NEWARK — The Boss is coming to Brick City.

Bruce Springsteen kicks off his 2012 world tour later this year in Spain. But before he takes to the road in May for Europe, he’s apparently first hitting Jersey.

Details of the performance dates have yet to be released. However, sources close to the negotiations say Springsteen and the E Street Band have signed a concert deal to perform for the first time ever in Newark — with a date at the Prudential Center for some time in late April or early May.

The sources are not authorized to speak publicly.

Those same sources said Springsteen also signed deals for two shows at the Izod Center in East Rutherford and one show at Madison Square Garden before leaving for Europe.

Officials for the venues all declined comment. A spokeswoman for Springsteen said there is no information on the "gigs" at this time.

News of the Newark show was first reported today on NJ.com, the online home of The Star-Ledger.

Springsteen’s forthcoming album, "Wrecking Ball" — whose title track was written for the last concert at Giant Stadium before it was demolished — is to be released March 6. The lyrics of the song include the line: "Now my home was here in the Meadowlands..."

To many, Springsteen’s home had indeed been the Meadowlands. The Izod Center hosted Springsteen for numerous tours — and through several arena name changes — including six sold-out shows that opened the state-owned facility, then known as the Brendan Byrne Arena, in July 1981.

He last played the Meadowlands in 2009, with five shows in Giants Stadium before it was knocked down to make way for the new stadium where the Giants and Jets now play.

Contracts recently released under court order showed Springsteen enjoyed a cozy relationship with the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, which operates the Meadowlands. The authority acted as promoter for his shows, assuming the cost of renting arena because it knew that Springsteen always sells out in New Jersey, guaranteeing a big payout in concession and parking revenues.

But now, Springsteen is set for his first performance in the state’s largest city, with at least one show at the Pru Center — known at the Rock — which opened in downtown Newark near Penn Station in 2007 and serves as home to the New Jersey Devils. With a repertoire that includes many references to the North Jersey industrial skyline and the swamps of Jersey, he has one song that would play well at Prudential — "A Night with the Jersey Devil."

The 62-year-old has not toured since his "Working on a Dream" tour" ended in November 2009.

With the release of the new album, Springsteen had already announced his tour with the E Street Band will open on May 13 in Seville, Spain. It includes 31 shows in 26 European cities, through July 31 at Olympic Stadium in Helsinki, Finland.

Although he has yet to give details of any dates in the United States, the Chicago Sun-Times last week cited sources within the Chicago Cubs who reported Springsteen was tentatively scheduled to perform at Wrigley Field in September.

"Info on the U.S. dates and the world tour dates will coming up shortly," is all his website has said.

Earlier this month, Springsteen played unannounced, but not unanticipated, at a fundraising concert for the Light Of Day Festival at the Paramount Theatre in Asbury Park.

The tour and new album by the Jersey rocker, which will feature 11 new songs, will be the first since the death last year of saxophonist Clarence Clemons, who died from complications from a massive stroke in June.

By Ted Sherman and Peggy McGlone/The Star-Ledger

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