Bruce Springsteen Performs With Patti Smith and Apologizes to Bono at Tribeca Event: ‘I Should Have Said Yes’

During the closing day of the Tribeca Festival on June 13, a powerhouse group—including Bono, Patti Smith, and festival founders Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal—convened in Manhattan to present Bruce Springsteen with the Harry Belafonte Voices for Social Justice Award.

“I feel somewhat sheepish accepting this honor,” Springsteen remarked during an intimate discussion with Bono. Dedicating the recognition to the citizens of Minneapolis, Portland, and Los Angeles for their resilience against federal overreach, he added, “I am simply a concerned citizen.”

Much like the themes found in his recent Land of Hopes & Dreams tour, the conversation centered on the fragility of American democracy and the implications of executive federal interference. In his introduction, Robert De Niro lauded Springsteen’s unwavering integrity: “He is a man who leverages his platform to champion the marginalized and spearhead resistance. He is courageous and blunt, unafraid to challenge corruption and the unchecked ego of leadership. Bruce gives these abstract issues a human face, articulating them with the soul of a poet.”

The dialogue between the two icons was deeply personal. Bono, identifying as a “fan masquerading as a friend,” probed Springsteen on the complexities of fame and class identity. Addressing the common critique of elitism toward high-profile musicians, Bono pondered if the political divide had alienated parts of their original working-class fanbase. Springsteen responded with characteristic gravitas, emphasizing that citizenship demands a commitment to one’s principles while acknowledging that the American experiment is built upon the necessity of “sacred argument and compromise.”

Reflecting on his recent tour—the most politically charged of his career—Springsteen noted that he had been transparent about his stance from the outset. “I ensured the audience understood the nature of the show beforehand,” he laughed. “I did my part; the rest was up to the individual attendee.”

The conversation also unearthed a rare moment of professional regret. When Bono recounted a past instance where Springsteen declined to license his music for a (PRODUCT) RED campaign, Springsteen was quick to interject. “That was a genuine lapse in judgment,” he admitted. “I should have said yes. I truly owe an apology for that.”

The evening culminated in a powerful musical tribute. Joined by Patti Smith and Tony Shanahan, the trio performed a stirring rendition of “Peaceable Kingdom” and the activist anthem “People Have the Power,” with Bono providing harmonies. Despite no prior announcement, the event concluded with a mesmerizing, stripped-back solo performance of “Land of Hope and Dreams” by the Boss himself.

As he departed the stage to a thunderous standing ovation, Springsteen left the New York crowd with one final, lighthearted sentiment: “Go Knicks.”