Bruce Springsteen has revealed that his upcoming tour is “going to be political”, and said he is prepared for the “blowback”.
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The legendary artist, who is a vocal critic of President Donald Trump, is set to embark on his US ‘Land Of Hope And Dreams’ trek next Tuesday (March 31).
He’ll be visiting cities such as Portland, LA, San Francisco, Austin, New York and Washington D.C. “in celebration and in defense of America”.
“Our American Constitution and our sacred American dream, all of which are under attack by our wannabe king and his rogue government in Washington DC. Everyone, regardless of where you stand or what you believe in is welcome,” Springsteen explained previously.
In response, the White House hit back at The Boss by calling him a “loser”, and saying that “he has a severe case of Trump Derangement Syndrome that has rotted his brain”.
During a new interview with the Minnesota Star Tribune ahead of his first show in Minneapolis, Springsteen promised that “the tour is going to be political and very topical about what’s going on in the country”.
“The E Street Band is built for hard times. It always was,” he continued. “These are the moments when I think we can be of real value and real worth to the community. These are moments that fill the band with purpose, so I try to fill the set list around those ideas.”
When asked if his anti-Trump stance could perhaps alienate some of his fanbase, The Boss responded: “My job is very simple: I do what I want to do, I say what I want to say and then people get to say what they want to say about it. Those are the rules of my game. That’s fine with me.
“I don’t worry about if you’re going to lose this part of your audience. I’ve always had a feeling about the position we play culturally, and I’m still deeply committed to that idea of the band. The blowback is just part of it. I’m ready for all that.”
Sharing a video on social media earlier this week, Springsteen said: “The E Street Band is coming your way, and we are bringing hope over fear, democracy over authoritarianism, the rule of law over lawlessness, ethics over unbridled corruption, unity over division and peace over war.”
In January, Springsteen hit out at Trump’s deployment of ICE across the US, calling for ICE to “get the fuck out of Minneapolis” after the death of Renee Good. Good, 37, was fatally shot by ICE agent Jonathan Ross in Minneapolis on January 7.
He then shared the protest song ‘Streets Of Minneapolis’ mourning the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, who was also killed by ICE agents in January, aged 37. The Trump administration would slam the song as being “irrelevant”.
Then, Springsteen gave ‘Streets Of Minneapolis’ its live debut during a surprise appearance at a benefit show hosted by Tom Morello. The former Rage Against The Machine guitarist organised the gig as a show of “solidarity and resistance”. It has since been confirmed that Morello will join The Boss at every show on the ‘Land Of Hope And Dreams’ US tour.
Springsteen also approved the use of his iconic hit ‘Born In The U.S.A.’ to soundtrack a new anti-ICE video last month.
The Boss has previously called for the POTUS to be impeached and “consigned to the trash heap of history”. He has also described Trump as “corrupt, incompetent and treasonous”, and endorsed the No Kings movement against him last October.
Trump has also hit back at Springsteen in the past, calling him “highly overrated” and a “pushy, obnoxious jerk” amid criticism.
In his statement about his new tour, The Boss said: “We are living through dark, disturbing and dangerous times. But do not despair, the calvary is coming. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will be taking the stage this spring from Minneapolis to California to Texas to Washington D.C. for the Land Of Hope And Dreams American Tour.
“[…] So come on out and join the united free republic of E Street nation for an American spring of rock and rebellion. I’ll see you there.”
You can find any remaining tickets for Springsteen’s US tour here.
In other news, Bruce Springsteen has covered The Pogues’ ‘A Rainy Night In Soho’ for a star-studded new tribute album to Shane MacGowan.
