Bruce Springsteen's health woes from 'dangerous' depression to throat surgery

23 September 2023 , 13:00

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Bruce Springsteen has been open about his health (Image: Getty)

Bruce Springsteen admitted he was "heartbroken" after being forced to postpone his September shows with E Street Band.

The iconic singer, who is celebrating his 74th birthday today, had to make changes to his touring schedule after falling ill with peptic ulcer disease. The postponed shows have now been rescheduled for 2024.

Bruce, nicknamed The Boss, made the decision to cancel the rest of his shows for this month following advice from medical professionals. In a statement, he thanked fans for their support and promised to return.

Peptic ulcer disease affects the gastrointestinal tract and is caused by the Helicobacter pylori bacteria. It can lead to pain in both the oesophagus and stomach.

Bruce Springsteen was forced to postpone some of his shows (Getty Images)

A source has revealed that, as well as receiving medical advice, Bruce's wife Patti Scialfa and his E Street bandmates urged the musician to delay his tour and focus on "recovery". They were said to fear his health could have "gotten worse" if he didn't take time to recover.

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"Bruce has had a rough couple of years. He's had Covid several times and even had to pull the plug on shows in August due to getting the latest strain," the source said. Bruce and his wife tested positive for Covid-19 in April 2023.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, they also said Bruce's health struggles "took a toll" on his body. The source added that Bruce "hasn't been the same" since undergoing surgery a decade ago.

However, the source insisted that Bruce is still in "amazing shape" and described the postponed shows as a "bump". They also said he is likely to be "back before you know it".

Patti Scialfa urged her husband to focus on his recovery (PA)

This isn't the first time Bruce has suffered from poor health. The Born In The U.S.A hitmaker took a hiatus from touring from 2017 until 2023 after a series of health struggles.

Bruce underwent surgery to alleviate chronic numbness he was experiencing in 2013. The numbness had affected his ability to play guitar and was caused by damaged disks in his neck.

While the surgery didn't directly aim to treat his throat, it did result in his throat being cut open. His vocal cords, which are key for his career, were tied off so that doctors could put a new disk in.

He told Vanity Fair that he was unable to sing for three months. When asked how he felt, Bruce said: "A little nerve-racking. But it's been very successful for me."

Bruce has been very open about his health (AFP via Getty Images)

The singer has also been very open about his mental health struggles, describing his depression as "dangerous". Bruce revealed he had a series of mental breakdowns throughout his life, the first happening when he was 32 years old.

He had been driving from New York to Los Angeles with a friend after the release of his album Nebraska. During the drive, Bruce felt an unnerving response to the ordinary site of people holding hands and a band playing.

Speaking to Esquire, he said he suffered from "agitated depression" and described feeling like "an observer... away from the normal messiness of living and loving." The musician told the publication that he doesn't know what had triggered his feelings of emptiness, but he suggested they could be from repressed trauma from bad relationships during his childhood.

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Bruce also revealed his family had a history of mental health problems. "We have to watch, in our family. I have to watch my kids, and I’ve been lucky there. It ran in my family going way before my dad," he explained.

Bruce's dad, Douglas Frederick Springsteen, was a World War II veteran. He suffered from PTSD and was diagnosed with schizophrenia.

If you are in the UK and you're experiencing a mental health problem, you can call SANEline on 0300 304 7000 (4.30pm–10.30pm every day). If you or someone you know is struggling or in the US, call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also reach Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.

Scarlett O'Toole