Mike Marsland/WireImage.comThe E Street Band is back! For the past six months, the future of Bruce Springsteen and his longtime backing band was in doubt following the death of the Big Man, saxophonist Clarence Clemons. However, with rumors of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame crew from Asbury Park plotting something next year, Springsteen and the E Street Band -- guitarists Steven Van Zandt and Nils Lofgren, drummer Max Weinberg, and the rest of the gang -- confirmed this weekend that they would reconvene in 2012 with a new album, their first since 2009's 'Working on a Dream', and a world tour.
"Well, things are starting to heat up down on E Street. A lot of you have been hearing that Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will be on tour in 2012. That is absolutely correct. The European dates run from the middle of May until end of July and are being announced this week. Info on the US dates and the World tour dates will coming up shortly," the band announced on Springsteen's official website. "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."
So far, Bruce and the E Street Band announced four U.K. shows starting on June 21, 2012, including gigs at the Isle of Wight Festival and London's Hard Rock Calling fest. Springsteen himself played a few solo gigs recently in New York and Pittsburgh, his first shows since Clemons' death on June 18th, but these 2012 dates mark his first shows with the E Street Band since 2009. No word yet who, if anyone, will take over on saxophone for the upcoming trek, but expect the tour to pay tribute to Clemons at every stop.