Bruce Springsteen ‘Vocal Issues’ Lead to Postponed Shows
Bruce Springsteen was forced to postpone three shows over the Memorial Day holiday weekend due to “vocal issues.”
The first show to get postponed was his May 25 show in Marseille. After that postponement, shows in Prague and Milan were added to that list. The following statement was released explaining the postponements:
“Following yesterday’s postponement in Marseille due to vocal issues, further examination and consulting has led doctors to determine that Bruce should not perform for the next ten days. With this in mind, additional postponements are required for Airport Letnany in Prague (originally scheduled for May 28) and San Siro Stadium in Milan (originally scheduled for June 1 and 3). New dates for these shows will be announced shortly. Those wishing a refund will be able to obtain it at their original point of purchase. Bruce is recuperating comfortably, and he and the E Street Band look forward to resuming their hugely successful European stadium tour on June 12 in Madrid at the magnificent Civitas Metropolitan.”
Bruce Springsteen & Peptic Ulcer Disease
The Boss and the E Street Band returned to touring on March 19. The return followed a six-month break from the road due to Springsteen dealing with peptic ulcer disease.
In September 2023, he postponed a handful of tour dates that month in order to receive treatment. Before that, there were sporadic postponements due to a then-undisclosed illness and few details were divulged about said illness.
Weeks later, Springsteen then postponed all remaining 2023 tour dates until 2024. At that time, a statement was released saying, “Bruce Springsteen has continued to recover steadily from peptic ulcer disease over the past few weeks and will continue treatment through the rest of the year on doctor’s advice. With this in mind, and out of an abundance of caution, all remaining 2023 tour dates for Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band will be postponed until 2024.”
Before returning to touring, Springsteen thought he wasn’t going to be able to sing again. He detailed in an interview many of the mental and physical aspects of dealing with peptic ulcer disease. He described how the stress and pain in his diaphragm for about three months was “killing” him. As a result, he “literally couldn’t sing at all.”
Springsteen said, “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.”
