Bruce Springsteen had to increase security for his current tour after receiving death threats during shows in the United States.
According to information released by the international press [via Ultimate Classic Rock ], the Land of Hope and Dreams tour , marked by political speeches and frequent criticism of Donald Trump 's government , has had its security reinforced in recent months. Bruce Springsteen had already publicly criticized Donald Trump, calling the president "corrupt," "incompetent," and a "traitor." The musician's political statements reportedly angered the president's supporters.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, Steven Van Zandt, Springsteen's longtime guitarist, stated that threats have always existed, but have grown significantly in this new series of performances.
“It’s a very specific political theme of this tour, and there have been many threats, death threats. Normally, there are always some, but this time they’ve escalated. It’s not that we’re saying something untrue or anything particularly controversial, but it’s specifically political. So, the FBI and other agencies have been monitoring the situation closely and are extremely concerned, as they should be. We want the fans to be safe and feel safe. That’s why we’ve gone to great lengths with extra security measures,” revealed Steven Van Zandt.
The Land of Hope and Dreams Tour began in March in Minneapolis and continues with performances in cities such as Cleveland, Boston, Washington, and ends on May 30th in Philadelphia.
Despite the threats, Bruce Springsteen continues to maintain his political stance in his performances and has stated that he does not intend to change the content of the tour.
In March, the musician told the Minnesota Star Tribune that he wasn't worried about losing fans and making enemies: “The tour will be political and very current about what's happening in the country. I've always had a sense of the position we play culturally, and I remain deeply committed to that idea of the band. Negative reactions are part of the process. I'm prepared for all of that.”
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