Sports

Springsteen To Play Super Bowl Halftime

by Jon Azpiri | September 29, 2008 at 08:25 am

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Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will be performing at halftime at the Super Bowl XLIII. The legendary band, known for its high-energy marathon concerts, will play a truncated set at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay on February 1.

The Boss is the latest of a long string of big-name acts to play the Super Bowl halftime slot, which is generally considered to be the most watched musical performance of the year. Last year, more than 140 million viewers watched Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers.

There was a time, however, when the Super Bowl wasn't such a high-profile showcase

For many years the halftime show consisted of local and college marching bands and drill teams, but that changed in 1988 when Chubby Checker became the first big act to perform at the big game. Over the years the Super Bowl halftime show has become a showcase for some of the country's most-loved musical acts, including Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, U2, Paul McCartney, Prince, Tom Petty, and a host of other performers.

However, ever since Janet Jackson's infamous "wardrobe malfunction" in 2004, organizers have been keen to keep the show family-friendly, and have since stuck with straight rock acts.