Cop-out on Bruce:NYPD pulled Boss' Shea escort after '41 Shots'

NY DAILY NEWS ^ | Originally published on October 8, 2003 | By GEORGE RUSH and TRACY CONNOR

[Behind Liberal Lines]

An NYPD chief tried to show Bruce Springsteen who's the Boss - yanking the singer's police escort from Shea Stadium after he performed a song about cop-shooting victim Amadou Diallo.

Chief of Department Joseph Esposito got angry when he heard Springsteen sing "American Skin (41 Shots)" at last Wednesday night's opening show at Shea, a police source told the Daily News.

Esposito, the highest-ranking uniformed cop in the department, ordered the escort cut for Springsteen's next show, on Friday night, the source said.

The Boss did not play the song that night or the next - and the security detail was restored for the Saturday night finale.

Springsteen's spokesman did not return calls for comment about the snub or whether he cut the song from the last two shows to mollify the cops.

Boss biographer Dave Marsh, who is married to band co-manager Barbara Carr, called the police reaction "petty foolishness."

"Springsteen, like any other performer who plays Shea Stadium, pays for the extremely heavy 'security' presence in the building," Marsh wrote in an E-mail to The News.

"It is common around the world to allow performers at stadium concerts an escort before leaving ... in order that they not be held inside the building for several hours while parking lots clear."

The Police Department did not deny it pulled back the escort.

"As a courtesy, we gave Mr. Springsteen an escort to his boat at the World's Fair Marina following the concerts Wednesday and Saturday," NYPD spokesman Michael O'Looney said.

Asked about the Friday night show, O'Looney declined to elaborate.

"I'm just going to leave it at that," he said.

Springsteen's song has been striking the wrong note with cops since it was released in the summer of 2000.

Its refrain, "41 shots," is a pointed reference to the number of bullets that four white police officers fired at Diallo, an unarmed African immigrant, in February 1999. Diallo was struck by 19 bullets.

At Wednesday night's show, some cops were particularly peeved that Springsteen followed "American Skin" with "Into the Fire," which lionizes firefighters.

[Behind Liberal Lines]

Good for Esposito.

Springsteen needs to be reminded that it's the police that keep pampered stars like him safe.

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[FreedomPoster]

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."

George Orwell

[IncPen]

"It is common around the world to allow performers at stadium concerts an escort before leaving ... in order that they not be held inside the building for several hours while parking lots clear."

It is only the arrogance of the Hollywood left that could envision a scenario wherein you deeply insult someone, then expect them to protect you.

Spuck Fringsteen.

[schaketo]

I can’t really stand Springsteen as a person and his music has always made my head hurt. No talent. NONE. That being said, the NYPD has to admit that shooting that guy was wrong. Truth hurts sometimes.

[InvisibleChurch]

a 'man of the people' needs protection from the people? garsh! ... even john lennon donated bullet-proof vests to the NYPD out of respect to them

[eno_]

Springsteen needs to be reminded that it's the police that keep pampered stars like him safe.

So I assume he got a refund on the paid detail, or did that go into the donut fund?

[eno_]

So what do you think the appropriate response would be for Diallo's family?

Did they get 41 shots at the cops?

[Behind Liberal Lines]

So I assume he got a refund on the paid detail, or did that go into the donut fund?

Not even the Springsteen spokes-lackey claimed that the police escort was a part of the paid detail. Even he conceded the escort, as opposed to the security during the concert, was simply a common practice--ie, a courtesy.

And, if you're so concerned about the Diallo family, tell us: Did Springsteen make a donation to the Diallo family or did he just write a sanctimonious song? And if he did make a donation why not just let it go at that? Why did this so-called working class hero feel the need to attack working class police officers (other than for a then-trendy swipe at then-mayor Guiliani)?

[eno_]

The article said he paid for the security presence. What part of "paid detail" am I missing here?

[AppyPappy]

It's just the height of hypocrisy that he expects protection from the same people he sings against. A real men would refuse the protection.

[jake hoyt]

How can I comment? I walk a fine "line" as I consider myself a conservative( changed from Democrat to Republican in '92!) and also an American of African Descent. Diallo was a hard headed African Laborer, but certainly not a criminal with a gun( The NYPD Cops that shot him were TOO used to stopping hostile M/Blks with guns 'til thats all that they "saw" until they realized that is was a WALLET in his hands- have you ever seen the anti-crime squad in NYC? As plain clothes officers, they look like street thugs with guns!!).What everyone must remember is that Bruce has always had "far left" and darn near "Socialist" leanings ( Ala Woodie Guthrie ) but comes off in his music sounding "Patriotic"-most of his feel good "melodies" are often down right "slams" against everything from the Vietnam War ( he conveniently STAYED out of the military) to capitalism (even the " Gangster" rappers embrace that one cherished mark of Americanism ).He played to the liberal crowd that unboutably saw the large # of NYPD blue walking around as the song "41 shots", a protest song, was played-luckily he didn't make unneeded anti-police comments or else some officers would have gotten "thumped". Part of being American is the right, no matter who or what you are, to go down the street safely-not just from the criminal element but from the poor decisions of the people paid to protect you.( I'm usually pro police due to my profession, but I've experienced "walking while black" far too many times, and I dress very conservative) .The other part is having the right to complain or ridicule your Gov't for not doing as it should (In California,we Dumped "pansy" Gray Davis TODAY!!!!!);The "Boss" should also have known that with the right to complain against the system, there is also a need to do it responsibly as those people behind the "blue" are human and want the same freedoms from discrimination that we all want.............

[joesnuffy]

Aging rocker doesnt care who he hurts to keep the spotlight
focused on himself...
Brucie...you really are a pos

[WorkingClassFilth]

When the troubadour becomes king, the jester becomes a wise man.

[jake hoyt]

RIGHT! Real revolutionaries don't ask the "Man" for guns and bullets to overthrow the system (kinda' like peeing with your pants zipped up then complaining about getting wet)

[raybbr]

"Springsteen, like any other performer who plays Shea Stadium, pays for the extremely heavy 'security' presence in the building," Marsh wrote in an E-mail to The News.
Esposito, the highest-ranking uniformed cop in the department, ordered the escort cut for Springsteen's next show, on Friday night, the source said.

Wow! You sure are sharp. Not!

Notice the liitle detail about pulling the security for the Friday night show? It means they didn't have to pay for it. Get your ratiocination right before you open your keyboard.

[dead]

He played to the liberal crowd that unboutably saw the large # of NYPD blue walking around as the song "41 shots", a protest song, was played-luckily he didn't make unneeded anti-police comments or else some officers would have gotten "thumped".

I agree with most everything you wrote, except the above.

I was at the show Thursday night. A very large portion of the crowd definitely did not appreciate hearing the song, or the “impeach Bush” comments. I was on the floor, and a lot of people walked out during the song. A lot more stood there booing him throughout.

I’ve seen Springsteen about 20 times in my life, and I never saw the crowd turn on him like that. The place was dead after that, and Steve Van Zandt (one of his guitarists) actually had to coax the crowd to ask for an encore.

Bruce looked stunned that he had completely lost the crowd. The reaction obviously affected him as the next two nights, he just shut up and sang, and didn’t sing “American Skin.”

[steve8714]

Right on, except...the one right no one has in America is safety. America was born in risk, lives at risk and thrives because of risk.
The rest of the world trade their freedom for the illusion of safety.

[AppyPappy]

Springsteen is one of those liberals who looks out of his limo window and feels compassion for the little guy. But he also laments that the little people don't know the crushing weight of being a rich superstar. They don't know the disappointment a star feels when his Bernaise sauce doesn't come with the steak. Or when he asks for Almond M&M's and there are only the peanut ones. The little man can't feel his pain. It's a lonely job being wealthy and famous. Guys sweating to make rent payments can't feel that. They don't understand that Bruce wants to take away guns to protect them. If Bruce has guards with guns, that's because he's a star. Star's need protection, especially from the steerage that wanders along the periphery of their gated communities. The little 9-5 guy is just too stupid to understand that. And that's why Bruce has so much compassion for them.