Revelations from Bruce Springsteen Documentary, ‘Road Diary’ Include Patti Scialfa’s Battle with Multiple Myeloma

Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band premiered at the Toronto Film Festival Sunday, and there is a big revelation about Springsteen’s wife and E Street Band member, Patti Scialfa.

Scialfa, 71, reveals that in 2018 she was diagnosed multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer, which has made it hard for her to perform.

“I’ve been performing with this band for 40 years. With those first performances, it felt so good to be back onstage,” Patti says of the band’s tour, adding, “Touring has become a challenge for me. In 2018, well, Bruce and I were doing a play on Broadway. I was diagnosed with early stage multiple myeloma.”

Since that diagnois, which happened while she and Springsteen were appearing together in “Springsteen on Broadway,” her appearances with the band have been scarce.

“I just have to be careful what I choose to do and where I choose to go,” adding, “Every once in a while, I come to a show or two and I can sing a few songs onstage, and that’s been a treat. That’s the new normal for me right now, and I’m OK with that.”

After the screening, Springsteen sat with director Thom Zimney sat for a Q&A moderated by longtime friend and E Street Band guitarist Stevie Van Zandt to talk about the movie and his decades long career as a lifetime musician.

“We have the only jobs in the world where the people you went to high school with? At 75, you’re still with them. You live your life with them,” Springsteen said, according to Rolling Stone. “You see them grow up, you see them get married, you see them get divorced, you see them go to jail, you see them get out of jail, you see them renege on their child payments, you see them pay up, you see them get old, you see their hair go gray, and you’re in the room when they die.”

He added, “In one way, I would wish you all such a lovely, complete experience with your good friends. On the other hand, it lays a weight on you … because of the time you’ve spent together and the things you’ve done.” He noted, “It reminds me of that scene in Blade Runner, where he says ‘I’ve seen things [you wouldn’t believe]’ … We’ve seen some of that s***!”

He added: “But if I had to go tomorrow I’d be okay,” Springsteen said. “Because what a f*****’ ride!” 

Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band is set to debut Oct. 25 on Hulu and Disney+.