Bruce Springsteen has shared an update on new material and admitted that he hasn’t written a new song in two years.
The iconic singer-songwriter shared his latest studio album back in 2022. Titled ‘Only The Strong Survive’, it was comprised of covers of famous Soul and R&B tracks, and marked his 21st LP.
Since its release, The Boss has embarked on a huge number of tour dates globally over the past two years, and overcome health issues that left him forced to cancel several shows last year.
He has also become the first international songwriter to receive the Fellow of the Ivors Academy honour, and announced a new Disney+ and Hulu documentary called Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. Set for release tomorrow (October 25), the project is directed by Thom Zimny and promises to offer “the most in-depth look ever at the creation of Springsteen and The E Street Band’s legendary live performances” to date.
Now, despite going through all of these experiences, the singer has claimed that he hasn’t written any new music in two years, and can happily go a long period of time without feeling the need to work on new material.
“Songs don’t come that often,” he reveals in the aforementioned biopic. ‘I’ve gone two years without writing anything.”
As highlighted by Far Out, this struggle to write new tracks is a sharp contrast to the way in which some of his other material came together. Back in 2020, for instance, he revealed that his album at the time ‘Letter To You’ was written in just two weeks. The LP came as a tribute to late bandmate George Theiss.
Although it looks like it may still be a while yet until the singer, songwriter and guitarist announces any new tracks, he has emphasised recently that he has no intention of giving up his touring days any time soon.
Acknowledging rumours that the current live shows scheduled could be his last, he spoke while on stage in Philadelphia in August. “I’m not goin’ anywhere,” he said. “We’ve been around for 50 fuckin’ years, and we ain’t quitting! We ain’t doing no farewell tour bullshit! Jesus Christ! No farewell tour for the E Street Band!”
“Farewell to what? A thousand people screaming your name? Get the hell out. I ain’t going anywhere,” he added.
Springsteen’s affirmation also came after his guitarist Steven Van Zandt teased more shows for the E Street Band, saying: “I don’t see the end anywhere in sight, to be honest, especially in Europe, where we’re bigger than we’ve ever been. I think we can play every summer for evermore, man.
“I love that the Stones are still out there. Because as long as they’re out there, man, we’re still the new kids on the block, right? So I’m good with that.”
Earlier this summer, Springsteen and the E Street Band played two huge concerts at Wembley Stadium in London, which wrapped up the UK/Ireland and European leg of their 2024 tour.
Since then, Springsteen has gone on to endorse Kamala Harris in her presidential campaign, and confirm that he will be performing alongside Barack Obama at upcoming rallies in swing states.
What’s more, he has also added extra dates to his 2025 tour across the UK and Europe, including new gigs in Manchester and Liverpool.
