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Bruce Springsteen had a ‘nervous breakdown’ during 1985 Slane gig

By
Kendra Becker | Editor
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Bruce Springsteen has told how he had a nervous breakdown during his famed gig in Slane back in 1985.

In an interview specially recorded for The Late Late Show in London earlier this month, The Boss told Ryan Tubridy that playing to 90,000 people was more stressful than anything – and that their rowdiness didn’t make the situation any easier.

“We hadn’t played for 90,000 before, it was the first time. We came out and the audience was rowdy and swaying this way and swaying that way, and people were dropping into little holes in the crowd.

“All I was thinking was ‘someone is going to get hurt and it’s going to be on me, it is going to be my responsibility’. It really concerned me very deeply and I had half of a nervous breakdown during the intermission. I think Pete Townsend was there and he said: ‘oh yeah, that’s what it’s like!’” he said.

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The Boss: Bruce chatted to Ryan for The Late Late Show | RTE

In the segment specially recorded in London – the first time in almost 30 years that The Late Late Show has travelled outside of Ireland for an interview – Bruce touched on everything from being brought up by his half Irish family and Catholicism to reconciling his troubled relationship with his father just before his death.

The interview concluded with Springsteen, who has previously opened up about being treated for depression in his 60s, telling Tubridy that he has no complaints and that his gigs in Dublin last year were “very satisfying”.

“It is very lovely, I am deeply appreciative and I am blessed at this point in my life to have an audience like that, to be able to perform still to the best of our abilities, to bring more glory to our band’s name and it’s a good life, I have no complaints,” he said.

Meanwhile, people took to Twitter to show their love for The Boss as he appeared on the show with Ryan:

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