Bruce Springsteen won’t be able to perform his remaining September shows due to a digestive illness that requires him to take some time off and get treatment for the rest of the month. The rock legend, who is 73 years old, is dealing with symptoms of peptic ulcer disease, which are open sores that form in the stomach and upper part of the small intestine.
In a message shared on social media, Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band announced the postponement of all their September 2023 performances, starting with the show originally planned for Thursday at the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse, NY. Mr. Springsteen is undergoing treatment for the symptoms of peptic ulcer disease, and based on the advice of his medical team, it’s best for him to reschedule the remaining September shows.
Bruce, famous for hits like “Born to Run” and “Born in the U.S.A.,” expressed his apologies to his fans for the schedule changes, saying, “Over here on E Street, we’re heartbroken to have to postpone these shows.” He specifically mentioned his Philly fans, who missed out a few weeks ago, and assured them that they’d make up for it.
This isn’t the first time Bruce Springsteen had to cancel shows due to health reasons. In mid-August, he missed two performances in Philadelphia because of an undisclosed illness, pushing those dates out to next year.
Besides the Syracuse show, other affected concerts include those in Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Uncasville, Conn.; Albany; Columbus, Ohio; and Washington, D.C., through September 29. Ticketholders will receive information about the rescheduled dates for these postponed shows.
Bruce Springsteen’s three-hour show, featuring classics like “Wrecking Ball,” “Dancing in the Dark,” and “Glory Days,” along with newer tracks like “See You in My Dreams,” has been on the road for eight months beyond its original end date. The tour was set to continue in North America from August 9 to December 12. However, Bruce had already planned to take October off, and now he’ll have an additional month for recovery.
Peptic ulcers are caused when stomach acid erodes the inner lining of the stomach or small intestine. Despite his age, Bruce Springsteen stays in great shape by following a modified diet, which includes only one meal a day, as recommended by his fellow rockers Chris Martin and Tim McGraw.
The band’s next scheduled date is on November 3 in Vancouver, followed by a tour through Canada and the West Coast, including two shows at the Kia Forum in Inglewood on December 4 and 6, before concluding the tour in San Francisco on December 12.
In May, Bruce made headlines when he laughed off an onstage fall in Amsterdam. He tripped on a set of stairs but managed to recover gracefully, guitar in hand. Additionally, the band faced criticism for going ahead with a scheduled arena show in Ferrara, Italy, despite severe rainstorms and flooding in the region, which caused loss of life and landslides. Some locals felt the show was insensitive given the tragedy.