Bruce Springsteen's wife and bandmate Patti Scialfa reveals blood cancer diagnosis for the first time

9 September 2024, 12:24

They've been married for over three decades.

Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa created an instant connection when they first met in 1984, years before they'd eventually marry.

Their first meeting took place at The Stone Pony bar in New Jersey where Bruce and the E Street Band played frequently.

Clearly enamoured by her talent, Springsteen invited Patti to join his band and tour the world with him during his lauded Born In The U.S.A. jaunt throughout 1984 and 1985.

Despite an evident spark between them, their romance was put on ice due to Bruce being married to Julianne Phillips at the time, with Patti also dating Tom Cruise.

• Bruce Springsteen slaps back at retirement “farewell tour bulls**t” rumours
• Bruce Springsteen biopic 'Deliver Me From Nowhere': Cast, plot, release date, director, and songs
• The night Bruce Springsteen broke into Graceland in a bid to meet Elvis Presley: 'He was a fast runner'
• Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen: The making of the Boss's breakthrough hit

They started living together after Phillips filed for divorce in 1988, and started a family soon after. Patti has been a member of the E Street Band ever since.

In recent years her tenure in her husband's band has come into jeopardy. More importantly, so has her health.

Her battles have only just become public knowledge, as Patti Scialfa has opened up about her six-year struggle with multiple myeloma.

Multiple myeloma is a cancer that forms in plasma cells found in bone marrow. Though isn't necessarily life-threatening at first, it has impacted Patti's career in live performance.

Now in the new documentary Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, Bruce's wife has discussed her diagnosis.

"I’ve been performing with this band for 40 years. With those first performances, it felt so good to be back onstage. Touring has become a challenge for me,” Scialfa says in the documentary.

"In 2018, well, Bruce and I were doing a play on Broadway. I was diagnosed with early-stage multiple myeloma."

She explained that whilst her illness has pushed her to be cautious with the decisions she makes, it hasn't altered her love of performing live.

Bruce Springsteen & Patti Scialfa - "Fire" - Los Angeles, The Forum - April 4, 2024

"This affects my immune system so I just have to be careful what I choose to do and where I choose to go," she goes on to say.

"Every once in a while, I come to a show or two and I can sing a few songs onstage, and that’s been a treat. That’s the new normal for me right now, and I’m OK with that."

Patti says she especially loves performing Bruce's 1977 song 'Fire' alongside him, calling it "very personal, in a way".

"You can see a side of our relationship that you usually don’t get to see," added Patti, who shares three children with Bruce - sons Evan and Sam as well as daughter Jessica.

“Being back onstage with Bruce is a blast. Every night at this tour gives the band a chance to celebrate."

The documentary follows Bruce and his band as they embarked on their first tour since 2017, with an intimate insight into the effort that makes it happen and the camaraderie they conjure on the road.

“Our new film, Road Diary, will take you on a journey from behind the scenes at rehearsals to shows that we performed all around the world this year," Springsteen said in a recent teaser on Instagram.

"You’ll get to experience a little bit of the fun and the magic that we get to experience every night."

It's certainly been a magical return to live performance, with Bruce garnering rave reviews across the board for his recent stadium shows across the UK and Europe.

Some dates were disrupted however as Bruce battled health issues of his own, having been diagnosed with peptic ulcer disease for which he's received treatment.

Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band is set to stream in the UK on Disney+ from 25th October 2024.