Jonathan Cain has a blunt message for Bruce Springsteen over his Donald Trump criticism. The Journey Keyboardist wants the rocker to leave politics alone. In a podcast interview now drawing fresh attention, Cain unloaded on the “Born in the U.S.A.” singer over his frequent criticism of the president. His remarks have revived a familiar argument about whether musicians belong in political debates.
Jonathan Cain reignited the debate over celebrity activism by criticizing Bruce Springsteen’s outspoken political views
Speaking on the “Complete Disaster Network podcast,” the 76-year-old Journey musician, a familiar face in MAGA circles who once performed at Mar-a-Lago, traced his own shift to the right before turning his fire on his fellow rocker. “I used to be a Democrat back in the old days, but I couldn’t go there anymore, you know?” he said. From there, he made his feelings plain.
“I’m a diehard conservative.. And guys like Bruce Springsteen should shut up. You know, really, honestly, shut up, Bruce, you know? Him and… who’s the other one? Robert De Niro. I mean, who cares, guys? Do your art. I try to keep politics out of my music,” Cain said.
He went further when describing how his view of the singer has soured. “And Bruce, I mean, what the heck? I used to like him, and now he’s just annoying. He’s an annoying, bitter old man. I mean, stop it,” he continued, before taking aim at the hit that made his rival a household name and arguing its lyrics read as a swipe at the country.
Cain is married to the evangelist Paula White-Cain, who has long served as a spiritual advisor inside Donald Trump’s orbit. Even so, he insisted that his own beliefs stay off the stage. “Now, people say, ‘and I’m like, ‘So what?’ I don’t preach it on stage. I don’t spend 10 minutes talking about it,” he said, while promoting a new patriotic single he describes as an expression of love of country rather than party.
Springsteen, also 76, has been vocal on his recent tour. Onstage in April, he described America as sitting in the hands of what he called a corrupt and reckless administration, urging fans to choose “hope over fear” and “unity over division.”
TELL US, Do YOU THINK MUSICIANS SHOULD KEEP POLITICS OFF THE STAGE AS JONATHAN CAIN SAYS? OR IS BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN RIGHT TO SPEAK HIS MIND?
