Bruce Springsteen News

Starbucks Bans the Boss

E! Online, May 6, 2005 10:28 am PDT
The Boss is paying the cost for some racy lyrics and anti-corporate politics.

Starbucks says it will not stock Bruce Springsteen's just-released Devils & Dust, in part because of one track's graphic imagery.

The song in question, "Reno," depicts an encounter at a Nevada brothel, including a reference to oral sex and the line: "Two hundred dollars straight in, two-fifty in the a--."

But that alone didn't trigger the barrista's Boss ban.

"There were a number of factors involved...[Lyrics] was one of the factors, but not the only reason," Ken Lombard, president of Starbucks Entertainment, tells Reuters.

According to Newsweek, Starbucks decided to dust Devils after a deal fell through for a cobranded disc and promotional deal that prominently featured the Starbucks name. Springsteen's label, Columbia Records, balked when the idea was floated, citing the blue-collar champion's well-known opposition to merchandising his music.

Although Springsteen is doing just fine without Starbucks' help--Dust debuted atop Billboard's Hot 200 last week, selling more than 222,000 copies--the loss of a vital retail outlet could dent long-term sales.

The latte-slinging megachain has become an increasingly important part of the music business in the past two years. Caffeine junkies can now by a variety of adult-alternative CDs--from Norah Jones to Elvis Costello to Joni Mitchell to Michael Bublé--and even make customized discs at some outlets. It was Starbucks that was credited with the massive success of Ray Charles' Genius Loves Company, accounting for a full 25 percent of the Grammy-winning disc's nearly 4 million copies.

Starbucks even bought music chain Hear Music, which now produces its own line of CDs for the java-sipping set and an XM satellite radio station based on its music.

Springsteen, meanwhile, is currently in the middle of a solo acoustic tour, stopping in Denver Saturday before hitting St. Paul's Xcel Energy center Tuesday night.

More Artist News

Springsteen to perform more albums in entirety

Nov 4, 2009 12:00 pm PST

Bruce Springsteen is dusting off his catalog once again, as he and the E Street Band have announced two more full-album performances this coming weekend at Madison Square Garden in New York. On Saturday (November 7), the group will play t...

Springsteen cancels show after roadie's death

Oct 26, 2009 7:00 pm PDT

Bruce Springsteen canceled a performance in Kansas City after his cousin and road crew member died. The death of 36-year-old Lenny Sullivan was announced in a statement on Springsteen's Web site. Sullivan was found dead at Kansas City's ...

"The Big Man" on life with and without Springsteen

Oct 21, 2009 4:00 pm PDT

Saxophonist Clarence "The Big Man" Clemons knew his life would never be the same when he walked up to a New Jersey bar nearly 40 years ago and the door blew off its hinges and sailed into a storm-battered night. As all eyes in the club da...

NJ's GOP candidate for governor big 'Boss' fan

Sep 30, 2009 2:00 am PDT

New Jersey's Republican candidate for governor insists he'll spend the night before his first debate at a Bruce Springsteen concert. Chris Christie tells The New York Times that Wednesday's show at Giants Stadium offers him an escape. He ...

Scholars study Springsteen during weekend event

Sep 26, 2009 4:00 pm PDT

Hold still, Bruce — this won't hurt a bit! Scholars from around the world are dissecting the Springsteen legend this weekend in New Jersey. "Glory Days: A Bruce Springsteen Symposium" continues through Sunday at Monmouth University....

1-6 of 50 videos

Artist on Last.fm