A legendary rocker is back doing what he does best after a health-related hiatus.
But when pictures emerged from the American musician’s comeback concert in Arizona, some fans were left stunned by his transformation.
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band kicked off their 2024 tour in Phoenix, Arizona on Tuesday night.
It was Springsteen’s first concert after being diagnosed last year with peptic ulcer disease, a condition in which ulcers form in the oesophagus, stomach or small intestine.
When footage of Springsteen on stage in Arizona made its way online, some fans were confused.
The noticeably thinner rocker sported cropped hair that, at first glance, looked like it had been dyed peroxide blonde.
He wore a shirt unbuttoned down to the chest, showing off some impressive pectoral muscles.
Several people thought, at first look, that Springsteen was actually a famous English actress.
“That’s Tilda Swinton,” one person wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Another fan said Springsteen looked like talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, while a third claimed the rocker looked like former soccer player Megan Rapinoe.
“Who is this?” wrote another.
However, other images taken from the concert show that Springsteen’s hair isn’t blonde — he’s just let it go silver-grey.
And whilst the 74-year-old has clearly lost weight, it seems he hasn’t lost his ability to wow his fans.
As the picture of Springsteen with his shirt unbuttoned did the rounds online, fans said he was “still hot”.
“The Boss is Bossing,” one fan wrote.
“Oh my!” gushed another.
“We have all just fainted.”
“Still hot! Gotta listen to Dancing in the Dark now!” said a third.
But not everyone was a fan.
“Oh, dear god. Please button this shirt,” one X user wrote.
Overall, however, the online response from fans to Springsteen’s first show in 2024 was ecstatic.
It was a welcome return to the stage after Springsteen announced in September that he was being treated for peptic ulcer disease.
“Bruce Springsteen has continued to recover steadily from peptic ulcer disease over the past few weeks and will continue treatment through the rest of the year on doctor’s advice,” a statement posted to X read.
“With this in mind, and out of an abundance of caution, all remaining 2023 tour dates for Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band will be postponed until 2024.”
Bruce Springsteen’s statement in September 2023. Credit: X/Bruce Springsteen
Springsteen ended the announcement with a personal message, writing, “Thanks to all my friends and fans for your good wishes, encouragement, and support. I’m on the mend and can’t wait to see you all next year.”
Now that time has come.
“He’s back out there!” one fan gushed as concert footage began appearing online.
“OMGOODNESS!!! These videos are FABULOUS!!” said another.
“Thank you for sharing!!”
“The sun is out, birds are singing, and the mighty mighty E-Street Band is back where it belongs again — on tour,” added a third.
“It’s a good day in the world.”
