Sad Day on E Street: Danny Federici to Leave Bruce Springsteen Tour for Health Reasons

At the conclusion of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band's November 19th show in Boston, the musicians bid an emotional onstage farewell to one of their own: keyboardist Danny Federici, who will be taking a leave of absence from the tour to receive treatment for melanoma. "Danny is one of the pillars of our sound," Springsteen said in a statement the next day, as the band prepared to launch the European leg of the Magic tour. "We all eagerly await his healthy and speedy return."

Charlie Giordano, who played keyboard for Springsteen on the 2006 Seeger Sessions album and tour, will substitute for Federici, who began playing with Springsteen in Asbury Park, New Jersey, in the late Sixties. During the Boston show, the band gave Federici the spotlight on "Kitty's Back" and "4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)." Also included were "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out" and "The E Street Shuffle," two of Springsteen's tributes to his backing band's brotherhood. Federici, Springsteen noted in his statement, "has played beside me as a great friend for more than forty years." Live footage from the E Street Band's emotional farewell to Federici two nights ago, along with the band's 2008 tour itinerary, is below.

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band 2008 Tour Dates

February 28 - Hartford, CT - HCC Arena
March 2 - Montreal, Quebec - Bell Centre
March 3 - Hamilton, Ontario - Copps Coliseum
March 6 - Rochester, NY - Blue Cross Arena
March 7 - Buffalo, NY - HSBC Arena
March 10 - Hempstead, NY - Nassau Coliseum
March 14 - Omaha, NE - Quest Center
March 16 - St. Paul, MN - Xcel Center
March 17 - Milwaukee, WI - Bradley Center
March 20 - Indianapolis, IN - Canseco Center
March 22 - Cincinnati, OH - U.S. Bank Arena
March 24 - Columbus, OH - Schottenstein Center
March 28 - Portland, OR - The Rose Garden
March 29 - Seattle, WA - Key Arena
March 31 - Vancouver, British Columbia - GM Place
April 4 - Sacramento, CA - Arco Arena
April 5 - San Jose, CA - HPPavillion at San Jose
April 7, 8 - Anaheim, CA - Honda Center
April 13 - Dallas, TX - TBA
April 14 - Houston, TX - TBA
April 18 - Ft Lauderdale, FL - Bank Atlantic Center
April 19 - Orlando, FL - Amway Arena
April 21 - Tampa, FL - St. Pete Times Forum
April 25 - Atlanta, GA - Philips Arena
April 27 - Charlotte, NC - Charlotte Bobcat Arena
April 28 - Greensboro, NC - Greensboro Coliseum
April 30 - Charlottesville, VA - John Paul Jones Arena

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Song Stories

“Youth Knows No Pain”

Lykke Li | 2011

“Like on 'Youth Knows No Pain' — we are the ones that should demonstrate, because we can take it,” Likke Li said. “We can pierce ourselves, take Ecstasy, dance all night and still go to work at our McDonald's jobs.” Despite the hedonistic sentiment in the song, the Swedish singer also admitted in hindsight her youth had repercussions. “I remember when I was 18-19 and feeling that I know it all,” Li said. “I always feel that I know it all. But that song is about realizing you don’t, and reflecting, ‘Boy, if I only knew what would follow.’”

More Song Stories entries »

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