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February 1st, 2009 at 10:08 pm

Bruce Springsteen Super Bowl Video, Photos 2009

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band performed at the Super Bowl XLIII halftime show on February 1, 2009. See video and photos of the outstanding, high energy performance that was every bit the “12 minute party” the Boss had promised it would be.

Amazingly, the set songs were kept secret until the actual performance, and this only added to the enthusiasm and excitement as the set began. Springsteen and the E Street Band, comprised of Patti Scialfa (Springsteen’s wife), Steven Van Zandt, Clarence Clemons, Max Weinberg and others performed several songs including 10th Avenue Freeze Out, Born to Run, and Glory Days. For the title track from Springsteen’s forthcoming album, Working on a Dream, a large choir joined him and the band on stage. The songs were woven seamlessly amidst cheering and fireworks lighting up the night sky at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

“For the next 12 minutes, we’re going to bring the righteous power of the E Street Band into your home!” Springsteen shouted before climbing atop a piano. “Is there anybody alive out there? Is there anybody alive out there?!?”

And hell yes, there was. Springsteen ripped into “10th Avenue Freezeout,” bending backward over his microphone stand, pyro and giant video screens firing behind him. He slapped hands with fans in front of the stage and then slid across the stage — directly into a wayward cameraman — and cracked a smile.

That led right into his classic “Born to Run,” which sent the crowd into even further hysterics, and then, backed by a full gospel choir (as he was at the “We Are One” concert last month), he performed a brief segment of “Working on a Dream,” the title track of his just-released album.

Then, stretching his 12 minutes to the max, Bruce and the Band flew into “Glory Days,” clearly reveling in the moment but aware of the time constraints. “I think it’s quittin’ time, Steve,” Springsteen laughed to guitarist Steve Van Zandt.

Source: Bruce Springsteen Leads Halftime Party At Super Bowl

Adding humor to the urgency of needing to end the set, Springsteen and Van Zandt joked about “penalty time” and a referee appeared on stage and threw up a flag. It was a brilliant performance from the 59 year old Bruce Springsteen, clearly among the best in Super Bowl history.

The new album, Working on a Dream, was released on January 27, 2009, a Bruce Springsteen tour kicks off in April 15, 2009 at Los Angeles Sports Arena with tickets going on sale February 2.

Here is the full Bruce Springsteen Super Bowl halftime show video below.