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Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band are playing the Super Bowl? The reports are flying, but so far at least, the NFL's denying.
According to several published reports circulating on the Internet today, including the New York Post (who apparently first broke the story, quoting mysterious and unnamed "spies"), Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band have signed on to play the halftime show at next year's Super Bowl on February 1 in Tampa, Florida.
However, spokespeople for the NFL are refusing to confirm the reports.
"We don't talk about our talent discussions," league spokesman Brian McCarthy told Variety.com, adding "We don't have any talent confirmed for the Super Bowl."
It should be noted however, that it is no secret that the NFL has long been interested in securing the services of the Boss and his E Street Band for its biggest show of the year.
Meanwhile Backstreets Magazine, which usually tends to get any news about the Boss right, is also reporting that nothing has been confirmed. For its own part Springsteen's official website has thus far posted nothing which even acknowledges the Super Bowl reports.
If it does turn out that there is any validity to the story, as reported today by media outlets ranging from Fox News (who are also reporting that Steve Van Zandt has rented Tampa's Hard Rock Cafe for a party) to Newsday, Springsteen joins the ranks of rock legends like Paul McCartney, Prince, U2, and The Rolling Stones, who have all played the event, which traditionally draws the biggest television audience of the year.
Springsteen and the E Street Band are currently wrapping up their year long world tour behind the 2007 release Magic, which is certified platinum for sales exceeding one million copies. The tour has U.S. shows remaining in Jacksonville FL, Charleston SC, Richmond VA, Hershey PA, Nashville TN, St. Louis MO, and Kansas City MO, before playing its final date at the Harley Davidson Festival in Milwaukee at the end of the month.
