Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band are known for their lengthy concerts. Though his recorded catalog is splashy enough, one of the main things that helped Springsteen rise to the top was his top-notch live shows. The E Street Band only added to that reputation. Though they have played many long shows, one had to be the longest. Revisit the night Springsteen played a marathon of a concert in 2012.
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Bruce Springsteen’s Longest Show Ever
While you might think the runtime of Springsteen’s shows has only gotten shorter as he’s aged, that’s not true. He played his longest show to date in 2012, in his 60s.
To help close out the European leg of the Wrecking Ball World Tour, Springsteen gave his all to Helsinki, Finland. Playing rarities, an acoustic pre-show, and an extended encore, Springsteen clocked in a 4-hour and 6-minute show. It’s a showing that’s not for the faint of heart. Those in attendance likely suffered fatigue. It’s a wonder Springsteen was able to keep going for that long. However, his reputation as a live performer is formidable for a reason.
Given the way Springsteen has talked about touring in the past, it’s no wonder he plays shows this grand. “That’s why it’s magic, you know…performing is real magic,” Springsteen once said. “You are taking something out of the air, and you are making it physical.” The millions of fans who have seen Springsteen live would likely agree with that descriptor of his shows, “Magic.”
Bruce Springsteen’s Other Record-Breaking Shows
While the Helsinki show is the longest, Springsteen has a few other notable shows that aren’t far behind.
Springsteen’s longest U.S. show happened in 2016 in Philadelphia. This show was just two minutes shorter than the European record holder, just shy of overtaking it. Taking the third spot on the list is a show in his native New Jersey in 2016, which lasted 4 hours and 1 minute. Next is a Swedish date that ran 3 hours and 58 minutes.
Though Springsteen doesn’t hold the record for the longest concert ever (that honor belongs to Kuzhalmannam Ramakrishnan, a South Indian artist who owns the Guinness World Record), he’s made a strong play for it. Few of his peers have been able to pull off shows at this length, especially decades into their careers. Revisit Springsteen’s Helsinki show below.
(Photo by Sergione Infuso/Corbis via Getty Images)
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