While talking to RollingStone.com, the 69-year-old Clemons said he was still in a lot of pain while performing on 2009’s “Working On A Dream” tour.

“The last tour was hell. Pure hell,” Clemons said. “The tour was wonderful musically. But I knew when it was done that I had to have more surgery.”

More time under the knife included having both knees replaced for the second time as well as spinal fusion surgery.

“The timing was perfect because it didn’t interfere with a lot of stuff that was going on in my life,” Clemons told RollingStone.com. “It made me stronger, and for the past year I’ve been in physical therapy a few days a week working my ass off to get back in shape. I’m walking better now, though I still use a cane and crutches. But now I’m having hip problems again. I don’t know why.”

Clemons also said he hadn’t heard anything official about a Springsteen/E Street 2012 tour, but said the “rumors feel true.” The last time Springsteen played with the band in public was in December at the Carousel House in Asbury Park in front of approximately 60 fans for a video shoot.

Clemons also talked about playing on the new Lady Gaga album, saying he hopes to perform live with her at some point in the future.

“If she asked I’d love to,” Clemons said. “If Bruce and Gaga both needed me around the same time I don’t know if you could hold me down to the ground. If both of ‘em came to pass in the same year or two years it would just be…I can’t even think like that. [laughs] It would be so crazy. The thing I’d love to do is have the chance to go out with both of them.”

Click here to read the complete article on RollingStone.com.