Springsteen upsets the NYPD ???

[David]

Apparently Springsteen's song about a NYPD shooting ("American Skin")upsets the police to the point where they refuse give him a "courtesy" escort after a Shea Stadium concert.

From AP.org:

NYPD Reportedly Stiffs Springsteen
Wed Oct 8, 6:05 PM ET

NEW YORK - Is Bruce Springsteen making the NYPD blue?

The New Jersey rocker closed out his recent world tour with three shows at Shea Stadium, where he reportedly aggravated city police by performing "American Skin (41 Shots)" — a song inspired by the 1999 shooting of West African immigrant Amadou Diallo by four officers.

After Springsteen played the song during the Oct. 1 opening night, a highranking police official ordered that there would be no post-concert police escort for the Boss after his next show, the Daily News reported.

Springsteen, through publicist Marilyn Laverty, declined to comment Wednesday on the report. NYPD spokesman Michael O'Looney, in a two-paragraph statement, danced around the issue.

"As a courtesy, Mr. Springsteen was given a police escort to his boat at the World's Fair Marina following the concerts on both Wednesday and Saturday night," O'Looney said.

He didn't offer any comment on Friday night, but added that police had also provided an escort for E Street Band drummer Max Weinberg from LaGuardia Airport to Shea on Wednesday.

Springsteen didn't perform "American Skin" at either of the last two shows.

After Springsteen debuted the song during his 2000 tour, the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association — representing 27,000 police officers — urged its members not to attend Springsteen's 10 Madison Square Garden concerts.
******


By the way, I just love the last name of the NYPD spokesman: "O'Looney" !!!

 

[Black92LX]

anyone have details of the song? i haven't heard anything of this

 

[JimJD]

Yeah, the NYPD got all pissy over that song.
What really bothers me is that he did'nt play it the other nights and got the escort.
It amazes me, because Sooooo many cops up there love Bruce.

 

[Devonai]

After reviewing the final reports of the shooting (at least those that were available to the public/press), I conclude the incident to be justifiable. However, it is a terrible tragedy compounded by a few highly improbable occurances, including the ricochets of the first few shots fired. Things very easily could have gone down differently with only a few shots fired as opposed to the magazine-emptying fusillade that did occur.

It's an object lesson in clearly defining that you are reaching for your ID before doing it.

 

[10-Ring]

Why is it still surprising when a celebrity opens their mouths & inserts foot?

 

[durango]

For anyone interested, here are the lyrics to American Skin:


41 shots
41 shots
41 shots
41 shots
41 shots
41 shots
41 shots
41 shots....
and we'll take that ride
'cross this bloody river
to the other side
41 shots... cut through the night
You're kneeling over his body in the vestibule
Praying for his life

Is it a gun, is it a knife
Is it a wallet, this is your life
It ain't no secret
It ain't no secret
No secret my friend
You can get killed just for living
In your American skin

41 shots
Lena gets her son ready for school
She says "on these streets, Charles
You've got to understand the rules
If an officer stops you
Promise you'll always be polite,
that you'll never ever run away
Promise Mama you'll keep your hands in sight"

Is it a gun, is it a knife
Is it a wallet, this is your life
It ain't no secret
It ain't no secret
No secret my friend
You can get killed just for living
In your American skin

Is it a gun, is it a knife
Is it in your heart, is it in your eyes
It ain't no secret

41 shots... and we'll take that ride
'Cross this bloody river
To the other side
41 shots... got my boots caked in this mud
We're baptized in these waters and in each other's blood

Is it a gun, is it a knife
Is it a wallet, this is your life
It ain't no secret
It ain't no secret
No secret my friend
You can get killed just for living
In your American skin

 

[Black92LX]

Promise you'll always be polite, that you'll never ever run away

We'll duh:banghead:

 

[Carlos Cabeza]

41 shots...............That's what I call index finger control.

 

[Ivanimal]

I thought it was a very realistic and meaningful song. The lirics represent the views from a mothers standpoint. Bruce is not trying to please or displease anyone he is just giving his artistic view. I mean even if justifiable 41 shots are a little much...no?

 

[DigMe]

Springsteen is incredibly liberal and it's really a shame because he's a great artist. Makes me not want to buy his stuff really. At one of his recent concerts he gave a hearty endorsement to Al Franken for whatever reason. Guess he had just read Franken's new book or something. Anyway...that says a lot about a guy.

brad cook

 

[RustyHammer]

41 shots ... must be belt fed or drum!

 

[Daniel T]

Springsteen is a liberal, yes, but you don't have to be a liberal to think the cops screwed the pooch big time on that one.

 

[JimJD]

None of us were there, but there are problems with the cops' side of the story, one of which was the vestibule light.
They said it was out, making it very dark in there.
It WAS NOT. A NYPD video tape and a civillian one shows the scene shortly after the shooting. It showed that the light was on and intact! It was not dark in there. Plus, there were many street lamps. Add to that, one of the officers fell backwards from the front stoop of the building. Supposedly, his service glock went off, his buddies thinking OH S**T! He's SHOT!, Etc.
Thus, setting a horrible set of events in motion.
They did not have to empty whole magazines into him. By doing so, they made the situation worse. They've got a lot of problems with A.D.'s and being a little too heavy with the trigger finger over the years. As a result, people die or are severely injured. It's pretty sad that they have their own "NYPD" trigger sets for glocks, Sig's, etc.
Did you know that many do not know their pistols inside and out? Training has to improve. They need more range time.
Just so you know, I am NYC born and raised.
I still have some respect for the NYPD, but if you grew up there, and saw what I've seen, and been subjected to what I've been subjected to , you'd think a lot differently about this case. (and no, I was not breaking the law! Never have, never will.)
I'm not saying all cops are like this, I have some family and friends in the force. My friend's, family, and I feel bad for them. Why? Because they are good cops trying to do their job and they are stuck in the middle of everything.
On one side you have the bad guys, on the other you have guys like Al Sharpton and his followers, on another you have bad cops, and on the other side... brass that does'nt stand behind you if something goes down.
Those are just some of the reasons why many of them are leaving and becoming cops on Long Island. Or NYFD. Plus, the pay stinks.

 

[BerettaNut92]

Why are taxpayer dollars going towards celebrity armed escort?

 

[Pilgrim]

Why are taxpayer dollars going towards celebrity armed escort?

Probably because New York City doesn't tolerate mercenaries.

Pilgrim