On the subject of songwriting which Springsteen called pure torture the singer revealed hes endured extended periods of non-productivity.

Writing is really hard, and youre failing.

Ninety percent of the time, youre writing stuff thats mediocre or worse, he told Stern.

Bruce Springsteen Talks ‘Road Diary,’ Marriage and ‘Pure Torture’ of Songwriting in Howard Stern Interview

Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band and Howard Stern attend SiriusXM’s ‘The Howard Stern Show’ at SiriusXM Studios on October 23, 2024 in New York City.Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for SiriusXM