Patti Scialfa Shares Blood Cancer Diagnosis
Patti Scialfa, E Street Band member and wife of Bruce Springsteen, shared she was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a rare type of blood cancer.
Scialfa revealed this news in the new documentary Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sunday (Sept. 8).
Per People, the singer/guitarist says in the documentary, “I’ve been performing with this band for 40 years. With those first performances, it felt so good to be back onstage. 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.”
Scialfa also says in Road Diary about her cancer, “This affects my immune system so I just have to be careful what I choose to do and where I choose to go. 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.”
Details on Road Diary
Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band was first announced in May and will hit Hulu and Disney+ on Oct. 25.
Per Springsteen’s website, the doc will contain “unprecedented, behind-the-scenes access” to The Boss’ 2023-24 tour with the E Street Band, including rehearsal footage and a look at how Springsteen crafts a setlist.
The documentary’s announcement noted, “In this way, it serves as an essential and never-before-seen chapter in an autobiographical series spanning Springsteen’s memoir ‘Born to Run,’ ‘Springsteen on Broadway,’ and the films ‘Western Stars’ and ‘Letter to You.'”
Directing Road Diary is Thom Zimny, who has been a longtime collaborator of Springsteen’s and has also directed Springsteen on Broadway and Western Stars. As expected, the concert documentary will feature unique, professionally shot footage of Springsteen’s current tour with the E Street Band, as well as sitdown interviews and commentary from the band.
The Other Bruce Springsteen Movie
Jeremy Allen White will play Springsteen in the upcoming biopic Deliver Me From Nowhere. Apparently, the Emmy Award-winning actor will also sing in the film.
As previously reported, the Emmy Award-winning star of The Bear was asked by Variety in June whether he wanted to sing in the biopic. He responded, “We’re gonna try. We’re gonna try our best.”
The actor was also asked if he met or spoken with Springsteen in the lead-up to filming. So far, the actor and music icon haven’t met face-to-face, but they have “communicated a little bit through some other people.” However, White gave the impression that once scheduling logistics are worked out, he will have the opportunity to meet The Boss.
White was first confirmed to be portraying Springsteen in Deliver Me From Nowhere in April. The film is about the making of Springsteen's 1982 album Nebraska. This film will be an adaptation of the 2023 book Deliver Me From Nowhere: The Making of Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska by Warren Zanes.
More cast members for Deliver Me From Nowhere have been confirmed. On June 10, Deadline reported that Emmy Award-winning actor Paul Walter Hauser had been cast as Mike Batlan, who is Springsteen’s longtime guitar tech. On June 20, Deadline also reported that Odessa Young has also been cast in the film, with the outlet’s sources saying Young will play Springsteen’s love interest in the film.