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Bruce Springsteen Promises “12-Minute Party” as Super Bowl Takes Over Tampa

1/30/09, 4:00 pm EST

Photo: Photo by Gustavo Caballero/WireImage

You’ll have to forgive Tampa if it’s a bit giddy this week. The Bay town is playing host to a week-long carnival of music, beer and (eventually) football that will draw Bruce Springsteen, Faith Hill, Jennifer Hudson, Fall Out Boy, Rihanna, Lil Wayne, Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton and hundreds of thousands of fans.

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals are rumored to be here as well.

Super Bowl XLIII on Sunday will mark the culmination of a week’s worth of late-night parties and afternoon celebrity powderpuff games. Red carpets will sprawl, champagne will be popped and many stages will be rocked. (The first big show went down last night: Fall Out Boy and Rihanna pumped up fans at the Pepsi Smash Super Bowl Bash.) Holding court on the grandest of them all, of course, will be Bruce Springsteen, flanked by his E Street Band for Sunday’s halftime extravaganza (expected to be viewed by close to 100 million). It’s fairly light work for a man who just played Washington’s Lincoln Memorial to mark Barack Obama’s inauguration.

“It was a good warm up,” Springsteen told reporters on Thursday. “You’ll have a lot of crazy football fans, but you won’t have Lincoln staring over your shoulder.”

While the inaugural performance was born of Bruceā€šs activism, Sunday’s showcase grew from more practical thoughts. “We have our mercenary reasons,” Springsteen said, alluding to his new album, Working on a Dream, which hit stores on Tuesday. “Besides our love of football, blah blah blah.”

Further joking about his low football IQ, Springsteen admitted, “When I hear Steelers, I think Terry Bradshaw,” the four-time Super Bowl winning quarterback who played his last game for the team 26 years ago.

The NFL had been courting Springsteen and the E Street Band for years, but Bruce told reporters that the timing never felt right. “This is the year,” he said. “I really believe our band is going through a golden age.”

So what will the rejuvenated E Street Band offer at halftime on Sunday? Fans and oddmakers have been speculating about the set list, but Springsteen would only promise “a 12-minute party.” He also reminded everyone exactly who would be calling the shots.

“Who decides? The boss decides,” Springsteen joked.

Follow our ongoing Super Bowl weekend coverage, and check out the best from our archives in Rolling Stone’s Super Bowl hub.

Related Stories:

Rolling Stone Accidentally Kills Off Bruce Springsteen Super Bowl Betting
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Video: A Short History of Rock Stars in Super Bowl Commercials


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Comments

Insider | 1/30/2009, 4:38 pm EST

I know for a fact that they will be playing abridged versions of these songs in this order:

10th Avenue Freezeout
Born To Run
Working On A Dream
Glory Days

Anonymous | 1/30/2009, 6:18 pm EST

Thanks for spoiling it!

BORN IN THE USA | 1/30/2009, 7:23 pm EST

they better play born in the US of F-ing A

Anonymous | 1/30/2009, 7:38 pm EST

There’s no chance in hell of Born In The USA.

Go read the lyric sheet, and tell me that’s an appropriate choice for the Super Bowl.

Dave | 1/30/2009, 8:03 pm EST

Cadillac Ranch
Rosalita
Dancing in the Dark
Born To Run

rockin poney | 1/30/2009, 8:16 pm EST

what a sell out! this guy has not been the same since the stone pony days. asbury was quite cool then, but now he forgot what a jersey boy is all about. hope he just retires soon ’cause he ain’t no boss.

.... | 1/30/2009, 11:04 pm EST

since the Miami Horns went to Tampa along with Max, I am going to bet that the band will play 10th Ave Freeze-Out… but who knows

The Truth | 1/30/2009, 11:33 pm EST

“Oh…I am sorry, I am sorry, I thought none of you would notice me adding a few more millions to the many millions I already have all of which I earned while pretending to be the musician of the working class!”
What a crock this old greedy crock is!
He got caught, he got called out, and now he says he did not “…screen…” the deal with Wal-Mart as well as he should have. Oh yes Bruce the Multi-Millionaire! What did you not screen so good…the hundred dollar bills or the thousand dollar bills. Or…was it the bag with 30 pieces of silver in it?
Now we know you for who and what you really are ‘Boss’…a Capitalist Self-Serving Wal-Mart buddy.
Born to Run? More like Born to Take!

Montana Liberal | 1/31/2009, 12:21 am EST

Murder Incorporated!
The River!
My Hometown!
Adam Raised a Cain!

OK, or not.

eightball | 1/31/2009, 1:25 am EST

bullshit to insider. he/they wont do that.

Regal | 1/31/2009, 5:09 am EST

This will be the best halftime show ever.

But it will be even better if they pass on playing “Glory Days.” I dunno, that one never really did it for me! Granted they’ve gotta go with the hits, but I’d much rather hear “Dancing in the Dark.”

Mike/Houston,TX. | 1/31/2009, 10:30 am EST

I’ve NEVER understood WHY this Springscam was chosen as the next megastar in Rock. There are much better songwriters and more noteworthy vocalists[JOHN MELLENCAMP] who can actually sing. I’ve watched Bruce jump on one “social wagon” after the other just to make a friggin’ $$$ over the past three decades. He parades himself over his “current social cause” on each album, dumps it after raking in the $$$ dough $$$ from the album and follow up tour, and jumps on the next wagon to rake in more $$$. The Walmart deal was intentional. He is obviously disappointed that he CAN’T WON’T sell 7 Million units in three months like the Eagles have with their deal. [Notice the Bryan Adams deal flopped and his Cd is $5.00 at Walmart?] What Springscam discovered is that people are FINALLY catching on to his hypocracies, self serving scams on the music buying public, and self absorbed, insincere exploitation of social causes he pretends to get caught up in for the moment to profit from. He’s been singing the same song for decades. Wake up people! Retire him – he has more $$$ than any of you will ever see in your entire lifetimes combined. That smile is there to let you know you’re all FOOLS for buying the crap he continues to stuff dowwn your throats while he takes all you hard earned $$$.

iLly | 1/31/2009, 10:35 am EST

Who gives a shit?

washed-out loser | 1/31/2009, 10:47 am EST

This old man needs to stop puking out the same old song year after year. It stinks more each time. No one cares what he will sing! It all stinks!

SpringScam!! | 1/31/2009, 10:53 am EST

Perfect name for this worm! The latest albumn is probably his worst and that is saying a lot. Tired old cliches and blah blah blah… did ACDC help him write this one!? A bunch of old men jumping about like five year olds. What a sickening site! I’d rather watch the commercials.

Mike/Houston,TX. | 1/31/2009, 11:12 am EST

Makes you wonder how much $$$ Columbia/Sony pay Rolling Stone for the continuos Springscam hype and articles they publish daily online and in their news stand version of the magazine. How much $$$ does his record company pay out for the Grammy trophy every year he gets it while more deserving artists should win it instead? Retire him!

Gary Bleetstein - Rumson NJ | 1/31/2009, 1:57 pm EST

He and the Band will play

Born in the USA
Glory Days
Promised Land
Born to Run

sudosurfer | 1/31/2009, 4:55 pm EST

It’s hard to imagine a 12 min. Bruce gig, much less at Super Bowl 1/2 time! I was appalled with the WalMart Deal. How could that happen? I’m off to get the new CD which hasn’t had rave reviews. I must say though, there’s nothing that compares to Bruce & The E-Street Band in concert, and his lyrics will continue to forever rock and touch my soul. I love you, Bruce!

sudosurfer | 1/31/2009, 4:55 pm EST

It’s hard to imagine a 12 min. Bruce gig, much less at Super Bowl 1/2 time! I was appalled with the WalMart Deal. How could that happen? I’m off to get the new CD which hasn’t had rave reviews. I must say though, there’s nothing that compares to Bruce & The E-Street Band in concert, and his lyrics will continue to forever rock and touch my soul. I love you, Bruce!

sudosurfer | 1/31/2009, 4:55 pm EST

It’s hard to imagine a 12 min. Bruce gig, much less at Super Bowl 1/2 time! I was appalled with the WalMart Deal. How could that happen? I’m off to get the new CD which hasn’t had rave reviews. I must say though, there’s nothing that compares to Bruce & The E-Street Band in concert, and his lyrics will continue to forever rock and touch my soul. I love you, Bruce!

Wha? | 1/31/2009, 5:41 pm EST

I am so glad that Bruce Springsteen has made a success of himself and has fulfilled his American Dream. I love spending money on music that I like. I’m not stupid enough yet to think that any artist out there isn’t in it to be a success, financially and artistically.

Amazing | 1/31/2009, 5:49 pm EST

how those who “hate” certain artists cant just ignore them. Here’s a tip. When the clock reads zero at the end of the 2nd quarter, DONT FUCKING WATCH. Ridiculous how much time and venom is wasted.

Lex | 1/31/2009, 7:25 pm EST

Actually the first post from Insider is exactly correct.

kiktback03 | 1/31/2009, 8:57 pm EST

Springsteen is The Boss. I hope they do
10th Ave Freezeout
Thunder Road
The River
Sherry Darling
Anything , anyway Just give’em a show, show ‘em what you’re made of, BRUUCE!!

Anonymous | 1/31/2009, 9:13 pm EST

If the setlist that ‘Insider’ posted is indeed accurate, that would be fine by me. A selection of songs from 3 different decades.

Perhaps 10th Avenue Freezeout, isn’t a song that everybody knows… but it’s catchy as hell, and should go over quite well.

Born To Run never disappoints.

I haven’t heard Working On A Dream yet, but I’m glad he’s brave enough to work a new song into his set. One can be cynical and say he’s strictly playing it to sell copies of the album. But I think it’s more likely that he’s just proud of his new record, and wants a wider audience to hear it.

Glory Days is not really one of my favorites, but it should do well at the Super Bowl. And its got a little bit of a sports theme in it, so it makes sense.

Sure, Bruce has bigger well known ‘hits’ that he could play, like Dancing In The Dark (too mid-tempo for this setting), and Born In The USA (lyrically inappropriate for this kind of gig). But I think this is a decent set, considering he only has 12 minutes.

Lex | 1/31/2009, 9:44 pm EST

The show is great, watched it three times Thursday, can’t wait to see it with 70,000 people in the stadium tommorrow.

Patty | 1/31/2009, 9:55 pm EST

Leave my husband alone all you poor working trash out there! Shut the “you know what” up, dig deep into your pockets, give us your money, take the tarsh we dish out as music, and save up more of your working class money to give us again the next time we come to your town.
Sheeesh….its us who own you, not the other way round. Its you who exist because of us, not the other way round. Its us who are lower-upper class while you are lower-lower class…okay fools…get it straight!

teri | 2/1/2009, 11:43 am EST

screw u washed out loser. you probably dont have half the energy springsteen does and you probably make minimum wage at 7-11.

ron/maple ridge | 2/1/2009, 2:47 pm EST

superbowl fans, what did you turn on your tv for, a 60 minute game or 12 minute rehash of your old favs. come on people, who really cares who plays at halftime, we just want to see a really good and entertaining game. At least in canada we do………..

ron/maple ridge | 2/1/2009, 2:47 pm EST

superbowl fans, what did you turn on your tv for, a 60 minute game or 12 minute rehash of your old favs. come on people, who really cares who plays at halftime, we just want to see a really good and entertaining game. At least in canada we do………..

pepsi_am | 2/1/2009, 3:55 pm EST

Maybe if Canada had any talent in a “so called” Pro football team,they might want to watch a PRO game instead of Bruce..To see how the REAL PRO’s play !!!!!! Canada is good for 2 things..Fresh water and I can’t thing of the other one as of now !!

shilo | 2/1/2009, 3:57 pm EST

Canada SUX !!!

fark em | 2/1/2009, 4:01 pm EST

Bruce never was a singer,all he ever did was scream into a mic. A good band ,,,YES,,but he’s no singer,never was,,,,never will be……You’re a loser if you think he has talent… one day he will pop a few veins in his neck screaming into a microphone !! Get some REAL talent at half time next year…

bruce fan | 2/1/2009, 4:03 pm EST

Well maybe you can get your momma up on stage next year and have a pony hump her backside…. see if she can take that for 12 minutes. LOSER !!

forty 2 skidoo | 2/1/2009, 4:11 pm EST

Hey Mike in Houston,you’re an idiot. Money is money….NO matter how you make it.if some Nazi,skin head,hippie,doo wop,rap stuff out there making $$$$ I dont blame them.sounds like you work at a 7 -11. you’re probably a loser too. Jealousy will get you no where,go find a job that pays well,then come in here and bash Springsteen.

Mike/Houston,TX. | 2/3/2009, 1:23 pm EST

Two degrees and a very lucrative career going – Thank You very much! There are NO 7-11 in Houston…we kicked them out years ago.

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