Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band have announced a 17-date European tour set for next spring and summer. The trek, which kicks off on May 26th in Munich, Germany, will take in additional stops in Germany as well as hitting Italy, the UK, Netherlands, France, and Belgium, before wrapping a three-city stop in Ireland on July 20th in Belfast. More dates are expected to be announced and "Boss" fans are already whispering about a summer 2013 U.S. stadium swing -- although it's far too early for an official word on that.

Wrecking Ball is Springsteen's sixth studio album in a decade -- fast work when you consider that this is only the 17th studio album in his 39-year recording career: "At this point in my life, it's not a tortuous process anymore, y'know? The songs have come pretty easy for quite a few years now -- so do making the records. We make the records in a month. (In) my little demo studio first and that takes a couple of hours, y'know, a song. When I was young I thought I had to give my life completely over to it or I wasn't gonna be able to get anything good out. Now (I realize) it was sort of an excuse (laughs) 'cause I didn't know what else to do with myself. But now I realize it takes the right amount of time. In other words, you have to work at it until it's right -- but you don't have to work at it any longer than that."

• UPDATED: Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band tour dates (subject to change):
  November 30 - Oakland, CA - Oracle Arena
  December 4 - Anaheim, CA - Honda Center
  December 6 - Glendale, AZ - Jobing.com Arena
  December 10 - Mexico City, Mexico - Palacio De Los Deportes
  December 12 - New York, NY - 12-12-12 A Concert For Sandy Relief at Madison Square Garden Arena
  May 26 - Munich, Germany - Olympiastadion
  May 28 - Hannover, Germany AWD - Arena
  May 30 - Naples, Italy - Piazza Del Plebiscito
  June 1 - Padova, Italy - Stadio Euganeo
  June 3 - Milan, Italy - Stadio Giuseppe Meazza
  June 15 - London, United Kingdom - Wembley Stadium
  June 18 - Glasgow, United Kingdom - Hampden Park
  June 20 - Coventry, United Kingdom - Ricoh Arena
  June 22 - Nijmegen, Netherlands - Goffertpark
  June 29 - Paris, France - Stade de France
  July 5 - Monchengladbach, Germany - Borussia Park
  July 7 - Leipzig, Germany - Red Bull Arena
  July 11 - Rome, Italy - Ippodromo Delle Capannelle
  July 13 - Werchter, Belgium - Festivalpark
  July 16 - Limerick, Ireland - Thomond Park
  July 18 - Cork, Ireland - Pairc Ui Chaoimh
  July 20 - Belfast, United Kingdom - King's Hall Complex
  September 15 - Rio De Janeiro, Brazil - Rock In Rio at Rock City

CHECK IT OUT: Springsteen in 2009 performing "I'm On Fire" at Holland's Pinkpop Festival:

Bruce Springsteen On Songs And Records Coming Quickly

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