Springsteen Won't Play Christie's Inaugural; Supports Gay Marriage Instead

By Roy Edroso Wed., Dec. 9 2009 at 10:04 AM

Categories: Featured, Gay Marriage, Joisey, Politics, The Arts

Incoming Republican Governor of New Jersey Chris Christie asked Jersey bard Bruce Springsteen to play at his January 19 inauguration. The Boss declined. Christie's people say "he doesn't want to get involved in state politics" and wished Christie "every success."

The Governor-Elect will instead hire a popular Springsteen cover band, the B Street Band, which played at Christie's election night celebration at the Hilton in Parsippany....

Springsteen has been courted by politicians before. Ronald Reagan said at a 1984 New Jersey campaign stop that "America's future... rests in the message of hope in songs so many young Americans admire: New Jersey's own Bruce Springsteen." At the time Springsteen professed himself apolitical. Later he performed on the campaign trails of John Kerry and Barack Obama.

And today Springsteen's website contains an endorsement of the pending New Jersey gay marriage bill: "I've long believed in and have always spoken out for the rights of same sex couples and fully agree with Governor Corzine... [I] urge those who support equal treatment for our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters to let their voices be heard now." Corzine says he's sign a marriage equality bill if he gets it; Christie says he'd veto it.

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