Neil Young and Eddie Vedder in a loving solidarity. They quickly rushed to the defense of Bruce Springsteen once then-president Donald Trump started making public, vitriolic attacks on him. That firestorm began when Trump personally attacked both Springsteen and Taylor Swift, publicly accusing them both of being un-American at a recent rally.
On May 14, during the opening night of his European tour, Springsteen described Trump’s administration as “corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous.” Trump had the biggest freak-out over the comment. He referred to Springsteen as a “dried out prune” and said that he should “SHUT HIS TRAP until he returns to the Country. To further stoke the fire, Trump then threatened to investigate Springsteen.
Neil Young reacted to Trump’s comments in an open letter posted on the Neil Young Archives website. The progressive Barnes went on to defend both Springsteen and Swift, reiterating the musicians’ rights to freely express their opinions. Young firmly stated, “Bruce and thousands of musicians think you are ruining America. You worry about that instead of the dyin’ kids in Gaza. That’s your problem. I am not scared of you. Neither are the rest of us.”
Young understandably lamented the sorry state of affairs regarding free speech in America. He lamented that crucial freedom, wondering if it was doomed beyond the upcoming year. He criticized Trump for his lack of focus on pressing national issues, saying, “You shut down FEMA when we needed it most. That’s your problem Trump. STOP THINKING ABOUT WHAT ROCKERS ARE SAYING. Think about saving America from the mess you made.”
Eddie Vedder joined the conversation during a concert at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He empathized with Young’s plight. Make no mistake, Trump’s response was weak – periods in-between and not personal attacks – focused on personal attacks and absolutely evaded missing the point entirely. Vedder stated, “(Trump’s) response had nothing to do with the issues… All that we heard were personal attacks and threats that nobody else should try to use their microphones or voice in public or they’ll be shut down.”
Young is looking forward to heading back to Europe this summer for his ‘Love Earth’ world tour. He’s got a busy year ahead of him, playing all the big festivals – Glastonbury and a headline slot at BST Hyde Park already announced. Considering the current debate, Young’s tour would generate much-needed discussions. It can be an incredibly powerful platform for engaging in a larger discourse about artistic freedom and political expression.
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