Yet another example of musicians who should stick to making music:
Bruce Springsteen has plugged his guitar into a political amplifier, launching a series of concerts with some of the biggest names in rock music aimed at ousting President George W Bush.Discarding his long-held distaste for the harsh world of US party politics, Springsteen joined forces and voices with R.E.M at a concert in Philadelphia late Friday that sought to mobilise voters ahead of next month’s presidential election.“We’re here for a purpose, we’re here for a reason,” Springsteen told the sell-out crowd in the city’s Wachovia Centre that at times seemed torn between adoration of their idol and acceptance of his new-found political persona.And the 55-year-old rock legend, who has acknowledged his discomfort with adopting a partisan role, offered a self-deprecating take on his campaign message.“And now the moment you’ve all been waiting for,” he said halfway through a blistering set with his E Street Band. “My public service announcement.”Underlining his opposition to the war in Iraq with a call for the United States to show humility in “exercising its power at home and abroad,” Springsteen urged the crowd to help bring out voters on November 2.“The best way to express your concern is to roll up your sleeves and do something,” he shouted, before launching into a raucous version of his classic standard Born to Run.The show kicked off a 10-day series of Vote For Change concerts in a dozen battleground states across the country with acts like Pearl Jam, the Dave Matthews Band, Bonnie Raitt, the Dixie Chicks and Sheryl Crow.
I don’t know about you, but I would not pay much credence to anything uttered by Michael Stipe of REM.
There is a saying: Liar, liar pants on fire..but judging from this picture, his really are on fire.
