Journey keyboardist Jonathan Cain has launched an extraordinary attack on Bruce Springsteen, branding the rock icon an ‘annoying, bitter old man’ and insisting he should ‘shut up’ about politics.
The 75-year-old musician didn’t hold back during an appearance on the Complete Disaster Network podcast, where he criticised Springsteen’s outspoken political views and argued artists should leave politics off the stage.
‘Guys like Bruce Springsteen should shut up,’ Cain said. ‘You know, really, honestly, shut up, Bruce.’
He didn’t stop there, also taking aim at actor Robert De Niro. ‘Him and… who’s the other one? Robert De Niro. I mean, who cares, guys? Do your art. I try to keep politics out of my music.’
Cain, who is married to evangelist Paula White-Cain, an adviser to US President Donald Trump, described himself as a ‘diehard conservative’, explaining that while his own political beliefs are well known, he doesn’t use Journey concerts to promote them.
‘People say, “Well, you’re a Christian and you’re conservative,” and I’m like, “So what?” I don’t preach it on stage. I don’t spend 10 minutes talking about it.’
He contrasted that approach with Springsteen, who has frequently criticised Trump and spoken about the political climate during his live shows.
Most recently, the music legend made three separate rants against the ‘corruption’ and ‘incompetence’ of the Trump administration as he and the E Street Band performed the first of three scheduled shows at the Co-Op Live back in May, opening his latest UK and European tour.
Trump later responded on Truth Social, writing: ‘I see that Highly Overrated Bruce Springsteen goes to a Foreign Country to speak badly about the President of the United States.’
Never missing an opportunity to take aim at predecessor Joe Biden, he continued: ‘Never liked him, never liked his music, or his Radical Left Politics and, importantly, he’s not a talented guy — Just a pushy, obnoxious JERK, who fervently supported Crooked Joe Biden, a mentally incompetent FOOL, and our WORST EVER President, who came close to destroying our Country.’
Trump added: ‘If I wasn’t elected, it would have been GONE by now! Sleepy Joe didn’t have a clue as to what he was doing, but Springsteen is “dumb as a rock,” and couldn’t see what was going on, or could he (which is even worse!)?’
Cain wasn’t done making his feelings about Springsteen known on the podcast, saying: ‘I used to like him, and now he’s just annoying,’ Cain continued. ‘He’s an annoying, bitter old man. I mean, stop it. Really.’
The rocker even took aim at one of Springsteen’s most famous songs, arguing that Born in the USA is often misunderstood.
‘You were born in the USA, weren’t you, dude? So act like it,’ he said. ‘But even that song, if you look at the lyrics, it’s kind of a diss toward our country.’
Cain insisted, however, that his own patriotic music is different.
The musician recently released a solo single called Winds of Freedom, which he described as a tribute to America inspired by conservative author and evangelical commentator Eric Metaxas.
‘I’m releasing this patriotic song because I’m a diehard patriot,’ he said, adding that he proudly counts Ted Nugent among his friends.
‘Me and Kid Rock, we’re probably on an island,’ Cain joked after being asked whether conservatives are a rarity in rock music. ‘There’s a few of us, and I proudly stand there with my flag on that island. And if anybody’s got a problem with me, America and Jesus, then bring it.’
Elsewhere in the interview, Cain reflected on Journey’s decades-long career, recalling a time when he believed it had become ‘cool to hate’ the band.
He claimed Rolling Stone dismissed the group’s music for years and said the rise of grunge pushed Journey into the background, despite its commercial success.
Cain also argued the band became a source of comfort for fans after the September 11 attacks and defended Journey’s decision to return to touring early during the Covid pandemic, despite criticism at the time.
Journey remains on its long-running farewell tour, although no final date has been announced.
The band has continued performing despite well-documented tensions between Cain and guitarist Neal Schon, including disagreements over Cain’s public support for Trump.
Metro has contacted Bruce Springsteen’s representatives for comment.