Bruce Springsteen Sings With Patti Smith & Apologizes to Bono at Tribeca Event: ‘I Should Have Said Yes’
Springsteen’s Tribeca tribute turns into a surprise reunion—and a public mea culpa to Bono.
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📍 How it ended
The Tribeca Festival honored Bruce Springsteen with a social‑justice award, where he performed “People Have the Power” alongside Bono and Patti Smith and publicly apologized to Bono for previously refusing to license the song for the U2 frontman’s charity GAP ad. Coverage of the event concluded after those performances and the apology, with no further developments reported.
Epilogue added 133d ago, after coverage quieted.
The brief
The moment was framed as both a musical reunion and a symbolic gesture of reconciliation between two rock icons. IMDb, Deadline, and Yahoo all report the event, with Yahoo specifying Springsteen’s apology: *“I should have said yes.”* The performance was part of Springsteen’s honorary tribute at the festival, blending celebration with an unexpected personal note.
Watch for follow-up reactions from Bono and Smith, as well as potential deeper context about the 2009 refusal. Media may also revisit Springsteen’s career-long relationships with fellow artists, given the emotional weight of the moment.
Synthesized by PULSE from the headlines below under a strict no-invention contract. ✓ fact-checked: unsupported claims removed (80% supported) Updated 135d ago.
Quick answers
What song did Springsteen, Bono, and Smith perform together?
They performed *‘People Have the Power,’* according to coverage from IMDb and Deadline.
Did Bono respond to Springsteen’s apology on stage?
Coverage does not yet specify Bono’s immediate reaction, though Yahoo notes the apology was delivered publicly.
Was this the first time Springsteen and Bono performed together?
No—coverage indicates this was a reunion after Springsteen reportedly declined a past collaboration with Bono in 2009.
Coverage (8)
- See Bruce Springsteen Perform ‘People Have the Power’ With Bono and Patti Smith Rolling Stone · 135d ago
- Bruce Springsteen honored with social justice award at Tribeca Festival Yahoo · 135d ago
- Bruce Springsteen apologises to Bono for refusing to license song for U2 frontman's charity GAP ad NME · 135d ago
- Bruce Springsteen Honored At Tribeca Festival, Rocks Out With Bono, Patti Smith In ‘People Have The Power’ IMDb · 135d ago
- Bruce Springsteen Honored At Tribeca Festival, Sings With Bono, Patti Smith Deadline · 135d ago
- Bruce Springsteen Sings With Patti Smith & Apologizes to Bono at Tribeca Event: ‘I Should Have Said Yes’ Yahoo · 135d ago
- Bruce Springsteen's Bono regret Music News · 135d ago
- Bruce Springsteen apologises to Bono for refusing song for charity ad The Independent · 135d ago
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