In an unannounced surprise move, the official billing of the tour has changed from Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band to simply Bruce Springsteen & Band. All posters in- and outside the arena in San Jose where the tour kicks off tonight have had the words "The E Street" crossed out, leaving only the word "Band". According to fans waiting outside the arena, staff from inside informed them that they were busy making the same changes to all official merchandise, from t-shirts to cups. Even though by all accounts the musicians on stage will still be the same, Bruce has allegedly had second thoughts about whether a band without Danny Federici and, sometimes, Max Weinberg and Patti Scialfa can really be referred to as The E Street Band. It's also rumored that the threat of lawsuits from disappointed fans, who come to see the real E Street Band, have played a role in the decision. Until we get an official announcement all of this is however pure speculation.

The HP Pavilion in San Jose as it looked this morning when fans started to line up. Note how "The E Street" has been crossed out.