Legendary Rock Musician Tells Springsteen To ‘Shut Up,’ Reveals Why He Left Democrat Party

The entertainment industry can seem like an echo chamber of far-left ideas, but there are more than a few big stars who aren’t afraid to go against the grain.

One of those individuals, Journey keyboardist Jonathan Cain recently spoke out against a fellow musician’s penchant for politicizing his concerts.

As Fox News reported:

“I used to be a Democrat back in the old days, but I just couldn’t go there anymore, you know?” Cain said in comments from May, resurfaced by Variety.

ADVERTISEMENT

Calling himself a “diehard conservative,” Cain called on his fellow performers to stick with what they’re good at.

“Guys like Bruce Springsteen should shut up, you know?” Cain said, adding, “Him and, who’s the other one? Robert De Niro. I mean, who cares, guys? Really? Do your art. I try to keep politics out of my music.”

Cain went even further, directly addressing “The Boss” and his iconic 1984 anthem, “Born in the U.S.A.”

“And Bruce, I mean, what the heck? I used to like him, and now he’s just annoying. He’s an annoying, bitter old man. I mean, stop it. Really. You were born in the U.S.A., weren’t you, dude? So act like it. But even that song, if you look at the lyrics, I mean, it’s a kind of a diss to our country,” he said.

Springsteen has attracted criticism in recent years for his onstage rants against President Donald Trump and supporters of the MAGA movement:

In case you missed aging lesbian Bruce Springsteen on Stephen Colbert’s show, here he is performing his song about Minneapolis.

But first… a political rant about Trump. “We’ve got a president who can’t take a joke.” pic.twitter.com/09DoeS5JY1

— Dr. Jebra Faushay (@JebraFaushay) May 21, 2026

Bruce Springsteen went on an anti-Trump rant during a recent DC concert, calling America a “reckless, unpredictable, predatory, untrustworthy, rogue nation.” 🤡

Just zip it and sing. 🙄 pic.twitter.com/1A8IPHIEHv

— Brandon Tatum (@TheOfficerTatum) May 29, 2026

🚨 NEW: Fox News blasts Bruce Springsteen for “going on a wild rant on the first night of his tour, slamming – you guessed it – President Trump.”

“Springsteen says the America he wrote about for 50 years is now in the hands of a ‘corrupt, incompetent, racist, reckless and… pic.twitter.com/6uMjHAqNET

— TV News Now (@TVNewsNow) April 12, 2026

The Daily Beast added these details:

“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.”

And later:

During the show, Cain also mentioned his new patriotic song “Winds of Freedom,” which the Daily Mail reports is inspired by Eric Metaxas, an evangelical author and personality.

He integrates his political views in the song, adding that other artists like Ted Nugent and Kid Rock had also done so. “We love our flag, and we love our nation, and we grew up that way,” Cain said.

Later in the podcast, he added, “Me and Kid Rock, we’re probably on an island. 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.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Then there was Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger’s take:

Mick Jagger Says It’s Not His Job to Lecture Rolling Stones’ Fans on Politics

NYT: “Bruce Springsteen clearly sees his job as engaging in a meaningful back and forth.”

MICK JAGGER: “My job in the live music world is for those people that come to have the best time … And you… pic.twitter.com/PmNaTgLjs7

— Chief Nerd (@TheChiefNerd) July 11, 2026