Bruce Springsteen Finally Accepts Long-standing Nickname “The Boss”

Anyone even slightly familiar with Bruce Springsteen will know instantly who is being talked about when someone mentions “The Boss.” It’s not a moniker the 75-year-old rocker has ever been particularly fond of, saying recently that it has “dogged me my whole life.” However, he finally seems to be making peace with the long-standing title despite efforts in the past to distance himself from it.

The nickname “The Boss” surfaced during the early days of Springsteen’s career with the E Street Band. It all started as a lighthearted jest among bandmates when Springsteen took on the potentially uncomfortable and awkward role as payroll manager. As author Andrew Delahunty noted, “In the early days when he and the E-Street Band played gigs in small venues, it was Bruce’s job to collect the money and pay the rest of the band.” This role as the band’s de facto leader eventually led to the adoption of a nickname that stuck, helped, no doubt by a radio DJ that somehow learned of the nickname and started using it on the air. Bandmate Stevie Van Zandt’s endorsement lent more credibility to the new title reportedly saying, “If Stevie’s doing it, there’s something to this!”

Although many people would consider a title like “The Boss” in a positive light and perhaps a bit of an ego boost, Springsteen never seemed all that comfortable with it. In a 2010 biography, It Ain’t No Sin to Be Glad You’re Alive by Eric Alterman, he admitted, “I hate bosses. I hate being called the boss.” Those feelings surfaced again in 2005 during a concert in Philadelphia, where he shared that he had developed a rehearsed response when he was asked about the nickname in an effort to hide his true feelings.

For Springsteen, “The Boss” carries with it expectations of authority and control that do not mesh well with his image as a working-class storyteller who is connected to and understanding of the struggles of average Americans. Perhaps the famous nickname, while evocative of his leadership and authenticity, imposes a larger-than-life persona on him that he has grappled with both publicly and privately for decades.

Despite his reservations and protestations, “The Boss” has become inseparable from Bruce Springsteen and his legacy, solidifying his influence as a bona fide cultural icon. The moniker resonates in his music, like the song “Ain’t Got You,” where he reflects on burdens that fame imposes on life.

Springsteen’s attempts to distance himself from “The Boss” hints at a lifelong tension between his public image and personal identity. As he prepares to release seven “lost” albums in this year and embark on a European tour with the E Street Band, the nickname stands as a testament to his impact, even if it’s a title he’d rather leave behind.

Perhaps the decades have worn him down a bit or perhaps he’s just mellowing with age, but these days Springsteen seems to be more at ease with the nickname that has been associated with him for the majority of his career. “I’ve gotten used to it. I’ve given up and gotten used to it, I suppose,” he says, seemingly resigned to the fact that the moniker will likely outlive him.

Even though Springsteen has been at least somewhat uncomfortable being called “The Boss” for so long, to his fans it is a term of endearment and serves as a testament to his talent, fame and his unquestioned influence on both music and popular culture.