus, Bruce Springsteen returned to the stage last week. With a dynamic performance, he captured audiences in Phoenix, Arizona, and electrified fans in Las Vegas. He even delivered a spirited rendition of Elvis Presley’s timeless hit, “Viva Las Vegas.”
In a recent interview, the singer shared insights into his recent health concerns, which led to the postponement of some tour dates. Springsteen also candidly admitted to grappling with uncertainty about whether he would reclaim the spotlight.
Bruce Springsteen was diagnosed with peptic ulcer
Following his recent performance, the 74-year-old told Jim Rotolo, host of Sirius XM’s E Street Radio, that his highly anticipated Springsteen and E Street Band Tour got postponed due to his diagnosis of peptic ulcer disease.
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Springsteen explained that the distressing symptoms of the condition had rendered him unable to perform at his best, particularly impacting his ability to sing. “You sing with your diaphragm. My diaphragm was hurting so badly that when I went to make the effort to sing, it was killing me, you know?” he shared. “So, I literally couldn’t sing at all, you know, and that lasted for two or three months, along with just a myriad of other painful problems.”
Springsteen further opened up about the anxiety he experienced regarding the future of his musical journey despite receiving reassurances from some individuals. He expressed profound gratitude towards the dedicated medical professionals who provided crucial support during this challenging period. “I was, during the course of it, before people told me, ‘Oh no. It’s gonna go away, and you’re gonna be OK,’ you know, you’re thinking like, ‘Hey, am I gonna sing again?’ and you know, this is one of the things I love to do the best, the most, and right now I can’t do it,” he admitted. “At first, nobody was quite saying that, which made me nervous, you know, and at the end of the day, I found some great doctors, and they straightened me out, and I can’t do anything but thank them all.”
While reflecting on his return to the stage in Phoenix, Springsteen found himself overwhelmed with emotion as he recounted the remarkable success of his comeback show. “A wonderful crowd we had, and the band just played great, you know,” Springsteen confessed. “And I thought they might be tired, you might be a little fatigued, you might be a little rusty. No.”