Ex-longtime Springsteen drummer says woke Boss should respect Trump
A drummer who once played alongside Bruce Springsteen says the rock star should show more respect for President Donald Trump after Springsteen sharply criticized the administration during his recent tour.
Springsteen, often called “The Boss,” used a stop on his “Land of Hope and Dreams” tour to condemn the White House, describing it as a “corrupt, incompetent, racist, reckless and treasonous administration.” He also referred to Trump as “our wannabe king.”
Vini “Mad Dog” Lopez, an original drummer for the E Street Band, said he disagrees with that approach. Speaking from his winter home in Largo, Florida, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer said people should respect the office of the president.
“Trump is the president of the United States, and people should show respect for that,” Lopez said. He added that if he ever spoke directly with Trump, he would treat him with “a lot of respect,” though he joked that he would avoid discussing political issues.
Lopez said his own band, The Wonderful Winos, keeps politics out of its performances. The 77-year-old musician explained that regardless of personal views, he prefers not to bring political debates into his music. Over the years, he has performed with around 30 different groups.
The drummer played with Springsteen for six years, including on the album “Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.” Their professional paths eventually split because, according to Lopez, his style was “too jazzy” for the direction Springsteen wanted to take. In 1999, Lopez and the rest of the E Street Band were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Although Lopez said he tends to vote Republican in races ranging from local city council contests to congressional elections, he does not consider himself an ideological hardliner.
He recalled meeting Trump years ago while working as a caddie at Trump’s golf course in Bedminster, New Jersey, before Trump entered politics. Lopez said Trump was friendly and introduced him to Melania.
According to Lopez, as he was leaving, Trump asked him to pass along a message.
“Tell Bruce I’m his biggest fan,” Lopez said Trump told him at the time.
In recent years, Trump has criticized Springsteen and even suggested boycotting the musician, once referring to him as a “dried-up prune.” Despite their differences, Lopez said he still supports Springsteen’s right to express his views.
“I’m not against what Bruce is saying now,” Lopez explained. However, he said he believes political disagreements should not divide Americans.
“When I was younger, maybe I was more extreme,” Lopez said. “But at 77, those extremes are gone. The country feels very divided politically, and that’s difficult for me.”
Even so, Lopez said he hopes positive results will come from Trump’s policies.
He also emphasized that his relationship with Springsteen remains good. The two occasionally stay in touch, and Lopez said Springsteen sometimes calls just to catch up.
“If he wants me to do something, he’ll call,” Lopez said. “Sometimes it’s just because he hasn’t seen me in a while.”
Lopez added that he often ends up calling Springsteen when they lose members of their old crew, something that has become more frequent over the years.
Although he does not plan to attend the current tour, Lopez said he did see Springsteen perform in Philadelphia a few years ago.
“I don’t even think he knew I was there,” Lopez said. “I was sitting off in the corner.”
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