News : Bruce Springsteen Performs With Patti Smith, Tells Bono: “I Should Have Said Yes”

On the closing day of this year’s Tribeca Festival on June 13, Bono, Patti Smith and Tribeca Festival co founders Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal came together in downtown Manhattan to present Bruce Springsteen with the Harry Belafonte Voices for Social Justice Award.

Jane Rosenthal, Robert De Niro at the "Billy Joel: And So It Goes" world premiere at the Tribeca Festival opening night held at Beacon Theatre on June 04, 2025 in New York, New York.

Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal On Tribeca Festival Turning 25 & Honoring Bruce Springsteen: ‘You Have To Oppose This Insanity’

Rapper Fat Joe watches Game Three of the Eastern Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs game between the New York Knicks against the Boston Celtics at Madison Square Garden on May 10, 2025 in New York City.

Cardi B, Fat Joe, J.Lo & More Musicians React to New York Knicks’ NBA Championship Win

“I’m a little embarrassed to get this award,” Springsteen said during an extended conversation with Bono, dedicating the honor to the people of Minneapolis, Portland and Los Angeles for standing “against the federal invasion of their cities this year.” He added, “I’m just a concerned citizen.”

Similar to the themes explored throughout Springsteen’s recent Land of Hopes & Dreams Tour, the discussion at the Tribeca Storytellers event focused heavily on concerns surrounding American democracy and what many see as President Trump’s federal overreach. Before the conversation began, De Niro and Rosenthal introduced Springsteen and explained why he was selected for the honor.

“This is a man who knows how to use his voice,” De Niro told the audience. “He uses it to give voice to the powerless and he uses it to lead the resistance. He is fearless and direct. He knows what the problem is and he names it: Donald Trump. Donald J. Trump and his feckless enablers. That’s so important because this isn’t about reasonable disputes on policy: this is about the corruption and megalomania of one person. Bruce Springsteen puts a face on it, and he does it with the words of a poet.”

Although Bono described himself as both a peer and “a fan masquerading as a friend,” the U2 frontman challenged Springsteen with a number of thoughtful questions throughout the conversation.

Reflecting on whether rock musicians can still effectively connect with working class audiences, a background both artists share, Bono said, “I fear sometimes we on the left lost a little bit of it and that the accusations of elitism that are out there for people like me are not inaccurate.”

“Has it cost you?” Bono asked Springsteen. “Do you feel torn at all thinking there’s people in this town that used to come see my shows who don’t now? Or have you made peace with that?”

“I’m not sure,” Springsteen replied honestly. “You have to do two things. There’s the classic folk song, ‘Which Side Are You On?’: you have to make your stand and follow your beliefs and you have to have the faith in them that they will be explicable and understandable by your fellow citizens. And you have to believe that America is a sacred argument and a compromise.”

At another point in the discussion, Springsteen noted that fans attending his latest tour should not have been surprised by its political tone, given the themes he has explored throughout his career. “I warned everybody what the tour was gonna be like so they didn’t waste their money before they came,” Springsteen joked. “I figured I did my job and it was every man for himself after that.”

Even with a long history of activism, Springsteen remains selective about the causes and campaigns he publicly supports. Bono revealed that he has previously approached the rock icon about signing petitions, only to be respectfully declined. He also recalled asking Springsteen to allow his 2007 song “Girls In Their Summer Clothes” to be used in a Gap campaign connected to the (PRODUCT) RED initiative, which raised funds to combat HIV/AIDS in Africa. Springsteen’s answer at the time was simple: no.

“That was a big mistake, too,” Springsteen interrupted, drawing a surprised reaction from Bono. “I should have said yes.” Calling it one of his favorite songs despite its lack of commercial success, he added, “I should have f–king done it. I have to apologize.”

After sharing a hug onstage, the pair welcomed fellow Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Patti Smith to the BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center. Accompanied by Tony Shanahan on keyboards, Smith performed the moving song “Peaceable Kingdom,” a track inspired by Rachel Corrie, who was killed in 2003 by an Israeli military bulldozer while protesting the demolition of Palestinian homes in the Gaza Strip.

Smith followed with one of her signature live staples, “People Have the Power,” an uplifting anthem encouraging civic action and engagement. Springsteen joined in on acoustic guitar alongside Shanahan, and although Bono had stepped away from the stage, Bruce invited him back to contribute backing vocals.

While the event schedule never promised a performance from Springsteen, many attendees quietly hoped they might hear him play. Unlike the highly vocal crowd at Miley Cyrus’ Tribeca Q&A last year, where audience members repeatedly called out for her to sing despite no musical performance being advertised, this audience remained patient. Their hopes were rewarded when Springsteen delivered a captivating solo rendition of “Land of Hope and Dreams.”

As he exited the stage to a standing ovation, Springsteen left the crowd with one final message perfectly suited to the moment: “Go Knicks.”