Bruce Springsteen, the acclaimed American songwriter-musician, released his autobiography titled "Born to Run" on September 27, 2016. This book shares its name with his iconic 1975 album and song, creating a direct link to a pivotal moment in his career. The autobiography offers an in-depth look at Springsteen's life and work, providing fans with a personal narrative from the artist himself. Its release was accompanied by a career-spanning album and a book tour,
making it a significant event for his audience.
The Autobiography's Release and Format
The "Born to Run" autobiography was published by Simon & Schuster and spans 528 pages. While the print version became available on September 27, 2016, an audiobook version, narrated by Springsteen himself, followed on December 6, 2016. This dual release allowed fans to experience his story in their preferred format, with the artist's own voice adding a unique dimension to the audiobook. The book's official announcement came on August 25, 2016, building anticipation for its debut.
As a complementary piece to the autobiography, an album titled "Chapter and Verse" was released four days prior to the book. This album was designed to be a career-spanning collection, featuring songs from various stages of Springsteen's extensive musical journey. This strategic release schedule ensured that fans had both a musical and literary companion to explore his artistic evolution.
The Extensive Book Tour and Promotional Appearances
To support the release of "Born to Run," Bruce Springsteen embarked on an extensive book tour across the United States. This initial leg of the tour began on the same day as the book's release, September 27, 2016, and concluded on October 10, 2016, encompassing nine dates. Following this, the tour extended internationally, with two appearances in the United Kingdom and Germany in late October.
Springsteen also held a book-signing event in Toronto, Ontario, on October 27. The tour experienced a brief interruption as Springsteen participated in the annual Stand Up for Heroes concert, showed support for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign, and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The tour then resumed with a five-date North American leg, announced on November 21, 2016. This leg commenced in Chicago on November 28, 2016, and concluded in Kennesaw, Georgia, on December 2. All book tour events required fans to purchase a pre-signed copy of the book, and tickets for the bookstore appearances, much like his concerts, sold out rapidly. Two specific appearances, on October 5 in San Francisco and October 7 in New York City, featured interviews with Springsteen conducted by Dan Stone and David Remnick, respectively. Additionally, Springsteen made promotional appearances on CBS Sunday Morning on September 18, 2016, and on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on September 23, 2016, which coincided with his 67th birthday, further promoting the autobiography.
