Bruce Springsteen, the legendary rocker known for hits like Born in the U.S.A., has never hidden his political views. While those opinions have drawn strong reactions from fans, Springsteen isn’t bothered by the disagreement. The 76-year-old singer says he is comfortable with fans rejecting the political messages in his shows.
Bruce Springsteen explains why he’s fine with fans disagreeing with the political messages in his shows
Speaking to Rolling Stone, Springsteen said his Land of Hope and Dreams tour was about creating the show he wanted and sharing the story he believed in. In his words, “this was the show I wanted to make, the story I wanted to tell.” He acknowledged that some fans were “vehement about the content of the show.” He added, “And that’s okay with me right now.”
Springsteen also joked that he’s “old now” and does “what I want to do.” He explained that this has always been his approach to music. “I always made the records I wanted to make and then went out and found the audience for them,” he explained.
Springsteen also brought his political views into the tour, which ran from March through May. Its poster featured a “No Kings” banner. On opening night, Springsteen said the America he has loved and written about for 50 years “is currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent, racist, reckless and treasonous administration.”
Earlier this year, he also released “Streets of Minneapolis” in response to ICE protests in the city and the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti during encounters with ICE agents.
He also told Rolling Stone, “I’m out there to perform that music and to provide its message.” He added, “Minneapolis occurred, so I wrote ‘Streets of Minneapolis,’ and that fired the whole project, really, into being.”
Meanwhile, Springsteen said he remains “always hopeful” about the country’s future. He is currently releasing the concert film Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band: Land of Hope and Dreams American Tour (Philadelphia Freedom Cut) in installments.
