Bruce Springsteen Plays With Incomplete E Street Band
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Three members of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band were absent from the stage for the Dallas performance, two of whom were suffering from COVID.
Steven Van Zandt on guitar, Soozie Tyrell on violin, and Patti Scialfa, Springsteen’s wife, on vocals, were all absent from their recently-concluded February 10 concert at the American Airlines Center. Despite the incomplete lineup, the show still went on.
Scialfa missed the game for unspecified reasons, while Van Zandt and Tyrell were both suffering from COVID. Tyrell had also skipped the last performance in Hollywood, Florida, while Scialfa had been a sporadic performer on the band’s most recent tour, which had included five performances.
Springsteen addressed the crowd after five songs, saying:
“We got a few members missing tonight. Stevie Van Zandt — COVID! Soozie Tyrell — COVID! Patti Scialfa! But god-damn it, we’re gonna give Dallas the best show they’ve ever seen!”
The concert continued with “Out in the Street” and featured 27 songs total, including the tour debut of “Detroit Medley.” During the performance, Van Zandt responded to a fan tweet regarding his absence by saying:
“Sorry folks. COVID.”
He later added:
“Thank you all for your best wishes and positive vibes. I’ve got a very mild case and hope to be back for Houston or Austin at the latest.”
Asked by another fan if he’d been vaccinated, he replied:
“Totally. And boosted. That’s why it’s a mild case. No real danger or damage.”
The last show was Springsteen’s first live performance with the E Street Band in six years. He previously stated:
“It’s been a while and, you know, I’m just aching to play, to travel and see our fans in all our different cities and feel that life again and see their faces again. And we got an old-school tour planned where we’ll be out there for quite a while and give everybody a chance to see us if they’d like to.
“At 15 it’s all tomorrows. At 73 it’s a lot of goodbyes. That’s why you have to make the most of right now.”
The group’s next concerts are happening on February 14, 16, and 18 in Houston, Austin, and Kansas City, respectively. On July 25, the trek will wrap up in Monza, Italy.
