A former drummer for Bruce Springsteen, who played with the legendary musician for many years, has urged Springsteen to show respect for the President, following the rock star’s recent criticism of Donald Trump. Springsteen, known for his outspoken views, had referred to Trump’s administration as a “corrupt, incompetent, racist, reckless and treasonous” regime during his “Land of Hope and Dreams” tour.
Vini “Mad Dog” Lopez, the original drummer for the E Street Band, expressed a contrasting opinion in an interview with The Post. “It’s important to have respect for the President,” Lopez stated. Despite Trump’s controversial presidency, Lopez emphasized the need for respect, saying, “He is the president of the United States, and I would show him respect if I were speaking to him personally.”
Lopez, who currently resides in Largo, Florida, during the winter months, added with a touch of humor, “I wouldn’t engage in discussions about political matters with him, though.” This perspective highlights Lopez’s differing approach from Springsteen, who often uses his concerts as platforms for political expression.
In contrast to Springsteen’s politically charged performances, Lopez mentioned that his current band, The Wonderful Winos, prefers to steer clear of politics, focusing instead on delivering an entertaining musical experience. Lopez’s stance underscores a significant difference in how the two musicians choose to use their platforms in the public eye.
“He is the president of the United States. And if I was standing there talking to him, I would have mucho respect for the man,” Lopez said, adding with a chuckle, “I wouldn’t talk to him about anything that’s going on” politically.
Unlike Springsteen, a New Jersey native who makes every concert these days feel like a tedious political rally, the percussionist said he takes a different approach with his current group, The Wonderful Winos.
“My band, whatever we think, we don’t go there in our music,” said Lopez, 77, who has played with about 30 music groups over the years.
The drummer played with Springsteen for six years — including on the famed record “Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.” — before the pair parted ways because Lopez was “too jazzy for what [Springsteen] wanted to do,” he said.
Lopez was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with Springsteen’s E Street Band in 1999.
The drummer said he is no ideological diehard, although he copped to voting Republican, from City Council to US Congress.
Lopez said he caddied on golf courses for years and once met Trump at his Bedminster, NJ, golf course before he was president and happily shook his hand, knowing his conservative politics.
“He was very nice to me. He was very inquisitive and introduced me to Melania,” Lopez said.
He said that as he was leaving that day, Trump asked to do him a “big favor.
” ‘ Tell Bruce I’m his biggest fan,’ ” Lopez said Trump told him.
The president has since called for a boycott of Springsteen, who he refers to as a “dried-up prune.”
Lopez said he still supports the Boss’s freedom of speech, even if it includes polarizing rhetoric about “our wannabe king” and Trump’s “rogue government.”
“I am not against what Bruce is saying now,” Lopez said.
He said he just doesn’t believe politics should tear Americans apart.
“Maybe when I was 20, I was a little more extreme, but I’m 77 now, so the extremities are gone,” Lopez said.
“It’s so divided, the political part. It’s a tough one on me.”
Lopez added that he’s still hopeful of Trump’s policies, saying, “I would love to see something good come out.”
The drummer said he and Springsteen are meanwhile on “perfect” terms and that the two occasionally still connect.
“If he wants me to do something, he’ll call me” Lopez said.
“Sometimes it’s just because he hasn’t seen me for a while. And he’ll call me and say. ‘Hey, come around here,’ ” recalled the Jerseyite. “And most of the time it’s terrible when I call him because it’s when one of our crew died and he doesn’t know that. That’s happening more and more.”
Lopez doesn’t plan on seeing Springsteen’s current tour but caught his former band in Philly a few years ago.
“I don’t even think he knew I was there,” Lopez said. “I was sitting over in the corner.”
