Since the mid-Sixties, when he was in his teenage years, Bruce Springsteen has performed shows with his name, or his band's name on the bill. In the beginning these "shows" were of course mere high-school dances or "battle of the bands" type of events, but little by little he and the bands he formed could hold their own and attract substantial crowds who came specifically to see him, and he would start to expand the geographical area being covered. By 1970 "tours" to Richmond, VA., were quite common for him and in the same year he and his band Steel Mill ventured on their first tour to California.
By the time Springsteen became a recording artist tours most often became connected to his album releases. An album would be followed by a tour to promote the album - usually consisting of several legs - which again would be followed by a new album. With few exceptions this is the pattern he follows to this date, and as a result tours are usually named after albums.
