Bruce Springsteen Joins Tom Morello's Minneapolis ICE Benefit, Premieres “Streets of Minneapolis”

Bruce Springsteen’s powerful new protest song “Streets of Minneapolis” electrifies a benefit concert, standing strong alongside Tom Morello in a night of solidarity.

There’s something magical when legends come together for a cause, isn’t there? That’s exactly what happened on a chilly afternoon in Minneapolis, where Bruce Springsteen crashed a benefit concert organized by the fiery guitarist Tom Morello. The event was a heartfelt tribute to the families of slain protesters Renee Good and Alex Pretti — a gathering where music and activism collided in the best way possible.

Bruce Springsteen and Tom Morello performing together in 2015 (photo: Lester Cohen / WireImage).

A Surprise Appearance and a New Anthem

The buzz in the air was electric as Bruce Springsteen took the stage unexpectedly during the concert at First Avenue, a venue steeped in Minneapolis music history. But this wasn’t just a nostalgic cameo. Springsteen debuted his freshly released protest track, “Streets of Minneapolis,” a song that hits with raw emotion and urgency.

Written just days before the show, the song is Springsteen’s most direct critique yet of the federal government under Donald Trump, especially its role in the tragic deaths of Good and Pretti. His lyrics are haunting:

“Citizens stood for justice / Their voices ringing through the night,”
“And there were bloody footprints / Where mercy should have stood / And two dead left to die on snow-filled streets / Alex Pretti and Renee Good.”

His voice — weathered yet commanding at 76 — carried that message of remembrance and resistance across the crowd. Fans captured the moment, and those fan-shot clips have been making the rounds online, preserving the intensity of that live debut.

The Concert of Solidarity & Resistance

Tom Morello announced this powerful concert only two days before it hit the stage. The timing was tight but perfect, coinciding with Springsteen’s release of “Streets of Minneapolis.” Morello’s vision was clear: to create a day of unity and defiance against injustice.

The lineup was a knockout, with punk rockers Rise Against, singer-songwriter Ike Reilly, and jazz guitar virtuoso Al Di Meola all lending their talents. Morello didn’t just play the organizer role—he shredded through classics from Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave, including fiery renditions of “Killing in the Name” and “Like a Stone.”

The event closed with a communal rendition of John Lennon and Yoko Ono's “Power to the People,” a fitting anthem for such a gathering, before the speakers blared out Prince’s legendary “Let’s Go Crazy,” sending the crowd home with adrenaline still pumping.

A Message of Resistance and Hope

Morello summed up the day perfectly, telling the crowd, “This is a celebration of resistance, and that one day we’ll create a little bit of the world we want to see.” Earlier in the week, when he announced the show, he framed it as a rallying cry:

“We are coming to Minneapolis where the people have heroically stood up against ICE, stood up against Trump, stood up against this terrible rising tide of state terror. Where the people have stood up for their neighbors and themselves, for democracy and justice. Ain’t nobody coming to save us except us and it’s now or never.”

This isn’t the first time Springsteen and Morello have shared a stage or message. Their friendship and musical collaboration have stretched over two decades, with Morello standing in for E Street Band’s Steven Van Zandt during tours in 2013 and 2014. Rage Against the Machine, Morello’s iconic band, has long paid tribute to Springsteen’s “The Ghost of Tom Joad,” even releasing a cover on their 2000 album Renegades. So when Springsteen dusted off that very track for this show, amped up with Morello’s electric guitar wizardry, it was a full-circle moment that felt both nostalgic and urgent.

Why This Matters

Events like this remind us that music remains one of the most visceral ways to channel anger, hope, and solidarity. The fact that an icon like Bruce Springsteen isn’t just performing but lending his voice to such a cause speaks volumes about the power of art in activism.

The Minneapolis concert was a reminder that when people stand together—whether on the streets or in a packed music venue—change is more than a distant hope. It becomes something you can feel reverberating in your chest with each chord struck and every lyric sung.

FAQ

• What inspired Bruce Springsteen’s song “Streets of Minneapolis”?
  The song was inspired by the tragic deaths of protesters Renee Good and Alex Pretti and serves as a protest against federal actions and injustice in Minneapolis.
• Who organized the Minneapolis benefit concert?
  Guitarist Tom Morello organized the Concert of Solidarity & Resistance to support the families of the slain protesters and to promote justice.
• Which artists performed at the benefit?
  In addition to Springsteen and Morello, Rise Against, Ike Reilly, and jazz guitarist Al Di Meola performed.
• Has Bruce Springsteen collaborated with Tom Morello before?
  Yes, Morello has toured with Springsteen’s E Street Band and Rage Against the Machine has famously covered Springsteen’s “The Ghost of Tom Joad.”
• What was the final song played at the concert?
  The concert ended with a group performance of John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s “Power to the People,” followed by Prince’s “Let’s Go Crazy” over the speakers.

If you want to bring a piece of this powerful moment home, consider shopping for your favorite album cover poster at our store. It’s a great way to keep the spirit of music and resistance alive in your space. Shop now.