Bruce Springsteen, the "Boss" of rock and roll, stormed Wembley Stadium in July, proving that age is just a number when you have the spirit of a young rebel. The 74-year-old icon, sporting a waistcoat and tie with rolled-up sleeves, delivered a powerhouse performance of rock'n'roll, defying the wear and tear that often plagues veteran musicians.
The night kicked off with "Spirit in the Night," a sleaze rock anthem from his 1973 debut, showcasing Springsteen's enduring energy and spirit. His setlist, a potent mix of classic hits and deeper cuts, showcased the breadth of his career, from the early days of "Greetings from Asbury Park, NJ" to his more reflective later work.
While classic hits like "No Surrender" and "Hungry Heart" were well-received, Springsteen also drew from his lesser-known tracks, injecting them with a raw energy that rivalled the most famous. "Seeds," a track originally left off the 1984 album "Born in the USA," was resurrected as a powerful roadhouse rock anthem. "Ghosts," a 2020 single dedicated to lost rock brothers like E Street legends Clarence Clemons and Danny Federici, was built on a poignant, tumbling melody. Even stark "Nebraska" tracks like "Atlantic City" and "Reason to Believe" were transformed into powerful rock anthems.
Springsteen's 18-strong E Street Band proved to be more than just a backing band; they were a force of nature, delivering unified power and joyous character. Each member shone in their own right, with Nils Lofgren's bluesy guitar solo on "Youngstown" and Roy Bittan's virtuosic piano work on "Racing in the Street" being highlights. Jake Clemons, filling in for his iconic uncle Clarence, delivered a goosebump-inducing sax solo on "Thunder Road."
The Boss himself was a hurricane of energy, captivating the crowd with his raw power and charisma. He even took time to bless a couple who were proposing during the performance of "The Promised Land," handing over his harmonica as a token of good luck.
The performance wasn't without its moments of reflection. "Letter to You" and "Last Man Standing" saw Springsteen grapple with the themes of ageing and mortality, acknowledging the loss of his bandmate George Theiss. In a touching moment, he shared a story about the mementos he holds dear from Theiss, highlighting the enduring impact of friendship and the bittersweet nature of loss.
However, Springsteen's performance ultimately proved that death is not the end. The encore, a raucous, three-hour celebration of rock and roll, featured crowd-pleasing classics like "Badlands," "Bobby Jean," "Dancing in the Dark," and "Born to Run." The night culminated in a rousing "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out" and "Twist and Shout," a defiant refusal to acknowledge any curfew.
Springsteen's final song, the afterlife ballad "I'll See You in My Dreams," served as a poignant reminder that even in the face of mortality, the spirit of music and the love of life endures. As the crowd erupted in cheers, it was clear that Springsteen, the Boss of rock and roll, still rules.
