The artist’s experience with depression is a central theme in the new biopic, ‘Springsteen: Save Me from the Unknown’
Voice of hit songs like “Streets of Philadelphia“, “Dancing in the Dark“, “My Hometown” and “Born in the USA“, Bruce Springsteen spoke a little more about his personal life in anticipation of the release of Springsteen: Save Me From the Unknown.
During an interview with the program Breakfast Show with Scott Millsfrom the BBC Radiohe was asked how he felt about speaking openly about his mental health issues. The artist, who suffers from severe depression, has previously addressed the topic in his autobiography. He associates the disease with the stress experienced in childhood and the troubled relationship with his father, diagnosed with schizophrenia.
“I grew up in the ’50s and ’60s, you know? I was one to ten years old in the ’50s and my parents moved to California when I was 18 or 19, so that’s all I knew my dad for, and those were his hardest years,” he said (via NME). “Mental illness ran in my family. I had very, very sick aunts. I had very sick cousins. And I just got used to it, that was my family, and those were the people that I loved.”
Springsteen He grew up believing that it was embarrassing to seek psychological help, which prevented him from receiving adequate treatment for many years. “There was no medication, there was no interaction with any kind of psychological help and people were simply left to fend for themselves. You know, the situation was just there – nothing was known about it, so everyone just suffered,” he said.
The biographical film explores the personal conflicts experienced by Springsteen during the production of his acclaimed sixth studio album, Nebraska (1982). During the period portrayed in the film, the singer says he began to seek professional support: with the help of medication and therapy, he managed to control the crises and feel better. According to him, the relationship with the American producer John Landau was very positive, as Landau he had experience and contacts in the area who could help him.
Today, psychiatric monitoring is essential for Springsteenand was part of half of his life. He claims to have learned to pay more attention to the signs of his own conscience, although, at first, he felt embarrassed to talk about the subject. “For years, I almost disguised myself before entering the psychiatrist’s office. I had my baseball cap and glasses on, looking around and going in as quickly as I could,” he says. “It was so forbidden in the world I grew up in that it took me a long time to get used to feeling good and confident when I walked into the office.”
More about Springsteen: Save Me From the Unknown
Springsteen recently revealed that it allowed the carrying out of Springsteen: Save Me From the Unknowndespite representing a difficult time in his life, as the film is not really biographical. “It just takes a few years of my life, when I was 31 and 32, and puts it back to the time when I made this particular record, and when I went through some tough times in my life. And I’m old and I don’t give a shit what I do now.”
He also praised the performance of Jeremy Allen White (The Bear), who plays him in the film. “Jeremy It really portrays a little of my deterioration at that moment, when I had my first breakdown, that’s what really happened”, he said. The work hits Brazilian cinemas on October 30th.
A series of songs from Springsteen will be adapted for the film, alongside names like Jay Buchananfrom Rival Sons, Aksel Coe, Bobby Emmett and Jake and Sam F. Kiszkafrom Greta Van Fleet. The soundtrack will also be compiled into an album, scheduled for release on December 5, 2025. Check out the film’s trailer below:
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Bruce Springsteen
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Greta Van Fleet
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Jeremy Allen White
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john landau
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nebraska
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rival sounds
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Springsteen: Save Me From the Unknown
Source: Rollingstone
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
