Journey keyboardist Jonathan Cain has taken a sharp swipe at Bruce Springsteen, calling the rock legend an “annoying, bitter old man” over what Cain sees as political lecturing during live shows, particularly remarks aimed at President Donald Trump.
Speaking on the “Complete Disaster Network” podcast, Cain said he once identified with the Democratic Party but eventually moved away from it, according to Variety.
“I’m a diehard conservative,” Cain said, before arguing that artists like Springsteen should keep politics out of their concerts. “Guys like Bruce Springsteen should shut up. You know, really, honestly, shut up, Bruce.”
Springsteen, 76, made headlines earlier this year when he criticized the Trump administration as “reckless and treasonous” while launching his “Land of Hope & Dreams American Tour” at Minnesota’s Target Center.
Addressing the sold-out crowd in March, the “Born to Run” singer told fans, “We are living through some very dark times.”
Springsteen went on to warn that long-held American values were under threat, saying the principles that had carried the country for nearly 250 years were “being challenged as never before.” He also criticized what he described as an “unconstitutional and illegal war” putting young Americans in danger.
Cain pushed back by saying concerts should not become platforms for partisan speeches, regardless of which side an artist supports. He also took aim at Springsteen’s 1984 anthem “Born in the U.S.A.,” claiming the song itself is critical of America.
“People say, ‘Well, you’re a Christian and you’re conservative,’ and I’m like, ‘So what?’” Cain said. “I don’t preach it on stage. I don’t spend 10 minutes talking about it. And Bruce — 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. Really.”
“You were born in the USA, weren’t you, dude? So act like it. But even that song, if you look at the lyrics, I mean, it’s a kind of a diss toward our country.”
