EXCLUSIVE: ‘Fragile’ Bruce Springsteen, 73, was forced to delay shows and get healthy by his wife and doctors so ‘something worse doesn’t happen’ amid diagnosis of peptic ulcer disease – after ‘rough few years’ of throat surgery and COVID ‘take a toll’

Bruce Springsteen was forced to cancel a series of shows to prevent “something worse” from happening to his health after a spate of recent medical problems “began to take its toll.”

The Born to Run rocker, 73, was due to perform eight shows in the US in September but pulled the plug to undergo treatment for ‘ulcer symptoms’.

The announcement came just days after COVID forced him to postpone two concerts in Philadelphia.

Now a source close to Springsteen has revealed how his wife Patti Scialfa, his doctors and his E Street bandmates intervened to urge him to postpone his shows and focus on his recovery, fearing his health could ‘deteriorate’ if he doesn’t. don’t take the time to recover.

“Bruce has had a tough few years,” an insider told Dailymail.com exclusively. “He’s had COVID multiple times and even had to pull the plug in August because of the latest strain.

“It’s only been a few weeks and it’s really taking a toll on someone his age.”

The source added that the Boss “hasn’t been the same” since he underwent throat surgery in 2013, during which doctors cut open his vocal cords to repair damaged discs in his neck.

“It’s really had an impact on his overall well-being,” the source continued. “Everyone wants him to focus only on his health and not put pressure on himself.”

According to the insider, Springsteen is heartbroken to have to postpone his shows, but his camp believes this is the best decision to help him avoid having to undergo more serious treatment in the future.

“Bruce hates that he can’t do what he loves,” they continued. “Although a stomach ulcer doesn’t sound serious, it can be serious and may require surgery.”

Another source added to DailyMail.com that Springsteen was frustrated by the cancellations, but his symptoms made it “very uncomfortable” to perform.

“Bruce doesn’t die, which is the best case scenario, he isn’t hiding from other lingering issues, the sores he has are just annoying for him and make it very uncomfortable to perform the way he and his fans expect,” they said.

‘Bruce is in great form and with this setback it just sucks because once Bruce is on tour he is completely into it.

“It’s who he is, so this bump in the road frustrates him immensely, but his stubborn nature was fueled by his bandmates and wife who convinced him to get healthy now so something worse doesn’t happen later. ‘

They added that the veteran rocker will be “back before you know it” after a “couple of stress-free weeks and rest.”

They ended with, “He needs to listen to his doctors because of his demanding work ethic that he imposes on himself, and he actually does it and will give 120 percent for the rest of his shows.”

DailyMail.com has contacted a spokesperson for Springsteen for comment.

Springsteen announced the news on Instagram on Wednesday, telling fans he was left “heartbroken” by his latest bout of ill health.

“Here on E Street we are heartbroken that we have to postpone these shows,” the post read. “First of all, my apologies to our wonderful Philly fans we missed a few weeks ago. We’ll be back to pick up these shows and then some.

Thank you for your understanding and support. We’ve had a blast at our US shows and look forward to more great times. We will be back soon. Love and God bless everyone, Bruce.”

A separate note confirmed that his scheduled performance at the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse, NY had been canceled, adding, “Mr. Springsteen is being treated for symptoms of a stomach ulcer and his medical advisors have decided to postpone the rest of his September shows.”

Springsteen, whose hits include Born to Run and Dancing in the Dark, has now postponed a total of 15 dates as part of his Springsteen and E Street Band 2023 Tour – which made headlines in May when the rocker took to the stage during a performance fell. performance in Amsterdam, causing concern among spectators and workers who rushed to help him to his feet.

The I’m On Fire singer got the jitters from fans when he tripped and fell after climbing several steps on stage.

Fans watched as Springsteen rolled onto his back and lay on the ground with his guitar still in hand before his concerned colleagues promptly rushed over to help him. His guitarist stepped in to remove his instrument, while two concert workers manually hoisted Bruce back onto his feet.

Fortunately, the fall didn’t shake Bruce too much and he quickly smiled before addressing the crowd.

‘Good night all!’ he roared into the microphone as he threw his hand in the air and started another song.

The rocker’s latest health scare comes almost seven years to the day after he opened up about his struggles with depression in his tell-all 2016 autobiography, Born to Run.

In the memoir, Springsteen explored his history with mental illness and his father’s battle against it, and in an interview with Vanity Fair at the time, he shared his fears of succumbing to the disease in the same way his father did.

“You don’t know the parameters of the disease,” he told the magazine. “Could I get so sick that I’ll become a lot more like my father than I thought?”

The interview then quoted paragraphs from Springsteen’s memoir, revealing how the disease has affected his life in recent years.

“I was crushed between 60 and 62, good for a year and out again from 63 to 64,” he wrote. ‘Not a good record.’

And while his struggles may not have been noticeable to those on the outside, the star writes in his book about how his wife, Patti Scialfa, would see him at his worst.

“Patti will watch as a freight train arrives loaded with nitroglycerin and quickly runs off the rails. She takes me to the doctors and says, ‘This man needs a pill,'” he wrote.