Just when the Donald Trump transition team thought they had everything locked down in terms of the music performers for the various inaugural ceremonies, one more band has decided to pull out. Bruce Springsteen cover group, the B Street Band, have pulled out of the inaugural ball, citing their "respect and gratitude" for Bruce and the E Street Band.
In a statement released via Backstreets.com, the band said the decision was not an easy one, but they did it out of respect for Bruce.
"With deepest apologies to our fans and the New Jersey Inaugural Ball committee, the B Street Band is withdrawing from performing at this year's inauguration Gala," says the band.
"Our decision is based SOLELY on the respect and gratitude we have for Bruce and the E Street Band.
Bruce's music has been the foundation of our livelihood. The B Street Band would not exist without the talents of Bruce and our E Street brothers.
We are most grateful to these rock legends and look forward to many more years of emulating and performing the Forever Music, of Bruce Springsteen."
According to B Street Band frontman, Will Forte, they had been booked for the event in 2013. They played the same event for Barack Obama in 2009 and 2013. "We're a non-political band," Forte insisted a few days ago to Rolling Stone.
The pressure was too much this time around and they felt they had to cancel. Bruce Springsteen has been very vocal in his criticism of Donald Trump. He campaigned for Hilary Clinton and did not hold back in his criticism of the President-elect, calling him a "flagrant, toxic narcissist" with "simply no sense of decency."
At least Trump has Toby Keith and 3 Doors Down for his big concert the day before the inauguration.
