Bruce Springsteen: E Street Will Tour Without Clarence Clemons

After mourning the death of the Big Man, The Boss is ready to rock again

By Josh Grossberg Nov 21, 2011 4:23 PMTags
Clarence Clemons, Bruce SpringsteenDebra L Rothenberg/FilmMagic

Despite the loss of his iconic wingman, Clarence Clemons, Bruce Springsteen is soldiering on.

The Boss confirmed that he and a revamped E Street Band will hit that thunder road again with a 2012 world tour.

"Well, things are starting to heat up down on E Street," he said his official site, Brucespringsteen.net.

The trek will be E Street's first in three years and first without its Big Man, who died last June at age 69 after suffering a stroke. There was no immediate word on how's Clemons' considerable stage presence will be replaced.

Aside from Clemons, the E Street Band is also without original organist and keyboard player Danny Federici, who died in 2008 of melanoma at 58.

The European leg will kick off in May and run through July with a string of stadium and festival appearances. Stops will include a run through the U.K. in June, including a headlining gig at the Isle of Wight Festival. Afterwards, the band is eyeing some U.S. dates, but nothing has been announced.

Even better news?

The E Streeters are currently putting the finishing touches on a new album, which will likely drop next year.

"In addition, we want you to know that the music is almost done (but still untitled), we have almost settled on the release date (but not quite yet), and that we are all incredibly excited about everything that we're planning for 2012. That's all the info we have for right now, but we'll get back to you—real soon," Springsteen said.

The Boss and his buddies last toured in support of 2009's Working on a Dream, which included a widely acclaimed Super Bowl halftime performance.