He was on a downward spiral.
That's how legendary rocker Bruce Springsteen described the state of his powerhouse voice during his battle with peptic ulcer disease, which forced him to halt his world tour with the E Street Band for a six-month hiatus.
At one point, the man renowned for his vocal prowess feared he might never grace the stage again.
"When I was dealing with the stomach problem, one of the major issues was my inability to sing," shared Springsteen, 74, during an interview on SiriusXM's "E Street Radio With Jim Rotolo" show.
"Singing heavily relies on your diaphragm. Mine was in such agony that attempting to sing was excruciating. I simply couldn't sing at all for a good two to three months, compounded with various other painful issues."
Springsteen entertained the worst-case scenario.
"Initially, people would reassure me, 'It'll pass, and you'll be back on track.' But inside, I was grappling with the thought, 'Will I ever sing again?'" admitted Springsteen. "Singing is one of my greatest passions, and here I was, unable to do what I love most."
He continued, "It took some time before the doctors gave me the assurance that I'd be fine. Initially, there wasn't a clear prognosis, which naturally left me anxious. Eventually, I found exceptional medical professionals who set me on the path to recovery, and for that, I'm immensely grateful."
However, as Springsteen geared up for his triumphant return to the stage at the Footprint Center in Phoenix on March 19, doubts lingered.
"Rehearsing singing is one thing, but the actual performance is different. You don't have that surge of adrenaline in rehearsal that elevates your voice to its peak," he explained.
While Springsteen's voice regained its strength for the tour, his physical appearance underwent a noticeable transformation, sporting striking white hair and a paler complexion than usual.
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