Springsteen Plans World Tour

Bruce Springsteen is making plans for a world tour in the new year, with European dates to be revealed in a matter of days, as well as a new album of new material, according to his official website brucespringsteen.net.

"A lot of you have been hearing that Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will be on tour in 2012. That is absolutely correct," the website stated, confirming speculation on fan sites over the past several days.

"The European dates run from the middle of May until end of July and are being announced this week," it said, adding that details for concerts in the United States and other parts of the world would be "coming up shortly".

It went on to say that "the music is almost done (but still untitled)" for a new album, with its release date "not quite yet" finalized.

Talk of a tour flared up this past week when a Tel Aviv newspaper said negotiations were underway for Springsteen to perform in Israel.

This past year has seen the 62-year-old rock legend appear at a number of benefit concerts in the United States, including one for the E Street Band's beloved saxophonist Clarence Clemons who died in June at the age of 69.