Bruce Springsteen reveals former battle with depression

Bruce Springsteen performs in Berlin on May 5, 2012.

/ Getty

(CBS News) Bruce Springsteen's former battle with depression comes to light in a new profile piece published in The New Yorker.

The rocker's friend and biographer Dave Marsh said Springsteen experienced severe depression in the early '80s, particularly around the release of the "Nebraska" album in 1982.

Pictures: Bruce Springsteen

"He was feeling suicidal," Marsh said. "The depression wasn't shocking, per se. He was on a rocket ride, from nothing to something, and now you are getting your ass kissed day and night. You might start to have some inner conflicts about your real self-worth."

The Boss, himself, opened up about his struggles. He said that at the time, playing four-hour long concerts was driven by "pure fear and self-loathing and self-hatred."

"My issues weren't as obvious as drugs," Springsteen said. "Mine were different, they were quieter--just as problematic, but quieter. With all artists, because of the undertow of history and self-loathing, there is a tremendous push toward self-obliteration that occurs onstage.

Springsteen first sought out therapy in 1982 and has been vocal about his continued visits to a psychotherapist through the years.

"I'm thirty years in analysis!" he told the magazine. "Look, you cannot underestimate the fine power of self-loathing in all of this. You think, I don't like anything I'm seeing, I don't like anything I'm doing, but I need to change myself, I need to transform myself. I do not know a single artist who does not run on that fuel."

His wife, Patti Scialfa, spoke with The New Yorker about how Springsteen overcame depression through therapy.

"He was able to look at himself and battle it out ... I suffered from depression myself, so I knew what that was about. Clinical depression -- I knew what that was about. I felt very akin to him."

Springsteen, 62, continues to play epic-long shows this summer while on tour with the E Street Band behind its latest album, "Wrecking Ball."

Watch a recent performance below:

[phubai]

well bruce, you've turned me off completely to your music which I did like. you don't know what depressed is, no beatings as a kid, no draft no military no vietnam no agent orange problems, boo hoo hoo, I think you've just shown everyone that you're just like a lot of the rock ******* and hollywood so called stars. crying over your millions, this could go on and on but I've wasted enough time on a cry baby like you. I can't even listen to your dribble anymore.

[kidteach]

Wow..shows how little you really know about him. He was beaten as a kid...his battles with his bipolar father were EPIC...mom called cops to split it up, he was a reject, a major loner, felt invisible..not to mention 8 yrs of Catholic school..would do anyone in. I guess you don't undertand the chemical/biological components of depression...some of the greatest minds, those with the most suffer from it..all can be going well, money, fame, etc.. and it means NOTHING when you are facing the Black Dog. His father suffered greatly as did other family members...INHERITED..he came upon it honestly in that sense, if you don't believe anything else (agent orange, etc..) Perhaps it is why he writes the way he does...without the experience, you can't produce lyrics that say so much about so many things. I for one, as a chronic biologic depressive, am VERY thankful he admits to it...helps take some of the stigma away and perhaps educates people like yourself that it isn't ALWAYS circumstantial.

[thetruthwillout]

WOW! I'm rather shocked by this, but I guess it's testimony that money and fame do not and cannot buy happiness.

[kidteach]

money and fame do NOT buy it...look at all the incredibly screwed up famous people who turn to drugs or kill themselves. It is a true testament to Bruce that he is one of the few artists who HASN'T done drugs, drinks heavily, smokes, etc... Major reason he is able to perform like he does at 63

[uniquebeme1]

I appreciate your honesty and those who may get help from this its such a stigma Im rooting for ya and glad your or hope better God bless and keep up the great work Somtimes we are most gifted at our worse times so never give up or have little faith we all need and to encourage each other

[w_roos]

So what? Am I supposed to be surprised? I'm not.

[kidteach]

Don't think the purpose of this article is to surprise anyone...more like reveal that even someone with such a stable, great guy, has so much...etc... suffers and, perhaps, it take a ***** out of the horrible stigma and someone who may have hesitated before will seek help.

[erasmus111]

Are there any celebrities that haven't suffered from depression?

It's an up and down business and they have fragile egos.

[EmpireGeorge______--]

Being a multi-millionaire, without a care in the world, chicks galore is Sooooooo depressing.

[greennnnnn-2009]

That stuff has absolutely nada to do with depression.

[kidteach]

It is called BIOLOGICAL depression and HAS NOTHING to do with it....educate yourself. It is because of such ignorance that mental illness carries such a stigma...what's wrong with you? you have everything? How weak are you? sort of thing...

[RichZubaty]

It's called shame. Self-loathing. Jane Fonda had it. Everyone has it. The feeling that we are not good enough and therefore we have to do more and be better. Presidents are oozing with shame. It's the product of living in an insane society fueled by celebrity and entertainment and devoid of fundamental human values. And if you are a celebrity and entertainer you have good reason to suffer from shame. What does celebrity and entertainment matter -- except to divert us from the real work to be done. At least the Boss is honest about it.

[kidteach]

It isn't called shame...,it is BIOLOGICAL depression, something he inherited from his tortured father (couldn't keep a job, get out of bed for days at a time...etc...) They now suspect his father was bipolar with no treatment. Goes far back in his father's side of the family. I INHERITED mine from my father's side, too...DAd, his father who was brilliant but couldn't keep a job, spent up to a year in the hospital, brother who killed himself, 2 uncles who did so.... You can have everything, values, belief in God, etc...the Black Dog can bite anyone..those with or without much...

[matt6052]

You'ld never guess that the mind that wrote, "Atlantic City" had any negativity in it.

[kidteach]

or most of the Nebraska album for that matter....