Jonathan Cain, the keyboardist and longtime member of Journey, has delivered pointed criticism of Bruce Springsteen over the rock legend’s increasingly political concert performances, telling the singer to “shut up” and focus on music.
“Guys like Bruce Springsteen should shut up, you know,” Cain said during an appearance on The Complete Disaster Network podcast. “Honestly, shut up, Bruce.”
The interview, originally recorded in May, gained renewed attention over the weekend after being featured on music outlets Blabbermouth and Ultimate Classic Rock, coming as Springsteen has made headlines for his pointed criticism of the Trump administration during his “Land of Hope and Dreams” tour.
“Bruce, I mean, what the heck? I used to like him, and now he’s just annoying,” said Cain, who co-wrote Journey’s iconic hit “Don’t Stop Believin’.” “He’s an annoying, bitter old man. I mean, stop it.”
Politics and Performance
Cain, who identifies as conservative, emphasized that he keeps his own political and religious views separate from his performances with Journey.
“Now, people say, ‘Well, you’re Christian, and you’re conservative,'” the musician explained during the podcast. “And I’m like, ‘So what?’ I don’t preach it on stage. I don’t spend 10 minutes talking about it.”
He also took aim at Springsteen’s signature anthem, suggesting a disconnect between the singer’s patriotic image and his political messaging. “You know, you were ‘Born in the USA,’ weren’t you, dude? So act like it,” Cain said. “But even that song, if you look at the lyrics, I mean, it’s a kind of a diss to our country.”
Springsteen’s Tour Rhetoric
The 76-year-old Springsteen has made numerous political statements both on and off stage during his current tour. During a stop in Manchester, he warned audiences about what he sees as threats in America.
“There’s some very weird, strange, and dangerous sh*t going on out there right now,” Springsteen told the crowd. “In America, they are persecuting people for using their right to free speech and voicing their dissent. This is happening now. In America, the richest men are taking satisfaction in abandoning the world’s poorest children to sickness and death.”
According to the source material, Springsteen also criticized the Trump administration’s approach to immigration enforcement, claiming officials were “taking sadistic pleasure in the pain they inflict on loyal American workers.”
Presidential Response
President Trump responded to Springsteen’s commentary with a characteristically blunt social media post addressing what he termed the singer’s “Trump Derangement Syndrome.”
“Bad, and very boring singer, Bruce Springsteen, who looks like a dried up prune who has suffered greatly from the work of a really bad plastic surgeon, has long had a horrible and incurable case of Trump Derangement Syndrome, sometimes referred to as TDS,” Trump wrote. “The guy is a total loser who spews hate against a President who won a Landslide Election, including the popular vote, all Seven Swing States, and 86% of the Counties across America.”
The exchange highlights the ongoing cultural divide in American politics, with musicians and entertainers increasingly vocal about political issues while facing pushback from those who believe concerts should remain apolitical spaces. Cain’s comments reflect a perspective shared by some performers and audience members who prefer to keep entertainment and political discourse separate.
Source: www.dailywire.com โ https://www.dailywire.com/news/journey-star-slams-bruce-springsteen-as-bitter-old-man-over-anti-trump-rants