Springsteen to Upstage Bush

[xrtoronto]

WTG Bruce!!!

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A New York concert promoter has mounted an online campaign to "draft" Bruce Springsteen to headline a rock 'n roll show to upstage the Republican National Convention on the night it nominates President Bush to run for another term.

The "Concert for Change," would be held Sept. 1 at Giants Stadium, across the Hudson River from the Republicans' meeting at Madison Square Garden, said promoter and Democratic activist Andrew Rasiej, who has reserved the date at Springsteen's New Jersey home venue that he routinely sells out when he tours.

"This is a simple idea that captures the imagination of Americans opposed to George Bush," Rasiej told Reuters.

An online petition at http://www.draftbruce.com has been signed by about 50,000 people in 10 days since it was launched, Rasiej said, adding he had also reached out to acts such as REM, The Dave Matthews Band, Bob Dylan and Carlos Santana.

"When it gets to half a million or so I would formally try to deliver the petition to Bruce's people directly," he said.

"I've spoken to the manager of REM, to Bon Jovi's people and the rest of the names I've mentioned and they all said, 'if you build it, we will be there."'

Rasiej said he envisions drawing a big TV audience, but only if he can get a star of the magnitude of Springsteen to get on board and encourage other big acts to take part.

Springsteen's publicist was not available for comment.

Republicans and Democrats both asked to use his 1984 hit "Born in the U.S.A." -- a song about how unwelcoming America was to returning Vietnam veterans but often mistaken for a patriotic anthem -- for use in political campaigns. Springsteen declined the requests.

The New Jersey rocker has typically stayed out of politics, but in May posted the text of an anti-war speech by former Vice President Al Gore on his official Web site, calling it "one of the most important speeches I've heard in a long time."

Rasiej, founder of popular New York rock club Irving Plaza, said a "VoteAid" show could win a large TV audience, raise money to support voter registration and deliver a message that could affect the November presidential election.


source

[VOR]

Someone tell them it will be more effective if held on election night since it will, you know, better celebrate the spirit of the occasion. Plenty of free beer and marijuana too (but only with proper ID).

[Yeager]

springsteen sucks today worse than he sucked twenty years ago.

Now get Led Zepplin to reincarnate Bonham and play another show and you might have some weed to stuff up your pipe.

[Red Tail 444]

Originally posted by Yeager
springsteen sucks today worse than he sucked twenty years ago. Now get Led Zepplin to reincarnate Bonham and play another show and you might have some weed to stuff up your pipe.

You traitor....you're selling out to the Euros, you liberal socialist pot-smoking woman you

[JB73]

Originally posted by xrtoronto
Andrew Rasiej,

am i the only one who wonders about this name and if there is another agenda behind his actions?

[capt. apathy]

Originally posted by Yeager
springsteen sucks today worse than he sucked twenty years ago.

Now get Led Zepplin to reincarnate Bonham and play another show and you might have some weed to stuff up your pipe.

I think of one word (well maybe 2, since it's hyphenated) when I think of Bruce Springsteen-  over-rated

he's been mediocre his whole career.  he's had a few decent songs but not one that when it comes on the radio I need to turn it up.

in 20 yrs I've never been able to figure out how he's not still opening the shows for better bands.

[xrtoronto]

Originally posted by JB73
am i the only one who wonders about this name and if there is another agenda behind his actions?

Quite correct JB73....this guy looks like quite a contemptable and sinister individual with absolutely nothing in his background to suggest otherwise!!:rolleyes:

Andrew Rasiej
Founder & Chairman, MOUSE
Chairman, Digital Club Network, Inc.

Mr. Rasiej is the founder and current chairman of MOUSE. He has also served on the New York City Board of Education’s task force on technology and has spearheaded several innovative projects that support efforts to bridge the “Digital Divide�Ein public education.

Mr. Rasiej is the chairman and co-founder of the Digital Club Network (DCN), the Internet’s largest live music channel. DCN broadcasts concerts of established and emerging artists from premier music venues around the world and makes archive recordings of these performances available for free over the Internet. Concurrent with his involvement in music and technology, Mr. Rasiej is also co-founder of the world’s largest annual digital music conference, “Plug In,�Ewhich is attended by executives from major record labels and technology companies.

Mr. Rasiej has served as an advisor to Senators and Congressmen and political candidates on the use of Information Technology for campaign and policy purposes. Among those he has worked with are Senator Tom Daschle, Congressman Dick Gephardt, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. In 2001, he addressed the United States Senate Democratic Caucus on the “Digital Divides Facing Democratic Party�Eand has been actively involved in the campaigns of several Senators and Congressmen as well as the most recent campaign for Mayor of New York City.

In the aftermath of the September 11th tragedy, Mr. Rasiej helped organize hundreds of local technology professionals to provide relief and recovery to small businesses and schools in lower Manhattan. From this experience, he proposed the creation of a National Tech Corps which would act similarly to the National Guard and provide emergency technical, communication, and database support in the event of a natural disaster or terrorist strike. This idea, now called NetGuard, was approved in a bill by the US Senate by a vote of 97 to 0 and has been integrated as part of the Homeland Security Act.

In 1990 Mr. Rasiej founded Irving Plaza, an internationally known concert venue located in New York City and produced concerts by well-known artists such as Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, and Dave Matthews Band. Mr. Rasiej is also the Founder and President Emeritus of the New York Nightlife Association, a business trade group representing major New York City nightclubs and bars. NYNA works to create strong neighborhood relationships through community oriented programs and outreach.

Mr. Rasiej is a member of the Board of Trustees of the New School Jazz and Contemporary Music program and is active in the Cooper Union Alumni Association. He is a past recipient of the prestigious David Rockefeller Fellowship administered by the New York City Partnership.

[Saurdaukar]

I like some of his music, but um... music is what musicians need to stick to.

[JB73]

ohh the little rolleyeyes thing...

i dont really care about him toronto, was making a lamo joke sort of.

the fact he's trying to do this though makes me want to come to NYC sept 1...




to go to the republican convention and flip the bird across the way to bruce or whoever may be there.

thats just me though.

[JB73]

Originally posted by Saurdaukar
I like some of his music, but um... music is what musicians need to stick to.

exactly

[Red Tail 444]

Originally posted by Saurdaukar
I like some of his music, but um... music is what musicians need to stick to.

Does this include Charlie Daniels, as well as the Dixie Chicks?

[Misfit]

Jello Biafra for PRES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Cause we have seen the best the Rep. and Dems have and neither one of em worth a damn.

Vote for the best man for the job, not who your party tells you to vote for. Become a free thinker, it wont hurt i promise (to think for yourself that is).

[Saurdaukar]

Originally posted by Red Tail 444
Does this include Charlie Daniels, as well as the Dixie Chicks?

If you consider them musicians, yes.

Ive just grown tired of every high school drop out actor or singer who fancies themselves to have an opinion on international policy.

They ought to stick to boyfriends and bubble gum and let the grown ups discuss politics.

[storch]

*sniff* way too lame to respond to, plus it stinks.

[ravells]

Originally posted by Saurdaukar
I like some of his music, but um... music is what musicians need to stick to.

Are you saying that political music has no place in society? I expect that Julia Ward Howe would have disagreed with you, Saur

Ravs