Here the news could be titled: Bruce Springsteen confesses. Is that the popular American rocker has just offered an open heart interview with Howard Sternwhich is to American radio what Bruce is to rock from the mid-1980s to the present day.

head addressed Stern’s microphone and questions and talked about everything from selling his catalog of songs to his memories of Clarence Clemons – the E Street Band’s historic saxophonist- and of those who think of other colleagues, starting with Taylor Swift.

Nothing is accidental, of course. Springsteen appeared on the show to promote his new cover album of soul classics, Only the strongest survivewhich will go on sale (and on streaming platforms) from 11 November.

I sell rock & pop songbooks (gem never taxi), ask for Bruce

Springsteen made headlines in December when he sold his entire catalog of recorded music and publications to Sony Music for an estimated $ 500 million; the deal could be the largest single artist music catalog sale to date.

When Stern asked Springsteen about the deal, he said that, at 73 “it was a matter of time” and he believed Sony would do a good job of taking care of his songs.

“I stumbled upon the luckiest job in the world, because they gave me a fortune for something I would have done for free”Springsteen said.

But Springsteen he’s not going to slow down any time soonto clarify it immediately he could never consider retiring since music is his main muse.

“I can’t imagine it. I mean, if I got to a point where I was disabled or something like that … But until then, I mean, watch Johnny Cash or Pete Seeger. I played with Pete Seeger in Washington at the Obama inauguration, “he said.

“Pete was 91 or 92, he went out and sang This land is your land. So I look at those guys … I don’t know if I’ll be doing three-hour shows when I’m older. But I have so many different types of music that I can play and make. I can do the Broadway show for the rest of my life, one way or another if I want to. “

In therapy

Stern, a therapy fan, asked Springsteen if he had discussed the matter with a therapist. Springsteen admitted that if something went wrong during a three hour set, he would be obsessed with the tour microphone, and even I’ve written notes on how to improve the next program.

“I was using it as a purification ritual,” he said, comparing it to growing up in the Catholic Church by learning about original sin, to explain that it was about “cleaning your soul and mind”.

“Many of the rituals I created myself were purification rituals and I took them too far,” he said, admitting to being a perfectionist.

goodbye friend

He also talked about the death of E Street Band saxophonist Clarence Clemons, who passed away in 2011, revealing that she played a song for him in the hospital.

“I had a feeling he could hear me because he could shake your hand. When I first went to see him (after his stroke), there was a certain response in my voice; as if he clearly felt my presence in the room, it seemed, ”Springsteen said.

“I knew I was going to die, so I brought the guitar and played a song called Land of hope and dreams… It’s about getting to the other side. It’s about life and death. “.

Springsteen continued: “His brother was there. I think Jake, his nephew, was there too. And there was someone else. But it was just a small space … It’s a hymn … It was a song we were playing at the end of the night on tour and It was one of the last songs Clarence and I worked on together on a sax solo. “

Praise to Taylor Swift

Springsteen praised several artists on the show, including guitarist from Rage Against the Machine, Tom Morello and Taylor Swift, of which his daughter, Jessica, is a huge fan. Springsteen listened Midnight from Newark Airport to Colts Neck with her daughter, she said.

“It was great. She’s super talented, an exceptional lyricist,” he said.

As for his writing process, Springsteen said it’s not as simple as putting pencil on paper.

“I don’t have something to say every day. I don’t walk into a room at 11pm and write until 3am or something, “Springsteen said.” I hope the songs arrive.

Variety of characters