Following the terrible murder of former One Direction singer Liam Payne, Bruce Springsteen has spoken out against the music industry’s toxicity toward young people.
In an interview with The Telegraph, the New Jersey native described it as a common occurrence in the profession. “It’s a regular thing. It’s an industry that puts great pressure on young people. “Young people do not yet have the inner facility or inner self to protect themselves from many of the things that come with success and fame,” he says.
“So they become lost in a lot of tough and frequently painful activities, such as drugs or alcohol, to relieve some of the burden. I completely get that.”
Springsteen discussed some of the difficulties he and the E Street Band had encountered over the years, stating that they have all “wrestled with their own issues.”
READ MORE: Bruce Springsteen Cancels Four European Dates Due To Vocal Issues – Doctor’s Orders
“Danny [Federici] sure did. Drug use was not unusual among the E Street Band, as you are aware. There existed a border. I remained out of your business, but if I went on stage and realized you weren’t your whole self, there would be an issue.
READ MORE: Liam Payne Had ‘Pink Cocaine’ In His System, Toxicity Test Reveals
Springsteen claims that the early deaths of musicians such as Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Kurt Cobain demonstrate that young people are still susceptible to the industry’s demands. “That’s part of the tale that draws some young people in, but it’s an old one. Dying young is excellent for the record label, but what’s in it for you?
Bruce discusses his own concerns, stating that they were quieter but no less personal. “Equally difficult, but quieter. Because of the undertow of history and self-loathing, all artists experience a great urge toward self-obliteration on stage.”
Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, and Louis Tomlinson joined One Direction in 2010 after meeting on the reality TV program The X Factor. Liam Payne died last week after falling from a third-story balcony in Argentina. According to an October 17 report, Payne had “internal and external” hemorrhages. Hotel personnel contacted 911 soon before Payne’s death, claiming he was causing a commotion in the lobby after being denied access to the hotel’s pool due to drunkenness.
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