COVID Strikes the Bruce Tour

Written By Mike Greenblatt
bruce-springsteen

Guitarist Stevie Van Zandt and violinist Soozie Tyrell of the E Street Band tested positive for COVID prior to the February 10 American Airlines Center show in Dallas. Bruce started the show by saying, “we got a few members missing tonight but goddammit we’re gonna give Dallas the best show they’ve ever seen!”

Van Zandt tweeted, “thank you all for your best wishes and positive vives. I’ve got a very mild case and hope to be back for Houston or Austin at the latest.”

Dallas highlight had to be the surprise inclusion of “Detroit Medley,” a 15-minute barnburner consisting of Shorty Long’s 1964 “Devil With The Blue Dress On” on Motown Records (popularized by Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels two years later), Little Richard’s 1957 “Jenny Jenny” and 1958 “Good Golly Miss Molly” plus Ma Rainey’s 1924 “CC Rider” (covered by The Animals, Mitch Ryder, Chuck Willis, LaVern Baker, Elvis Presley and dozens of other artists).

Mike Greenblatt

MIKE GREENBLATT has been writing for Goldmine magazine and New Jersey's Aquarian Weekly for more than 35 years. His writing subjects fill the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

He's interviewed Joe Cocker, Graham Nash, David Crosby, Carlos Santana, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Johnny Cash, and members of The Rolling Stones and The Beatles. He was 18 when he attended Woodstock in 1969.

In addition to writing about music, Greenblatt has worked on publicity campaigns for The Animals, Pat Benatar, Johnny Winter, Tommy James and Richard Branson, among others. He is currently the editor of The Jersey Sound.

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