Bruce performs at the "Come Together" show in Red Bank, NJ, a benefit for slain police officer, Patrick King. The show has been arranged by Jon Bon Jovi and features a host of New Jersey artists, including Southside Johnny, Little Steven, Bobby Bandiera, Clarence Clemons, Max Weinberg, Patti Scialfa, and others.

A stand of 15 sold-out homecoming shows at the Meadowlands in New Jersey begins. During the stand an anonymous fan becomes the one millionth person to see Bruce in this arena since it was opened in 1981.

At Philips Arena in Atlanta Bruce debuts two brand new songs, "Further On (Up the Road)" and "American Skin (41 Shots)". The latter is based on an incident where a young immigrant was killed by the New York City police with 41 bullets. Despite never having heard the song this causes members of the NYPD to call for a boycott of Bruce's upcoming shows at Madison Square Garden in New York. A huge controversy follows in newspaper columns and television news broadcasts.

Bruce, who until now has remained silent since performing "American Skin (41 Shots)" in Atlanta, finally shoots back at his critics when at the first of 10 Madison Square Garden concerts, he comes out on stage and plays yet another new song, "Code of Silence", and later follows it with another rendition of "American Skin". Despite booing from parts of the audience, "American Skin" will be performed at all ten remaining shows of the tour.

The Reunion Tour, as fans have dubbed it, ends with a final show at Madison Square Garden. It's the longest show of the tour and includes a powerful version of "Lost in the Flood" for the first time since 1978, and ends with an emotional performance of "Blood Brothers", with the band members lined up on stage holding each other's hands. The last two shows of the stand are filmed with high-definition cameras.

Bruce begins a new tradition by assembling a host of band members and friends for two holiday shows at the Convention Hall in Asbury Park. The shows feature the Max Weinberg 7 as the backing band and also work as a great showcase for Little Steven, Southside Johnny, Nils Lofgren, and Patti Scialfa, who each get a turn in the spotlight.

Following the September 11 terror attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington DC, Bruce participates in a television special honoring the victims. He opens the show with an acoustic version of "My City of Ruins" backed by Little Steven, Clarence Clemons and Patti Scialfa.

Bruce opens the MTV Video Music Awards playing "The Rising" from an outdoor stage in New York City in front of a small, but wet audience and millions of TV viewers.

Bruce performs on Late Night With Conan O'Brien. Unlike earlier appearances on David Letterman, Bruce and the band are not there to promote The Rising. Instead they do some loose versions of "Merry Christmas Baby" and, incredibly, "Kitty's Back" in what ranks as one of the best TV performances by Bruce ever.

Three shows at Shea Stadium in New York wrap up the Rising Tour. The 120-show tour has broken all records with a gross of approximately $120 million. As the tour neared its conclusion, fans have seen a more and more political Bruce in both song selection and stage raps, with each night featuring a "public service announcement" urging people to demand truth from their leaders, a reference to the Bush government and the war in Iraq.