How do you remain a rock god for more than 40 years? You ride the Zeitgeist, play your politics, and don’t apologize for the house in Beverly Hills. Bruce Springsteen, who releases his fifteenth studio album this week, may be a blue-collar troubadour, but he’s also a savvy caretaker of his own image.

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• Archive: “Music Features”
• Articles by Ira Boudway
• Table of Contents: Feb 2, 2009 issue of New York | Subscribe!