Journey keyboardist Jonathan Cain has weighed in on whether stars should speak publicly about their political views, insisting most of them should “shut up”.
After Sir Mick Jagger called out Bruce Springsteen for his anti-Trump rants, Jonathan – who is married to Paula White-Cain, Donald Trump’s former White House faith adviser – told The Boss to “shut up” and focus on “your art”.
Speaking to The Complete Disaster Network, Jonathan said he’s now a committed conservative after previously supporting Democrats. He claimed he backed Barack Obama early on but later rejected him, adding: “I’m a diehard conservative. And guys like Bruce Springsteen should shut up. Honestly, shut up, Bruce. Who’s the other one? Robert De Niro. I mean, who cares, guys? Really? Do your art.”
Jonathan said he avoids politics in his music but he released the patriotic track The Winds Of Freedom A Salute To America to mark the US 250th anniversary. He described himself and fellow musician and Trump supporter Kid Rock as “a couple of patriots” who “love our flag and our nation”.
He argued artists should focus on unity, pointing to Paul McCartney’s claim that crowds of all political stripes sing Hey Jude together. Jonathan said Journey fans do the same when they hear Don’t Stop Believin’.
He said: “People say, ‘Well, you’re a Christian and you’re a conservative,’ and I’m like, ‘So what?’ I don’t preach it on stage.
“I just don’t think it’s cool to have celebrities going there. It’s a bad look.”
Jonathan also took aim at Bruce Springsteen again, calling him “an annoying, bitter old man” and criticising Born In The USA, claiming the lyrics are “a diss to our country”.
He finished by saying he and Kid Rock are “on an island” politically: “If anybody’s got a problem with me, America and Jesus, then bring it.”
In a recent interview with The New York Times, Rolling Stones frontman Mick said a concert is no place to “lecture” fans on politics.
He insisted: “Your job is to make them have the best time they possibly can.”
