Bruce Springsteen has long held a famously complex relationship with his iconic nickname, “The Boss.” The moniker, which actually predates the official formation of his legendary E Street Band in 1974, was initially coined by fellow musicians in a spirit of affection and practicality, recognizing Springsteen’s leadership role during their nascent touring days. However, the name quickly took on a life of its own, one with which the artist never felt entirely at ease.
His discomfort was clear as early as 1980, when he admitted to Creem Magazine, “I hate being called ‘Boss.’ I just hate it. I’ve always hated it from the very beginning. I hate bosses. I hate being called boss.” This strong sentiment highlighted a clash between the public persona and his working-class identity.
The upcoming 2025 film, Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere, will delve into an especially challenging period of the artist’s early career. During this time, Springsteen was still adapting to global fame, resisting intense publicity, and openly asking fans to stop calling him “The Boss” as he strove to cling to his blue-collar roots. The film reportedly features characters naturally referring to him by the contested nickname.
The origins of “The Boss” are rooted in necessity. In the early days, before the E Street Band coalesced, Springsteen served as the de facto tour manager for his various groups playing in New Jersey bars. The bands simply couldn’t afford to hire someone for the role. After each small gig, it was Springsteen who collected the earnings and then distributed them among the band members.
This pragmatic arrangement led to figures like future E Street Band guitarist Steven Van Zandt jokingly referring to Springsteen as “The Boss.” Author Andrew Delahunty explained the dynamic to BBC News in 2009, noting, “In the early days, when he and the E Street Band were playing small venues, Bruce was the one who collected the money and paid the rest of the band. This led to them starting to call him ‘The Boss,’ a nickname that stuck.”
Steven Van Zandt later took credit for popularizing the nickname. In Peter Carlin’s 2012 biography Bruce, Van Zandt recalled, “I remember people calling him that and not taking it seriously. Until I started calling him the Boss. Then they took it seriously because I was a boss too. So when I started calling him the Boss, people thought: ‘If Stevie does it, there must be a reason!’” By 1974, a local DJ reportedly heard an E Street Band member use the moniker and began employing it on the radio to introduce Springsteen’s songs, cementing its public recognition.
Springsteen’s initial aversion to the name stemmed from how it conflicted with his working-class background and image. In a 1999 interview with Mojo, he confirmed, “My memory was that ‘The Boss’ came about because I paid [the band and crew members] at the end of the week. It was never intended to be public.” His public disapproval even found its way into his live performances of the 1973 classic “Rosalita (Come Out Tonight),” where he would improvise the demand: “You don’t have to call me lieutenant, Rosie/But don’t you ever call me Boss!”
Over time, however, Springsteen has seemingly come to terms with the enduring moniker. During the 1999 reunion tour, E Street Band members would playfully tease him with the name on stage. More recently, in May 2025, he admitted on The Hollywood Reporter’s “Awards Chatter” podcast, “‘The Boss,’ which has followed me my whole life, still does. I’ve gotten used to it. I guess I gave up and resigned myself, I got used to it.”
Another crucial element of Springsteen’s lore revolves around the E Street Band itself. While the backing group initially formed in 1972, it was not officially known as the E Street Band until late 1974. The name draws directly from a real place: E Street in Belmar, New Jersey. This was the address of David Sancious, one of the band’s early keyboardists, whose mother allowed the group to rehearse in her garage.
Springsteen once explained the origin, saying, “I remember one night we were on the bus trying to find a name for the band. E Street Band seemed pretty easy — it just sounded good… David was an important part of the band at that time and that’s how it came about.” His 1973 second album, The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle, was inspired by his evolving backing group’s name and even features a track titled “E Street Shuffle.” The phrase “here on E Street Band” eventually became a common refrain in his stage introductions and social media posts, connecting the band directly to its humble New Jersey origins.