Why Is Bruce Springsteen Called 'The Boss'? Nickname Explained

Bruce Springsteen has a notoriously complicated relationship with his nickname, “The Boss.” The moniker — which actually predates the formation of his legendary E Street Band in 1974 — was affectionately coined by fellow musicians because of Springsteen’s leadership role in their early tours but it took on a life of its own that he was never quite comfortable with. “I hate being called ‘Boss.’ I just do,” he admitted to Creem Magazine in 1980. “Always did from the beginning. I hate bosses. I hate being called the boss.” The 2025 movie Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere, which includes charac