An ageing E Street band minus two members, particularly Clarence.

If I had never seen them before then I might go, but I have, so am not tempted.

but I've just ordered a couple for Manchester. What bugs me about current ticketing practises is that we're supposed to know what we're doing over 6 months in advance AND stump up the money now! Crazy.

will always be better- no matter who it is. No jostling crowds. No idiots yelling. No hassle with taxi's or transport. No overpriced tickets. No standing on tip-toe to watch a giant screen. And no having to endure two and a half to three hours of something that can just as easily be said in forty five minutes. Better still, you can pause proceedings halfway through a song and go to the loo.

But then that's me. Never understood the appeal of gigs when there's a record to be had instead.

If I like a band or artist I don't really want to see him/her/them in the presence of a roomful of other people. I expect my 'perfect gig' would be My Favourite Artist...and just me. But that's unlikely to happen.

Came close to it with the Soledad Brothers at Cardiff Barfly once.

But fell way short with Paul McCartney at the Millenium Stadium.

I have sworn off enormo gigs. Just can't face the crowds, queues, public transport, hassle, prices, not being able to see, crap quality grub and booze....I'd love to see BS at the Slaughtered Lamb but that is unlikely to happen. Have fun though.

Have been to last two tours (Rising and Magic) and they were great - some of my best gigs ever. But...I do hate stadiums with a passion now - sometimes that's the only option and if anyone can do a stadium it's Bruce, but I just don't think it will be same without the big man so I will pass. Also....living in Devon, it's a hell of a schlepp to anywhere, overnight stays etc etc...!!

However, disagree violently with comments about enjoying music better at home! It's great to settle in with a few beers, snacks and a concert on DVD/Bluray....but it ain't the same as it hitting you live. Some of my fondest memories are of being utterly transported at live gigs.

and he's always been utterly fantastic. Will be going to Sunderland I reckon next year.
Hyde Park the other year was bloody stunning - particularly the breathless, spine tingling version of Jungleland.
Might not be quite the same without Clarence but Bruce and his band put on a magnificent show.

I've been a fan of The Boss since I first saw him in Manchester at the back end of the seventies. I've clocked up 17 Springsteen gigs and many miles travelling to venues and always swore I'd do whatever it took to get a ticket for at least one gig every tour (including five hours in the snow in Manchester for tickets to the solo acoustic tour he did).

Back int he early eighties, if your saw Springtseen for the first time, anywhere, you would leave the gig with definite 'I've just seen future of rock and roll' glow. It was an amazing, four hour show that involved story telling, humour, emotion, great musicianship and fantastic songs. It was like being put through a mangle and wanting to some back for more.

The last Springsteen gig I went to was at the Emirates stadium, taking a 'newbie' with me. The sounds was truly awful, the show laboured and the whole thing lacked that spark that launched a million fans love of the E Street Band. The newbie was unimpressed and because of that I was really disappointed.

I didn't go to Hyde Park last time around and I won't be going to the tour next year. I'm older and less inclined to queue for hours for a beer and to face being disappointed that my £65 seats are at the back of a huge soul-less arena that leaves me detached from my hero.

My wife and I put a ceiling on ticket prices now - £20 - and only look for smaller venues, no bigger, for example, than the Manchester Apollo where I watched bands every week in my teens. Venues like the Borderline and (until recently I believe) The Luminaire in London are/were great intimate places to get close to great music and relive the pre-stadium, halcyon days of gig going.

If you are going to see Bruce next year, I do hope you enjoy it. Let me know afterwards if I should have bought a ticket!

to his two Dublin shows because I've been told the Euro is about to go in the toilet so no point in hanging onto them.

I can't wait to see him again, the last couple of tours were great and he, more than anyone else, makes a stadium bash enjoyable.

You have Islington Council to thank for the atrocious sound. Neutered and capped at a ridiculously low db level due to the imposed restrictions as part of the licence. The mixing desk staff had an horrendous job trying to compensate in throwing sound to the back of an area that is the same sq footage as Wembley with less than half the power.

Bruce's booking agents were in a bind...Wembley unavailable (pitch reconstruction), Twickenham already booked in with it's allowed number of events per year, Crystal Palace deemed unsatisfactory after The Rising shows. Would have taken it to Milton Keynes personally.

first time in 84 at Wembley. I was 20 and everything was perfect, good spot in the crowd, went with friends, great weather. Brilliant. Next time about 12 years ago at Earls Court. The band couldn't overcome the terrible sound which was too loud and really grating. Mrs BP won't have him on in the house now, much less entertain a return visit. I did enjoy watching him at Glastonbury a couple of years ago though (on telly)