You’ve probably heard of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. Well, there’s a popular Springsteen cover band called the B Street Band. Pretty sweet. A little while ago news came out that the B Street Band was going to be playing an inaugural party for Donald Trump. It was at this point that the B Street Band found themselves in the middle of a political storm.
"I've been beaten down. I haven't slept. I've been up all night," says Will Forte, the founder of popular Bruce Springsteen cover group the B-Street Band. The 63-year-old musician tells Rolling Stone that when news broke that his band would play a Donald Trump inauguration party this month, he received a flood of emails excoriating the group.
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For Forte, the issue is more about the office itself than who's running the country. "I respect what Bruce said and we owe everything to him, but I also have respect for the office of the presidency no matter who is involved," Forte says. "A little bit of us going down there originally [in 2009] was because we were honored to be part of that celebration of the office of the presidency. It's not about the candidate or who was elected; it was about the office of the presidency. I was performing for that. C'mon, we're a bar band. It's got nothing to do with politics whatsoever."
That was a couple of days ago. Since that time the never-ending chant of “C’mon guys! You’re the B STREET BAND,” has finally gotten to them. Today, the B Street Band went to their page to announce that they will not be performing for any Trump inaugural events.
With deepest apologies to our fans and the New Jersey Inaugural Ball committee, the B Street Band is withdrawing from performing at this year's inauguration Gala.
Our decision is based SOLELY on the respect and gratitude we have for Bruce and the E Street Band.
Bruce's music has been the foundation of our livelihood. The B Street Band would not exist without the talents of Bruce and our E Street brothers.
We are most grateful to these rock legends and look forward to many more years of emulating and performing the Forever Music, of Bruce Springsteen.
They are referencing Bruce Springsteen’s very clear and concise—and well publicized—feelings and thoughts on our president-elect.
Sit tight, take hold, Thunder Road.