In Shock Move, Steve Van Zandt Supports Bruce Decision

by Nick Levine, reposted from New Musical Express (here)

E Street Band member Steven Van Zandt has backed Bruce Springsteen’s decision to cancel their planned concert in North Carolina tomorrow (April 10) because of the “bigotry” of the state’s new bathroom law.

Springsteen released a statement yesterday (April 8) explaining that he had pulled the band’s gig in Greensboro, North Carolina because of the recently-passed Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act, which has been widely condemned as anti-LGBTQ because it requires individuals to use bathrooms corresponding to their biological sex.

“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,” Springsteen said in the statement. “It is the strongest means I have for raising my voice in opposition to those who continue to push us backwards instead of forwards.”

Now his longterm bandmate Van Zandt has added his voice to the protest, telling Rolling Stone: “We just felt the issue was just too important. 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.'”

“It’s unfortunately the only way people understand,” the guitarist added. “You have to hurt them economically in order to have them do the right thing morally, unfortunately.”