Bruce Springsteen in July 2023.Photo:Sergione Infuso/Corbis via Getty Images
Sergione Infuso/Corbis via Getty Images
Bruce Springsteenistougher than the rest!
The 74-year-old singer-songwriter is in “great shape” amid his recovery from peptic ulcer disease, E Street Band memberSteven Van Zandttold PEOPLE at the 2023Rock & Roll Hall of Fameinduction ceremony on Friday.
The legendary guitarist, 72, says he and the rest of Springsteen’s legendary backing band are excited to hit the road again soon.
“We’re gonna come back stronger than ever in March,” he tells PEOPLE.
Bruce Springsteen and Steven Van Zandt in May 2023.Euan Cherry/Getty Images
Euan Cherry/Getty Images
“It was a very, very intense first six months ofthe tour— maybe our most intense ever,” he adds. “And so we’re gonna come back with that same intensity, and it’s gonna be great.”
Van Zandt also says that Springsteen and the E Street Band’s enduring intensity on stage is a “wonderful” thing.
“Well, it’s wonderful, isn’t it? Because we were gone for seven years. So, you know, we weren’t really sure what was gonna happen,” he says. “It could have been like, ‘E Street who?’”
Bruce Springsteen (left) and Steven Van Zandt (right).Michael Putland/Getty
Michael Putland/Getty
“But we came back stronger than ever in terms of the business, in terms of enthusiasm. Everything sold out immediately,” the E Street Band icon continues. “So it was a wonderful surprise and, I think, just a tribute to the craft.”
He adds, “We spent so much time learning that craft, and Bruce’s songs just hold up so well.”
“And look [at] what’s happening this week, in the past two weeks. We had anew Rolling Stones record, anew Beatles record… It just shows that people who work on their craft tend to last a while,” he finishes.
Van Zandt’s health update about Springsteen comes weeks after the “Born in the U.S.A.” singerannounced in late Septemberthat he was in the midst of treatment for peptic ulcer disease, and waspushing back the remainder of his 2023 tour datesas a result.
Springsteenshared an update about his recovery from the painful stomach illnessin mid-October on his SiriusXM E Street Radio show,From My Home to Yours.
Later in the show, he expressed gratitude for his fans’ support in the wake of the concert postponements, and said that his painful condition has been a “monster” to deal with.
Bruce Springsteen and Steven Van Zandt in July 2023.Matthew Baker/Getty Images
Matthew Baker/Getty Images
Upon announcing his illness, Springsteen said he was “heartbroken” to have to push back his September concerts, but promised that he and the E Street Band would be “back to pick these shows up" — “and then some.”
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The 2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is available to stream on Disney+. ABC will air a special featuring performance highlights and standout moments on Jan. 1 at 8pm ET.
source: people.com
