Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band dedicated part of the opening night of their River Tour to David Bowie, sharing some memories of working together in the 1970s and then launching into a performance of the classic "Rebel Rebel."
"Not very many people know this but he supported our music way, way in the very, very beginning. 1973," he told the audience at Pittsburgh's Consol Energy Center. "He rang me up and I visited him in Philly while he was making the Young Americans record. He covered my music, 'Hard to be a Saint in the City.' ... I took the Greyhound bus to Philadelphia, that's how early it was."
Springsteen then launched "Rebel Rebel" from Bowie's 1974 album Diamond Dogs.
Bowie died Jan. 11 of liver cancer, and in the past week artists from Paul McCartney to Lorde and Madonna have paid tribute to his life and broad musical influence. Bowie's latest album, Blackstar, released on his 69th birthday just two days before his death, is now being viewed as his intended goodbye to the world, particularly because of its accompanying emotional music video for "Lazarus."
Springsteen's tour will span 24 dates throughout North America in support of the lbox set reissue of his classic 1980 album The River, titled The Ties That Bind: The River Collection. Fans can expect to hear an "in-sequence, complete performance of The River album in addition to other Springsteen favorites," according to The Boss' official website.
