Courtesy Bria JanelleOn Friday, Bruce Springsteen announced that he’d canceled his scheduled concert with The E Street Band this Sunday, April 10, in Greensboro, North Carolina, in protest over the state’s recently passed legislation that he considers discriminatory against the LGBT community. In a message on his official website, Springsteen wrote, “Some things are more important than a rock show and this fight against prejudice and bigotry — which is happening as I write — is one of them.” Friday night, Springsteen’s bandmate Steve Van Zandt offered further explanation of the Boss’ decision.
Speaking backstage at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Van Zandt said, “This really vile and evil discrimination is starting to spread state to state and we thought we better take a stand right now. and catch it early, and maybe try and stop it; at least set some kind of example.”
While Van Zandt acknowledged that “You never want to disappoint fans,” he added, “Unfortunately, it’s the only way people understand. You have to hurt them economically to force them to the right thing morally.”
The next scheduled stop on Springsteen and the E Street Band’s 2016 The River Tour is in Columbus, Ohio, this Tuesday, April 12.
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