WATCH: Bruce Springsteen opens Brooklyn gig with cover of Prince's Purple Rain

Springsteen paid poignant homage to the late music icon at his Barclays Center show.

Published 25th Apr 2016

Bruce Springsteen opened his Brooklyn gig on Saturday night (23rd April) with a powerful cover of Prince’s ‘Purple Rain’.

With the Barclays Center stage lit purple, Springsteen and The E Street Band abandoned their usual set opener of ‘Meet Me in the City’ to launch straight into their version Prince’s 1984 in tribute to the late singer.

Prompting a rapturous reception, the crowd duly joined in with the track’s chorus before Springsteen shouted “Prince forever! God bless” during the closing guitars.


It’s the third time Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band have paid homage on stage to a music legend this year.

At their Pittsburgh gig in January they opened the encore with a cover of David Bowie’s ‘Rebel Rebel’ and in Chicago later that month performed a version of The Eagles’ ‘Take It Easy’ to remember Glenn Frey.

After the Brooklyn gig, Bruce Springsteen fanzine Backstreets Magazine shared an image of Steven Van Zandt backstage with guitar in hand watching the ‘Purple Rain’ video for a last minute refresh.

> Backstage at @barclayscenter, @StevieVanZandt goes 2 the videotape 2 get “Purple Rain” right. #TheRiverTourBrooklyn pic.twitter.com/lTZdA33cJi > > — Backstreets Magazine (@backstreetsmag) April 24, 2016

Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band play stadium shows in Manchester, Glasgow, Coventry and London this summer. The last remaining tickets are on sale from Planet Rock Tickets now.

UPDATE: Bruce has now made his cover of 'Purple Rain' at the Barclays Center available as a free download. You can get it right here