Paul McCartney roasts Bruce Springsteen at Ivor Novello Awards ceremony

Sir Paul McCartney presented Bruce Springsteen with the top honour at The Ivor Novello Awards in London last night (23rd May), and he used the opportunity to affectionately mock his good friend.

A day after performing with The E Street Band at a rain-lashed Sunderland Stadium of Light, Bruce Springsteen attended The Ivors ceremony at London’s Grosvenor House to pick up his coveted Academy Fellow award.

The Boss is the first-ever international songwriter that the Academy has inducted into Fellowship in its 80-year history.

Fellow Ivors Fellow Paul McCartney formally presented Bruce Springsteen with the honour, and joked: “I couldn’t think of a more fitting recipient… Except maybe Bob Dylan. Or Paul Simon, or Billy Joel, or Beyoncé, or Taylor Swift. The list goes on …”

Macca added: “He’s known as the American working man, but he admits he’s never worked a day in his life.”

The 81-year-old also poked fun at their seven-year age difference, referring to Springsteen as “a lovely boy” when reminiscing about their Glastonbury collaboration in 2022.

McCartney went on stated that Springsteen would have fitted into The Beatles, and "when it comes to talent, he’d definitely be in the top five."

Walking on stage to accept the Fellowship, Bruce Springsteen hugged his close friend and he went on to perform ‘Thunder Road’ with his voice still hoarse from the Sunderland gig.

Commenting on the concert, Springsteen said: “We came out last night, and I was like: what is this weather? Driving rain, wind roaring. But standing in front of me, in the rain, I realised: these are my people.”

During the ceremony, Elton John songwriter Bernie Taupin was recognised with the Ivor Novello for Outstanding Contribution to British Music.

Rock star nicknames, including The Boss:

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• The Beatles
• Paul McCartney