Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Bruce Springsteen
How Bruce Springsteen built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Bruce Springsteen, nicknamed "the Boss", is an American rock singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He is a pioneer of heartland rock, known for his poetic, socially conscious lyrics reflecting working-class American life. Springsteen has released 21 studio albums over six decades, most with his E Street Band. He's also famous for his high-energy, lengthy concerts.
May 22, 1974: Jon Landau praises Springsteen
On May 22, 1974, music critic Jon Landau declared after seeing Bruce Springsteen perform at the Harvard Square Theater that he had seen "rock and roll future, and its name is Bruce Springsteen" in an issue of Boston's The Real Paper.
July 20, 1975: Born to Run mixing completed
The mixing for the album Born to Run was completed on July 20, 1975, just before Bruce Springsteen began a concert tour.
August 1975: Born to Run Album Release
In August 1975, Bruce Springsteen released "Born to Run", which became a breakthrough album propelling him to worldwide fame. The album peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart and was eventually certified seven times platinum in the US.
October 1975: Springsteen on covers of Newsweek and Time
In October 1975, Bruce Springsteen appeared on the covers of both Newsweek and Time magazines in the same week. The resulting media attention led to a backlash, as critics questioned the authenticity of Springsteen's success.
1975: Springsteen on the Cover of Time
In 1975, Bruce Springsteen appeared on the cover of Time magazine, marking a turning point after which the government started paying attention to his taxes.
1976: Compositions for Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes
Between 1976 and 1978, Bruce Springsteen contributed four compositions to Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, including "The Fever" and "Hearts of Stone", and collaborated on four more with Steven Van Zandt, the producer of their first three albums.
May 1977: Settlement with Appel
In May 1977, Bruce Springsteen reached a settlement with Mike Appel, his former manager. This allowed Springsteen to return to the recording studio after a nearly year-long absence, leading to the creation of the album Darkness on the Edge of Town.
1977: Manfred Mann's Earth Band has a No. 1 hit with "Blinded by the Light"
In early 1977, Manfred Mann's Earth Band reached U.S. No. 1 with a rearranged version of Bruce Springsteen's "Blinded by the Light", showcasing Springsteen's songwriting ability to provide hits for other bands.
June 1978: Darkness on the Edge of Town release
In June 1978, Bruce Springsteen released "Darkness on the Edge of Town". While it sold fewer copies than its predecessor, it remained on the Billboard chart for 167 weeks and sold three million copies in the U.S. The Darkness Tour was Springsteen's largest up to that point.
1978: Patti Smith reaches No. 13 with "Because the Night"
In 1978, Patti Smith reached No. 13 with her version of Bruce Springsteen's unreleased song "Because the Night", for which she revised the lyrics. This solidified Springsteen's reputation as a songwriter whose work could be successful for other artists.
September 1979: Springsteen joins Musicians United for Safe Energy
In September 1979, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band participated in the Musicians United for Safe Energy anti-nuclear power collective at Madison Square Garden for two nights. They premiered two songs from his upcoming album, marking Springsteen's first official live recordings and footage, as well as his initial foray into political involvement.
1979: The Pointer Sisters hit No. 2 with "Fire"
In 1979, The Pointer Sisters achieved No. 2 on the charts with Bruce Springsteen's then unreleased song "Fire", demonstrating Springsteen's influence as a songwriter for other artists.
October 1980: The River Album Release
In October 1980, Bruce Springsteen released "The River", which became his biggest and fastest-selling album yet, topping the U.S. Billboard chart. The single "Hungry Heart" became his first top ten single, reaching number five.
September 1982: Nebraska Album Release
In September 1982, Bruce Springsteen released the folk-inspired solo album Nebraska, a collection of demo recordings chronicling dark hardships and bleak tales. Despite minimal sales compared to previous albums, it reached No. 3 on the Billboard chart and was praised by critics as a brave artistic statement.
1984: Release of Born in the U.S.A.
In 1984, Bruce Springsteen released the album Born in the U.S.A., which sold 30 million copies worldwide. The title track became a commentary on the treatment of Vietnam veterans and had a significant political impact.
1984: Political interpretation of Born in the U.S.A.
In 1984, Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the U.S.A." became the subject of political discussion during the presidential campaign. Ronald Reagan mentioned Springsteen in a campaign rally, prompting Springsteen to play "Johnny 99" at a concert, alluding to factory closures and criminals.
August 10, 1985: Springsteen's albums chart simultaneously in the UK
From June 15 to August 10, 1985, Bruce Springsteen achieved a record-breaking feat in the UK, with all seven of his albums charting simultaneously. This marked the first time an artist had their entire back catalog on the UK Albums Chart at once.
1985: Springsteen plays on "We Are the World"
In 1985, Bruce Springsteen participated in the "We Are the World" song and album. Additionally, his live cover of Jimmy Cliff's "Trapped" received significant airplay and reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top Rock Tracks chart.
1986: Release of Live/1975-85 box set
Near the end of 1986, Bruce Springsteen released the Live/1975–85 box set. It debuted at No. 1 on the U.S. album charts, becoming the first box set to do so. The album sold 13 million units in the U.S. and during the 1980s, several Springsteen fanzines were launched, including Backstreets magazine.
October 1987: Release of Tunnel of Love
In October 1987, Bruce Springsteen released "Tunnel of Love", a more introspective album. It reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200, showing his success at experimenting with sound.
July 19, 1988: Springsteen concert in East Germany
On July 19, 1988, Bruce Springsteen performed a concert in East Germany that attracted 300,000 spectators. The concert, which journalist Erik Kirschbaum called "the most important rock concert ever, anywhere", catalyzed opposition to the regime and contributed to the fall of the Berlin Wall.
October 1989: Dissolution of the E Street Band
In October 1989, Bruce Springsteen dissolved the E Street Band, marking a significant shift in his career.
1992: Release of Human Touch and Lucky Town
In 1992, Bruce Springsteen released two albums simultaneously: Human Touch and Lucky Town. This followed his move to Los Angeles and collaborations with session musicians, which risked accusations of "going Hollywood".
1994: Springsteen wins an Academy Award
In 1994, Bruce Springsteen won an Academy Award for his song "Streets of Philadelphia", which was featured in the film Philadelphia.
1995: Original Recording of "High Hopes"
In 1995, Bruce Springsteen originally recorded the song "High Hopes", which was later re-recorded and released as a single and video in January 2014.
1995: Release of "The Ghost of Tom Joad" album
In 1995, Bruce Springsteen released his second folk album, "The Ghost of Tom Joad". The album was inspired by John Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath" and "Journey to Nowhere: The Saga of the New Underclass", a book by Dale Maharidge and Michael Williamson. The album received mixed reviews and was followed by a small-venue solo acoustic tour.
April 1996: Springsteen on LGBT Rights
In an April 1996 interview with The Advocate, Bruce Springsteen voiced his support for LGBT rights, emphasizing the importance of societal acceptance through social rituals like marriage.
1998: Release of "Tracks" box set
In 1998, Bruce Springsteen released the four-disc box set of outtakes, "Tracks". This release followed Springsteen's move back to New Jersey with his family after his tour.
1999: Reunion Tour Begins
In 1999, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band reunited and began their extensive Reunion Tour, which lasted over a year. A new controversial song, "American Skin (41 Shots)" was played at these shows.
1999: Induction into Songwriters and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
In 1999, Bruce Springsteen was inducted into both the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, recognizing his significant contributions to music.
1999: Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
In 1999, Bruce Springsteen was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Bono, the lead singer of U2. This event marks a significant recognition of Springsteen's career and contributions to rock music.
2000: Release of "Springsteen & I" Documentary in 2000 movie theaters
In late July 2013, the documentary "Springsteen & I", was released simultaneously via a worldwide cinema broadcast in over 2000 movie theaters.
2002: Saturday Night Live Appearance
In 2002, Bruce Springsteen appeared on Saturday Night Live.
2002: Release of "The Rising" Album
In 2002, Bruce Springsteen released "The Rising", his first studio effort with the full E Street Band in 18 years. The album, produced by Brendan O'Brien, reflected on the September 11 attacks and was a critical and popular success, followed by The Rising Tour.
2003: Grammy Awards for "The Rising"
In 2003, Bruce Springsteen's album "The Rising" won the Grammy for Best Rock Album and was nominated for Album of the Year at the 45th Annual Grammy Awards. The song "The Rising" also won Grammys for Best Rock Song and Best Male Rock Vocal Performance, and was nominated for Song of the Year. He also performed "London Calling" at the ceremony.
2003: Last tour with E Street Band until Magic Tour
In 2003, the last tour with the E Street Band until the Magic Tour
2004: Vote for Change Tour Participation
In 2004, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band participated in the Vote for Change tour, alongside other musicians, in support of political change.
April 2005: Release of "Devils & Dust" Album
In April 2005, Bruce Springsteen released the solo record "Devils & Dust", a low-key, mostly acoustic album in the vein of "Nebraska" and "The Ghost of Tom Joad". The title track addressed the feelings of soldiers during the Iraq War, and the album topped charts in ten countries. The Devils & Dust Tour began at the same time as the album's release.
2005: Returning the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Favor
In 2005, Bruce Springsteen returned the favor by inducting Bono, the lead singer of U2, into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
April 2006: Release of "We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions"
In April 2006, Bruce Springsteen released "We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions", an American roots music project featuring 15 songs popularized by Pete Seeger. A tour began the same month with the Seeger Sessions Band.
October 2007: Release of "Magic" Album
In October 2007, Bruce Springsteen released "Magic", recorded with the E Street Band. The album had 10 new songs plus "Long Walk Home" and a hidden track, "Terry's Song", a tribute to Terry Magovern. "Magic" debuted at No. 1 in the U.S., Ireland and the UK.
April 2008: Springsteen Endorses Barack Obama
In April 2008, Bruce Springsteen announced his endorsement of Barack Obama for president and participated in rallies supporting Obama's campaign, advocating for truth, job opportunities, education, and dignity for all Americans.
2008: Support for Barack Obama's presidential campaign
Throughout 2008, Bruce Springsteen supported Barack Obama's presidential campaign with solo acoustic performances. He debuted the song "Working on a Dream" at a November 2 rally in a duet with Patti Scialfa. After Obama's victory on November 4, Springsteen's "The Rising" was played after Obama's victory speech.
January 11, 2009: Golden Globe Award for "The Wrestler"
On January 11, 2009, Bruce Springsteen won the Golden Globe Award for Best Song for "The Wrestler", from the Darren Aronofsky film of the same name. He provided the song for free after receiving a letter from Mickey Rourke.
January 2009: Release of "Working on a Dream" Album
In January 2009, Bruce Springsteen released "Working on a Dream", dedicated to Danny Federici. The album release was followed by the Working on a Dream Tour.
January 18, 2009: Performance at Obama Inaugural Celebration
On January 18, 2009, Bruce Springsteen was the musical opener for the Obama Inaugural Celebration. He performed "The Rising" with an all-female choir and later performed Woody Guthrie's "This Land Is Your Land" with Pete Seeger.
February 1, 2009: Super Bowl XLIII Halftime Performance
On February 1, 2009, Bruce Springsteen performed at the halftime show at Super Bowl XLIII. His 12-minute 45-second set included abbreviated renditions of "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out", "Born to Run", "Working on a Dream", and "Glory Days".
November 2009: End of Working on a Dream Tour
In November 2009, Bruce Springsteen's Working on a Dream Tour came to an end. The band performed five final shows at Giants Stadium, opening with a new song "Wrecking Ball".
December 6, 2009: Kennedy Center Honors
On December 6, 2009, Bruce Springsteen received the Kennedy Center Honors. President Obama gave a speech recognizing Springsteen's incorporation of regular Americans' lives into his songs.
2009: Tied with Elvis Presley for third most No. 1 albums of all time
As of 2009, Wrecking Ball became Springsteen's tenth No. 1 album in the U.S., tying him with Elvis Presley for third most No. 1 albums of all time, behind the Beatles (19) and Jay Z (12).
2009: Springsteen Supports Gay Marriage on Website
In 2009, Bruce Springsteen posted a statement on his website supporting gay marriage and agreeing with Governor Corzine that marriage equality is a civil rights issue.
2009: Springsteen Receives Kennedy Center Honors
In 2009, Bruce Springsteen received the Kennedy Center Honors, a prestigious award recognizing lifetime achievement in the performing arts.
March 2012: Release of "Wrecking Ball" Album
In March 2012, Bruce Springsteen released his 17th studio album, "Wrecking Ball". The album features eleven tracks plus two bonus tracks, and it became Springsteen's tenth No. 1 album in the U.S., tying him with Elvis Presley.
July 31, 2012: Longest Concert Ever
On July 31, 2012, Bruce Springsteen performed his longest concert ever in Helsinki, Finland, lasting four hours and six minutes with 33 songs. The concert occurred during the Wrecking Ball Tour.
2012: Springsteen Campaigns for Obama's Re-election
Despite earlier saying he would sit out the 2012 presidential election, Bruce Springsteen campaigned for Barack Obama's re-election, signifying continued support for Obama's policies.
2012: "We Take Care of Our Own" used by Obama
In 2012, "We Take Care of Our Own" by Bruce Springsteen was used as one of Barack Obama's theme songs.
2012: Campaigning for Barack Obama's Re-election
In 2012, Bruce Springsteen campaigned for President Barack Obama's re-election, appearing and performing at Obama rallies in multiple states, performing a short acoustic set that included a newly written song titled "Forward".
2012: Springsteen Supports Gay Marriage Ad Campaign
In 2012, Bruce Springsteen lent his support to a gay marriage ad campaign called "The Four 2012", urging support for equal treatment of gay and lesbian individuals.
2012: Billboard Touring Awards Top Draw
In 2012, the Wrecking Ball Tour was named Top Draw by the Billboard Touring Awards for having the highest attendance of any tour that year. Springsteen was second only to Madonna as the top money maker of 2012, with $33.44 million. The Wrecking Ball album was nominated for three Grammy Awards.
July 2013: Release of "Springsteen & I" Documentary
In late July 2013, the documentary "Springsteen & I", directed by Baillie Walsh and produced by Ridley Scott, was released simultaneously via a worldwide cinema broadcast.
2013: Springsteen Named MusiCares Person of the Year
In 2013, Bruce Springsteen was named MusiCares Person of the Year, an honor recognizing his artistic achievements and philanthropic efforts.
January 2014: Release of "High Hopes" Album
In January 2014, Bruce Springsteen released his eighteenth studio album, "High Hopes". The first single and video were of a newly recorded version of the song "High Hopes". "High Hopes" became Springsteen's eleventh No. 1 album in the US.
August 6, 2015: Performance on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
On August 6, 2015, Bruce Springsteen performed "Land of Hope and Dreams" and "Born to Run" on the final episode of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.
November 2015: Performance of "American Skin (41 Shots)" with John Legend
In November 2015, Bruce Springsteen performed "American Skin (41 Shots)" with John Legend at Shining a Light: A Concert for Progress on Race in America.
December 19, 2015: Appearance on Saturday Night Live
On December 19, 2015, Bruce Springsteen made his first appearance on Saturday Night Live since 2002, performing "Meet Me in the City", "The Ties That Bind", and "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town".
January 2016: The River Tour 2016 Begins
In January 2016, Bruce Springsteen began The River Tour 2016 in support of The Ties That Bind: The River Collection box set. All first-leg shows in North America included an in-sequence performance of the entire The River album.
April 2016: Springsteen Cancels Show to Protest North Carolina's 'Bathroom Law'
In April 2016, Bruce Springsteen cancelled a show in Greensboro, North Carolina, to protest the state's Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act, also known as the 'bathroom law', which restricted transgender people's restroom access.
April 2016: Boycott of North Carolina's anti-transgender bathroom bill
In April 2016, Bruce Springsteen was one of the first artists to boycott North Carolina's anti-transgender bathroom bill, showing his stance on social issues.
2016: Springsteen Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom
In 2016, Bruce Springsteen was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama, recognizing his significant contributions to American culture.
2017: Springsteen Celebrates Women's March
During a 2017 show in Perth, Australia, Bruce Springsteen celebrated the post-inauguration Women's March and expressed support for the marchers' goals, including tolerance, inclusion, and various rights.
October 2019: Springsteen Criticizes Donald Trump
In October 2019, Bruce Springsteen stated that Donald Trump "doesn't have a grasp of the deep meaning of what it means to be an American," criticizing his understanding of American values.
June 2020: Springsteen Calls Trump a "Threat to Our Democracy"
In June 2020, Bruce Springsteen described Donald Trump as a "threat to our democracy", further emphasizing his opposition to Trump's presidency.
October 13, 2020: Springsteen's 'Streets of Philadelphia' Featured in Anti-Trump Video
On October 13, 2020, Don Winslow released a video critical of Donald Trump, featuring Bruce Springsteen's song "Streets of Philadelphia", during Trump's campaign event in Pennsylvania.
May 2021: Springsteen Receives Woody Guthrie Prize
In May 2021, Bruce Springsteen was awarded the Woody Guthrie Prize, honoring his advocacy for social justice and continuation of the folk singer's legacy.
March 2023: Springsteen Awarded National Medal of Arts
In March 2023, Bruce Springsteen was awarded the 2021 National Medal of Arts by President Joe Biden at the White House, recognizing his contribution to the arts.
March 2024: Announcement of Academy Fellowship
In March 2024, it was announced that Bruce Springsteen would be named an Academy Fellow by The Ivors Academy in May 2024.
May 2024: Springsteen Named Academy Fellow
In May 2024, Bruce Springsteen was named an Academy Fellow by The Ivors Academy.
May 23, 2024: Springsteen Inducted into The Ivors Academy Fellowship
On May 23, 2024, Bruce Springsteen became the first international songwriter inducted into The Ivors Academy Fellowship in its 80-year history.
October 3, 2024: Springsteen Endorses Kamala Harris
On October 3, 2024, Bruce Springsteen endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 United States presidential election.
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