Here’s how rocker Bruce Springsteen began a show in Manchester, England tonight:
“The mighty E Street Band is here tonight to call upon the righteous power of art, of music, of rock ‘n roll in dangerous times. In my home, the America I love, the America I’ve written about, that has been a beacon of hope and liberty for 250 years is currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous administration. Tonight we ask all who believe in democracy and the best of our American experiment to rise with us, raise your voices against authoritarianism and let freedom ring!”
What an asshole.
Going to a foreign country and attacking the U.S. government and the President isn’t just poor citizenship, it’s stupid. A concert audience didn’t pay exorbitant sums to hear political statements from a musician regarding their own country, much less another one. Meanwhile, Springsteen has shown no indications of knowing what he’s talking about; he’s just repeating the anti-Trump talking points that he hears or reads second-hand.
In an interview with “Variety” in 2017 the singer was asked why he hadn’t been more outspoken against Trump I.0 and said, “Well, if you read Charles Blow in The New York Times, he carries the flag pretty well.” There you go: signature significance! Blow, as regular readers here know, was an early Trump Derangement victim who never let facts, fairness or reality interfere with his rants. Bruce later became one of the celebrities who was receiving money to pimp for Kamala Harris (if she wasn’t paying him, he has reason to complain bitterly since her campaign was shelling out so much to other celebrities for appearances and endorsements). Bruce’s dim-bulb pitch for the most unqualified, least competent Presidential candidate since 1872 was…
“She’s running to be the 47th president of the United States. Donald Trump is running to be an American tyrant. He does not understand this country, its history, or what it means to be deeply American. And that’s why November 5, I’m casting my vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. I urge all of you who believe in the American way to join me.”
Of course, Donald Trump understands his country very, very well, and a lot better than the advocates of open borders, “good” discrimination, defunding the police, gun confiscation and refusing to stand for the National Anthem…..or, apparently, Bruce Spingsteen. Bruce is bidding to be the rock version of Robert De Niro, and he has approximately the same qualifications as a pundit—none. De Niro is a high school drop-out; Springsteen is a college dropout. There is no evidence that either are especially well-read or discerning regarding history or politics.
But Bruce feels that it is appropriate for him to trash his President in front of foreign audiences.
It isn’t.
Ethics Alarms 
Fuck Springsteen.
This really isn’t all that different than the Dixie Chicks, now just the Chicks, bashing on Bush the younger almost 20 years ago now. I don’t think Bruce will have to have a tour rerouted, but the man is 75 years old and trying to stay relevant.
Springsteen would still be playing in bars were it not for Clarence Clemons and the rest of the E Street Band. Vocally he always seemed to be shouting. Not an artistic favorite of mine so his rantings carry no weight with me.
I always saw him as an anti-Viet-Nam protester who was quite late to the party given that we were winding down our involvement there in 1973 when he first started. Maybe this is his encore.
Oh, how the rose-colored glasses the media, the entertainment industry and public schools put on the ’60s protest movement has muddled the minds of at least two generations of Americans. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Springsteen and other celebrities his age are just unreconstructed hippies who never got over not being able to jail Nixon and have taken their wrath out on every subsequent Republican president.
Good explanation, AM of a phenomenon that’s mystified me ever since the ’60s, but mostly ever since the Bush II era, and certainly since Trump Derangement has become endemic.
Scorned in the USA, I was
Scorned in the USA…
Where did they get the idea that Trump is treasonous?
Well, because, like he’s a tyrant and a fascist. I mean, like, everyone knows that man. Get with the program.
Don’t forget all that fake Russian collusion stuff. Oh, and remember that he’s in the pocket of all those dictators over there….except, of course, when he’s criticizing them and risking WWIII.
Yeah, but he went to Woodstock…..
In a related note, a band from Austin posted on social media yesterday that their upcoming tour was “cancelled because fascism” saying their drummer was grabbed off a plane by border patrol, implying it was because he is Latino – https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/music/2025-05-14/lord-buffalo-drummer-yamal-said-a-legal-u-s-resident-detained-by-border-patrol/
It turns out he has an active arrest warrant and was boarding a flight leaving the country. To add to the TDS, the original article didn’t have the 3rd paragraph yesterday when it blew up on social media. Of course it was shared as an example of “border patrol grabbing people just because they are brown”.
Jack,
You’ll forgive me if I fail to see the ethical lapse on Springsteen’s part. Concerts by big stars result from a lot of planning and management, but they’re not like theatrical performances where every moment is scripted (unlike the Hamilton mishap years ago). Musicians adlib commentary, anecdotes, and other personal tidbits into their shows all the time — that’s WHY most people go see them live. Anyone who wants to hear “Born to Run” has a million better options than watching a tired geriatric going through the motions; they’re paying (exorbidant prices) to see the Bruce himself, warts, 1/2 reasoned public opionions, and all. In fact, people not only enjoy, but actively seek out everything from little exchanges to grand declarations on stage in live albums, and relish in the opportunity to see one happen in real time. No doubt, (almost) everyone in attendance — regardless of political stance — delighted in seeing their favored performer speak his mind.
None of this makes anything he said more informed, insightful, or worth paying attention to, but it also doesn’t make him an asshole. This doesn’t even rise to the level of “fighting words”, much less imminent lawless action, nor does he even mention Trump or even Republicans by name. In other words, it’s protected speech made by an American citizen, in a country that likewise allows such words, to an audience of adoring fans: legally and morally netural. It sounds to me like you’re cutting a big a big road through ethics to get after the Devil …
When I was in high school and Jackson Browne was a thing, I told my friends, “there’s nothing worse than a musician with a cause.”
Nearly forty years later, I stand by that assertion.
Let me summarize your argument:
“People ad lib in non-scripted events, so gross dishonest smears are OK”
And
“People love seeing drama, so gross dishonest smears are OK”
Ooops and forgot
“It’s protected speech so gross dishonest smears are OK.”
Michael West,
This doesn’t rise to the level of smear or libel — he expressed an opinion. An inflammatory one, granted, but one he’s allowed to have morally and legally. So far, the only drama has come from people (like yourself) who weren’t there but nevertheless want to have feelings about it.
Jack,
Are you avoiding me? A phone call, several emails, and now silence on even my dissenting comments has me wondering. You’ve also refused to accept my apology for a comment I made 6-7 years ago and have repeatedly refused to address it every time I bring it up. Seems like a good time to bury hatchets.
Yes it does. What he said and where and how he said it all combined as unethical conduct. Regardless of the legality.
You’re rationalizing.
A person can say “all Jews are evil vermin” and by *your* argumentation, what the person said is “A-OK”
Good afternoon, Neil.
I don’t disagree with most of what you write. Fans of a performer, group, band, generally know where that artist stands on stuff, and most tend to agree with that stand.
I do get that we should not visit a foreign land and run our country down while there. It is bad form.
Bruce, while singing songs about the downtroddened and disenfranchised, has always had a liberal slant to his songs, which is why I thought Reagan using “Born in the USA” was kind of dumb – if they had bothered to read the lyrics, they would have figured out that the song was about Vietman vets and the terrible treatment they received for fighting a terribly unpopular and incoherent war in some Southeast Asian country many had never heard of before going off to fight.
As my friend used to say, “musicians have issues.” They are called by muse.
Laura Ingraham wrote a book called “Shut Up and Sing.” She derides (unfairly, I might add) musicians, actors, and artists for their uninformed political stances, prostletizing to the world that their world view is morally superior. Cue: Lennon’s idiotic and naive “Imagine” if you want to because I don’t and won’t. That song derives me nuts.
Since the 1940s, I suspect that musicians, artists, actors, etc., have an exhaulted and oversized view of their relative importance on politics and policies. When Green Day criticizes middle and lower class Americans, I simply shrug my shoulders and think, “ah, hell, yet another bunch of doofuses pontificating about things they can’t possibly comprehend. But, the guitar tone is great.”
Then, you get really clever artists who have a keen insight into things. Paul Simon comes to mind. The country story tellers (Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, et al) also come to mind. Juan Luís Guerra is a tremendous wordsmith, as is Dolly Parton. Maynard James Keenan from Tool, Steven Wilson from Porcupine Tree, and Neil Peart from Rush have crafted really interesting lyrics with thought-provoking messages. I will cut and paste Peart’s final lyrics from “The Garden” below as a great example of someone giving perspective on life and the world.
jvb
Rush, “The Garden” from “Clockwork Angels, 2012; words by Neil Peart, music by Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee:
In this one of many possible worldsAll for the best or some bizarre test?It is what it is and whateverTime is still the infinite jest
The arrow flies when you dreamThe hours tick away, the cells tick awayThe Watchmaker keeps to his schemesThe hours tick away, they tick away
The measure of a life is a measure of love and respectSo hard to earn, so easily burnedThe measure of a life is a measure of love and respectSo hard to earn, so easily burned
In the fullness of timeA garden to nurture and protect
In the rise and the set of the sun’Til the stars go spinningSpinning ’round the nightOh, it is what it is and foreverEach moment a memory in flight
The arrow flies while you breatheThe hours tick away, the cells tick awayThe Watchmaker has time up his sleeveThe hours tick away, they tick away
The measure of a life is a measure of love and respectSo hard to earn, so easily burned
In the fullness of timeA garden to nurture and protectIt’s a measure of a life
The treasure of a lifeIs a measure of love and respectThe way you live, the gifts that you give
In the fullness of timeIs the only return that you expect
The future disappears into memoryWith only a moment betweenForever dwells in that momentHope is what remains to be seen
Forever dwells in that momentHope is what remains to be seen
In the fullness of timeA garden to nurture and protectIt’s a measure of a life
In the fullness of timeA garden to nurture and protectIt’s a measure of a life
In the fullness of timeA garden to nurture and protectIt’s a measure of a life
In the fullness of timeA garden to nurture and protect
It’s a measure of a lifeIt’s a measure of a lifeIt’s a measure of a lifeIt’s a measure of a life
Neil’s post was well articulated but your response was even better. COTD material. Nonetheless, Springsteen is not someone whose work I would pay for and I still believe he is over rated.
He is entitled to say what he wants but he does so by risking the axiom that one should remain quiet and be thought a fool rather than open his mouth and remove all doubt. Jack is correct, he is merely mouthing leftist talking points without any thought of his own. The best artists offer advice for life not just criticism of what they hate.
Neil Peart’s lyrics above reflect far deeper thinking and not just good wordsmithing.
Thanks, Chris.
I agree, though, that The Boss is simply spouting librral/leftist cant without thinking about it. I don’t really expect anything more substantive from him. Fish gotta swim, Trump gotta Trump, and Springsteen gotta, well, say stuff.
jvb
jvb,
I share Chris’ sentiment…yours was an outstanding comment!! I believe that if a singer wants to sing songs with a narrative or a theme…heck, with a straight-up political or theological message, I’m cool with all that. That’s what they sing and those songs are what I would pay to hear. What I don’t want is a singer wasting “song” time to stand there and preach his/her messages at me.
The bigger – and more ethical – question for me is this: would I be alright with a singer wasting “song” time to preach things with which I agree? I want to say “no”, but I also recognize the unethical, hypocritical side of me.
Just an aside: where Springsteen lost me was his conversation with President Obama shortly after Clarence Clemons died…and the derogatory remarks that came out of that. People loved Clemons and that guy was a fabulous musician, regardless of what shade of melanin he (or anyone else) possessed.
…and “Dancing in the Dark” is one of those songs I still crank up when I hear it. I love that song!!
Yes, Clarence was an amazing musician with a great stage presence. One of the few sax players I can tolerate.
I don’t agree with Springsteen politically but I recognize that The Boss has had a huge impact on popular music. “Born to Run” is a superb album. If his fans want to listen to him preach, fine. I don’t so I don’t attend his shows anymore. Same with Roger Waters from Pink Floyd. Love the music but roll my eyes when Waters gets on his high horse about the Israel, the Middle East, or, hell, the price of tea in China.
My argument isn’t that Bruce doesn’t have the righ to speak his mind and share his opinions. He does. He has every right to do that. My point is that he shouldn’t use his platform – a rock concert – as his own little (or, ‘uge!) soapbox. It is an abuse of his power, even though I know what I am going to get when I would attend his shows. Doing it on foreign soil is even more obnoxious and insulting I went to his shows to hear “Thunder Road” and “Jungleland” and the like, not listen some inarticulate screed that Orange Man Bad is evil incarnate simply because that is the prevailing liberal/leftist/DNC narrative. I suspect if you asked a follow up question (“Boss, why is Orange Man Bad a tyrant”) he couldn’t give a coherent explanation. The follow up to the follow up would be, “uh, when did Trump dissolve the Legislature or the Judiciary? Where has he superceded federalism by taking over the many states? Where has he issued any rule or order suspending habeas corpus or due process or the Constitution?”
Rush, the Canadian Triumvirate and my all-time favorite band, kept their personal politics to a minimum, even though “2112” was a very political album about personal liberty/freedom against the collective power structure, based on Ayn Rand and the dystopians. But, that is a common theme in Peart’s lyrics – at the core, he was concerned about maintaining personal intergrity, ethics, and morality in the face of pressure to conform, to go along to get along.
jvb
After reading this response, I see we are in full agreement.
Jack, you tease us. I had to look up the candidate. While muttering to myself…”what’s he talking about…that wasn’t the Rutherford B. Hayes election just yet, was it? Who could it be? Who could it be…”
Internet For the Win!
Sitting president U.S. Grant soundly defeated Horace Greeley in 1872. It sounds like Greeley was a man with some developmental issues, a fan of all new fashions, distinguished journalist (“Go West, young man”) but not presidential material.
charles w abbott
rochester NY
Wasn’t Greeley the one who died just before the election? Thus earning his moment in presidential trivia fame.
Is gross to say anything like that in any country. It’s slightly even more gross to say that in the specific country we broke away from for the very reasons he falsely claims our country has given in to…. Regardless of how good of allies we’ve become in the meantime.
Michael,
We broke away from that country specifically so we could say the kinds of things he said. I get the “let’s not air our grievances in front of guests”, argument, but his political views are well on record at this point. Also, the fact that you would characterize the last 250 yeats of diplomacy with England as “in the meantime” speaks loudly about where (and when) your thinking derives.
Good luck to you, and good day.
What?
Am I the only one wondering about Jack’s scarcity since Wednesday night?
You are not. My wife and I are praying he’s doing all right. It is an interesting fact that Jack not putting a post in a 24-hour period is a good sign someone nearby should do a wellness check. The post office has nothing on Jack’s dedication to Ethics Alarms.
No, I am beginning to get worried about him. It is not like him to go without posting for this long.
Yes. I e-mailed him and he did not respond to that–even to just say he is too busy to write.
-Jut
You’re not. He would have told us if there was going to be a break in posting. He would have put up an emergency Open Forum. I have prayed for his well-being.
Is there anyone who lives close enough to check?
Interesting how you and I thought of this at almost exactly the same time.
You’re in my head!!!
P.S. Our host posted this piece later Wednesday evening…and there’s been nothing since, and I don’t see him responding in the recent pieces. Did he mention he was going to be away a bit and I missed it?
I keep telling myself not to fret or worry, but…
Thankfully, I’ve never liked a single song of his. To me, they all seemed targeted to northern mill town high school dropout barflies, except maybe when he tried to pretend to be the next Bob Dylan. I may be elitist and annoyed, but at least not disappointed by him.
I’d even listen to Rush if that were my only other choice, although that might just consist of Tom Sawyer on a replay loop. [Hi, jvb 😉 ]
Oh, you would issue a rebuke of the Canadian Triumvirate, would you? I take offense! I challenge you to a duel!! We, the Rushinati, take the Triumvirate seriously.
jvb
Ha! Canadian code duelo, then!
From The Very large Book of Hoser Games and Pastimes:
Dueling:
Opponents must each be dressed only in red long-Johns, billy boots, and a red and black toque. Each duelist must stand in a two meter circle, 10 meters distance from each other, and remain there throughout the fight. Weapons are to be small pike (the fish, not the spear) of no more than 0.5 kilos each, which can be hurled at the opponent as desired. Each duelist may hold as many pike as he can, but keep no more than an additional ten in a bucket within his circle, and none on the ground. A dropped pike is out of play, and may not be removed if in the circle. Seconds may resupply the fish as needed, but the fight will not be suspended for this procedure. Taunting is not allowed, except by observers. Dueslists may only verbalize short one-word exclamations in French, such as “merde!”, “putain!”, “sacre!”, etc. Wagering is also limited to between observers, and must be done with Canadian Tire Money.
Every three minutes, the fight must be suspended, during which each combatant is required to down a can of Labatt within 30 seconds . Failure to accomplish this will be considered a forfeit.
Opponents must remain upright, and not kneel nor lie down, though crouching is allowed. A duelist who collapses, steps out of, or sets any body part outside the circle, deliberately or accidentally, will be considered the loser. A duelist may concede, or seconds may agree to end the fight at any time.
Alternate rules allow that all parties may show up at an agreed upon time and place and just get drunk.
Lay on, McDuff.
jvb
I’ll be in Canada in mid-July. Watch for the guy with the bucket of fish!
Regarding Jack’s absence, I was able to get his phone number and address. I called the phone number and got voicemail, so I called the Alexandria police and requested a wellness check.
I hope I didn’t overstep.
Jon, you have my vote of approval!
Mine too, Jon!
PWS
Thanks for the support, guys.
They said they would call me back once they’ve been there, so I’ll report back once there’s news.
Fingers crossed.
Good work, Jon! (fingers crossed)
Thank you!
Thank you!
Good afternoon, everyone. I am commenting as Jack’s official emissary and have been so delegated to report to you that he is not dead, nor is he in any kind of personal difficulty. He IS, however, stuck in Verizon Hell with no access to internet, email, phone, you name it if it’s electronic. He was told that it would be back by 4 pm yesterday, and yet here we are, lacking Jack. But Jack will be back. In the meantime, carry on.
Kudos; you’ve coaxed a few of us off’n the ledge…
Think Jack’s going to tear Verizon a NEW ONE…?
PWS
I look forward to it.
Thanks for the update, Proe!
Now I’m curious how widespread this electronic outage is, and whether it was brought about by the DOGE team firing some who secretly had a keep-alive button on all of Virginia’s internet and cellular services…
Yay!
Thanks, Proe! We do appreciate it. We were getting a bit worried about our Ethics Leader’s absence.
jvb
What a relief!!! Thank you so much for the update.
Thank you for the update!
It ids astonishing that Verizon can not restore service within 24 hours, unless the problem was region-wide.
That’s great news.
I called the police department to cancel the wellness check, but apparently they had already responded. They confirmed that Jack is just fine, though without telephone service.
By the way, if I ever need a wellness check done for someone here in Southern California, I’m calling the Alexandria Police Department. I’ll bet they’ll get here faster than the Los Angeles Police Department would.
Indeed.
jvb
Heh! LAPD would respond more quickly than LAFD…but the latter’s response would be more…um…diverse…am I right…?
PWS
Yep. If I want diverse, my first call is to LAFD. If I want quick, not so much.
Thank you, Proe and Jon.
I don’t know what Jack pays Verizon per month, but Starlink may work out to be a tad more reliable and cost competitive.
What a crew!
PROE, again. Jack says that it won’t be until tomorrow that service will be resumed. (Hah! If you believe that…) He also wants you all to know how much he appreciates your concern, even the police visits, except that they interfere with his human trafficking operations. (Or do they…?)
We were really expecting that the police visit would help save some Verizon tech’s life…
“even the police visits, except that they interfere with his human trafficking operations”
Don’t worry. I thought of that. I specifically told them, “Whatever you do, DON’T LOOK IN THE BASEMENT!”
Just be grateful they didn’t stumble across the meth lab in the garage.
Whew! I was worried our side hustle would be discovered.
jvb