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Journey keyboardist Jonathan Cain has criticized Bruce Springsteen for using his platform to share his political views, saying he is tired of entertainers “preaching” their beliefs to fans.
The 76-year-old musician, who has frequently spoken about his conservative views and support for President Donald Trump, made the comments during a recent podcast appearance.
“I used to be a Democrat back in the old days, but I couldn’t go there anymore, you know? I’m a diehard conservative,” Cain said on an episode of Tom Barnard’s Complete Disaster Network podcast. “And guys like Bruce Springsteen should shut up. You know, really, honestly, shut up, Bruce, you know?”
He added that Robert De Niro is another celebrity who he thinks should just “shut up.”
“I mean, who cares, guys?” he said. “Do your art. I try to keep politics out of my music.”
Springsteen has repeatedly criticized Trump in on-stage speeches during his recent Land of Hope & Dreams American Tour, and even kicked off the tour in Minneapolis in April to honor the city’s anti-ICE protests. The “Dancing In The Dark” singer did not immediately return The Independent’s request for comment on Cain’s remarks.
Cain, who has played with Journey for more than 45 years, is married to televangelist Paula White-Cain, who serves as Trump’s spiritual adviser.
“Now, people say, ‘Well, you’re a Christian and you’re conservative,’ and I’m like, ‘So what?’ I don’t preach it on stage. I don’t spend 10 minutes talking about it,’” he insisted. “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. Really. You were born in the USA, weren’t you, dude? So act like it.”
He added about Springsteen’s hit “Born in the USA”: “But even that song, if you look at the lyrics, I mean, it’s a kind of a diss toward our country.”
Cain went on to compare the song to his new single, saying, “I’m releasing this patriotic song because I’m a diehard patriot, like Ted Nugent, who’s my friend. We’re a couple of patriots — we love our flag and we love our nation, and we grew up that way.”
The rock star said that he, Nugent and singer Kid Rock might be considered “unicorns” as conservatives in the rock scene.
“Me and Kid Rock, we’re probably on an island,” he said. “There’s a few of us, and I proudly stand there with my flag on that island. And if anybody’s got a problem with me, America and Jesus, then bring it.”
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