Bruce Springsteen 1992-1993 World Tour (2024)

TheBruce Springsteen 1992–1993 World Tourwas aconcert tourfeaturingBruce Springsteenand a new backing band, that took place from mid-1992 to mid-1993. It followed the simultaneous release of his albumsHuman TouchandLucky Townearlier in 1992. It was his first of four non-E Street Bandtours. Later, Springsteen had more non-E Street Band tours, theGhost of Tom Joad Tour, theSeeger Sessions Tour, and theDevils & Dust Tour. The tour was not as commercially or critically successful as past tours, due to poor reception ofHuman TouchandLucky Townas well as changes from previous tours. According to Springsteen biographer Dave Marsh, die-hard fans have informally referred to the backing band as "the Other Band" (and the tour as "The Other Band Tour").

The tour was preceded by a June 5, 1992 U.S. "dress rehearsal" radio broadcast of the new band. Springsteen said, "I missed playing. I missed getting out. I missed the fans. I've been home a while. I've worked hard on the records."

The tour's first leg was conducted inarenasinWestern Europe, opening on June 15, 1992 at theGlobeninStockholm. Springsteen said, "It's nice to start the tour here. It's nice to be back among people who have always been hospitable."^[2]After 15 dates there, including five at London'sWembley Arena, the tour came home to the United States.

There, the second leg began in late July with a then-record 11 consecutive dates inNew Jersey'sMeadowlands Arena. It continued in arenas through the U.S. and Canada, for a total of 61 shows through mid-December.

Springsteen then took a three-month winter break, before starting up again in late March for the third leg, a longer stint in Western Europe that played 31 dates there, some in outdoorstadiums. The tour proper ended on June 1, 1993 inOslo'sValle Hovin.

The backing band[]

Springsteen had dissolved his long-time backingE Street Bandin 1989, and had not used them onHuman TouchandLucky Town. This tour was his first time out with another group. Looking for a somewhat different sound, he assembled an outfit that gave him both moreguitar-based arrangements and a moreR&B-based feel with more backup singers; gone were theorganandsaxophonekey elements of the traditional E Street sound.

KeyboardistRoy Bittanwas the only E Street Band member retained. Most of the rest of the touring band were experiencedsession musicianswho were not well known to the general music audience. Better-known ace session drummerJeff Porcaro, who had played onHuman Touch, was supposedly offered $1 million to join the tour, but instead stayed with his bandToto

Springsteen's new wife and previous E Street backup singerPatti Scialfawas not a regular member of this band, but made guest appearances at many shows to duet with Springsteen on some combination of "Brilliant Disguise", "Tougher Than The Rest", and "Human Touch".

Broadcasts and recordings[]

As previously mentioned, a national radio rehearsal show and the abortiveMTV Pluggedshow, the latter of which asIn Concert/MTV Pluggedwas released in audio onCDand in video onVHSand laterDVDformats.

Several shows have been released as part of theBruce Springsteen Archives:

• Brendan Byrne Arena, New Jersey June 24, 1993, released January 5, 2018
• Meadowlands, July 25, 1992, released May 3, 2019
• Boston, 12/13/92, released May 7, 2021
• Waldbhune, Berlin, Germany, May 14, 1993 released April 1, 2022

Tour dates[]

Postponed dates[]