"Don't bug me!" - Steve Van Zandt

Boss and Beatle cut off

So the tedious dreariness of the grey-suits was victorious over two of the greatest legends of rock’n’roll.

Bruce Springtseen said he’d “waited 50 years” to perform on stage with a member of The Beatles.

And, to be fair, he managed a couple of songs.

But with one still to go – 10th Avenue Freeze Out, most likely – an on-site health-and-safety official pulled the plug on Bruce and the Beatle as they performed in Hyde Park a couple of days ago (Saturday July 14).

E Street Band guitarist and Sopranos star Steve Van Zandt told his 37,000 followers on Twitter: “One of the great gigs ever in my opinion. But seriously when did England become a police state?”

And others joined the debate.

Comedy-writer Stephen Merchant said: “Ashamed to be British right now. Springsteen and McCartney playing Twist & Shout in Hyde Park and council pulled the plug cos of curfew.”

And Hollywood actor Simon Pegg tweeted: “Can’t believe they pulled the plug on Springsteen and Macca last night in Hyde Park. What joyless, bitter killjoy made that decision? #shame.”

It made for an anticlimactic ending for what had been a great show, even if the rain was pouring down for parts of it.

And even London mayor Boris Johnson said he thought it was a wrong move.

Let’s hope it doesn’t happen if Olympic events overrun.

Will Usain Bolt still win the 80 metres? Who’s going to do well in the double-jump? Or the two-and-a-half-day eventing?

Springsteen has always said English bands from the 60s were one of his major influences.

But it’s obviously not swinging in London any more.

Anyway, let’s hear what Van Zandt has to say (and I won’t cut him off): “We break curfews in every country, but only English cops need to ‘punish us’ by not letting us leave until the entire crowd goes. Is there just too much fun in the world? We would have been off by 11 if we’d done one more. On a Saturday night! Who were we disturbing?” he asked.

“The cops got nothing more important to do? How about they go catch some criminals instead of ********* with 80,000 people having a good time?

“English cops may be the only individuals left on Earth that wouldn’t want to hear one more from Bruce Springsteen and Paul McCartney!

“I’m sorry, but I have to be honest – I’m ******. Like I said, it didn’t ruin the great night. But when I’m jamming with McCartney, don’t bug me!”

I’d tell Tony Soprano, if I were you, Steve. He’d know how to teach the joyless bores a lesson.