What happened to Bruce Springsteen? Fans wish him well after Philadelphia shows postponed

The streets of Philadelphia around Citizens Bank Ballpark were quiet on the evening of Wednesday, Aug. 16.

Quiet because Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band postponed their shows on Wednesday and Friday, Aug. 18, at the stadium due to the Boss "having been taken ill," according to Springsteen's social media handles.

Rescheduled dates are coming, stated the post.

"Hope Bruce is OK," said fan Steve Buontempo of Manasquan outside the stadium. "I hope he's OK or whoever's ill. I know the shows are going to get made up. There's no doubt about it. Godspeed to Bruce."

Buontempo was driving from Long Beach Island to the stadium when he heard the news of the postponement.

"As soon as I drove over the bridge at (10 minutes to 3 p.m.), my buddy called and said the show is canceled," Buontempo said. "Are you kidding me? It is what it is."

Justin Tafel and Karen Smith from Easton, Pennsylvania, were having lunch at the Gatehouse in the Philadelphia Navy Yard, minutes away from the stadium, when they heard the news.

"The server told us the bad news unfortunately," Tafel said. "They were excited to have a crowd of people and very disappointed. I hope Bruce is alright but for us it's a bummer, man. I hope he's OK and we can come back as soon as we can and watch him play."

Tafel and Smith were headed from the Xfinity Live! entertainment and dining venue across the street from the stadium to the Live Casino Hotel Philadelphia.

"Maybe we'll hit it big," Tafel said. "We're making it a night. It's just going to be without Bruce."

There were about 30 Springsteen fans at Xfinity Live! around what was supposed to be showtime at Citizens Bank Ballpark. Boss music played on the PA system.

Mike Pasquale and wife Mae Pasquale of Allentown, Pennsylvania, brought their seven grown children and extended family to Philly to see the show.

"(Mae's) whole goal was to bring our kids to a Bruce concert because they've never seen Bruce," said Mike inside Xfinity Live! "So we brought our kids to see Bruce and we got a sign, 'First Time Tramps.' "

They're looking forward to the rescheduled date.

"Due to Bruce Springsteen having been taken ill, his concerts with The E Street Band at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on August 16 and 18 have been postponed," stated the postponement announcement at 2 p.m. on Wednesday. "We are working on rescheduling the dates so please hold on to your tickets as they will be valid for the rescheduled shows."

More: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band rock Philadelphia after illness hiatus

Multiple members of the band missed shows on the current tour's earlier U.S. area leg due to COVID, including Steven Van Zandt, Nils Lofgren, Jake Clemons and Soozie Tyrell. The COVID that ran through the band has so far not resulted in any long-term issues.

The band members’ absences due to COVID have been referred to with frustration and gallows humor by Springsteen. He led a Kansas City crowd at the Feb. 18 show in an anti-COVID chant that we can’t repeat here.

The tour, which began Feb. 1 in Tampa, had appeared to be operating in a bubble to minimize chances of infection. Band members were photographed wearing protective masks during January rehearsals at the Vogel, part of the Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank.

How old is Bruce Springsteen?

Springsteen, 73, and wife Patti Scialfa missed the inaugural American Music Honors event April 15 at the Pollak Theatre on the campus of Monmouth University in West Long Branch due to COVID-19, said Bob Santelli, head of the Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music, from the stage.

Up next are two shows at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, next week, then Jersey homecoming shows Wednesday, Aug. 30, Friday, Sept. 1, and Sunday, Sept. 3, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.

More: Bruce Springsteen Archives to host big 'Wild, Innocent, E Street Shuffle' symposium

'My Hometown': Tour the Jersey Shore spots that Bruce Springsteen made famous

Springsteen and the E Street Band North American Tour

Aug. 9: Chicago, Wrigley Field

Aug. 11: Chicago, Wrigley Field

Aug. 16, Philadelphia, Citizens Bank Park (postponed)

Aug. 18: Philadelphia, Citizens Bank Park (postponed)

Aug. 24: Foxborough, Massachusetts, Gillette Stadium

Aug. 26: Foxborough, Massachusetts, Gillette Stadium

Aug. 30: East Rutherford, MetLife Stadium

Sept. 1: East Rutherford, MetLife Stadium

Sept. 3: East Rutherford, MetLife Stadium

Sept. 7: Syracuse, New York, MA Wireless Dome

Sept. 9: Baltimore, Oriole Park at Camden Yards

Sept. 12: Pittsburgh, PPG Paints Arena

Sept. 14: Pittsburgh, PPG Paints Arena

Sept. 16: Uncasville, Connecticut, Mohegan Sun Arena

Sept. 19: Albany, New York, MVP Arena

Sept. 21: Columbus, Ohio, Nationwide Arena

Sept. 29: Washington, D.C., Nationals Park

Nov. 3: Vancouver, British Columbia, Rogers Arena

Nov. 6: Edmonton, Alberta, Rogers Place

Nov. 8: Calgary, Alberta, Scotiabank Saddledome

Nov. 10: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Life Centre

Nov 14: Toronto, Scotiabank Arena

Nov. 16: Toronto, Scotiabank Arena

Nov. 18: Ottawa, Ontario, Canadian Tire Centre

Nov. 20: Montreal, Centre Bell

Nov. 30: Phoenix, Footprint Center

Dec. 2: San Diego, Pechanga Arena

Dec. 4: Los Angeles, Kia Forum

Dec. 6: Los Angeles, Kia Forum

Dec. 10: San Francisco, Chase Center

Dec. 12: San Francisco, Chase Center

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Chris Jordan, a Jersey Shore native, covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact him at @chrisfhjordan; cjordan@app.com

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Bruce Springsteen postpones Philadelphia shows: Fans wish him well