Bruce Springsteen Speaks on Liam Payne’s Death: “It’s a Business That Puts Enormous Pressures on Young People”

Former One Direction member Liam Payne’s untimely death has fans grieving. And some musicians are pointing out how hard the music industry can be on very young stars. Payne passed away after jumping from his hotel balcony on October 16 at the age of 31.

The young singer’s cause of death has not been explicitly labeled a suicide as of yet. Though, his past mental health and drug use struggles have led friends and fans to believe he may have taken his own life. Payne had been involved in the music industry since he was only 15 years old.

The Boss himself has spoken on the subject and took the time to call out the mainstream music industry for the pressure it puts on young stars.

Bruce Springsteen spoke with The Telegraph recently, where he acknowledged Liam Payne’s sudden passing and was frank about how poor mental health can be in the music industry. For reference, the 75-year-old rock star has also been involved in music since he was a teen.

“That’s not an unusual thing in my business,” said Springsteen. “It’s a normal thing, it’s a business that puts enormous pressures on young people.”

Springsteen went on to say that young musicians “don’t have the inner facility or the inner self yet” to be able to keep themselves safe from the negative things that come with being successful and famous.

“So they get lost in a lot of the difficult and often pain-inducing [things],” Springsteen continued. “Whether it’s drugs or alcohol to take some of that pressure off.”

Bruce Springsteen Knows All Too Well How Drug Abuse Can Catch Up with Young Musicians Like Liam Payne

Springsteen continued to say that he had his own colorful past as a young man who was catapulted into sudden rock-and-roll stardom. He noted that drug use in the E Street Band was “not uncommon” either.

Springsteen went on to say that drugs can be attractive to a young, stress-out, famous rock star. However, using drugs to reduce stress has historically been something he’s tried to avoid. He said that “there was a boundary” he stuck to for years.

“I stayed out of your business, but if I was on stage and I saw that you were not your complete self, there was going to be a problem,” said Springsteen. “And so it made a bit of a boundary around that stage, where people had to be relatively sober and at their best.”

Springsteen even acknowledged the appeal of “dying young” among young musicians. He directly referred to that appeal as a “death cult”.

“It’s a grift, man,” said Springsteen. “That’s a part of the story that suckers some young people in, you know, but it’s that old story. Dying young [is] good for the record company, but what’s in it for you?”

Bruce Springsteen’s words are very true, and we wish Liam Payne’s family and loved ones nothing but the best during this difficult time.

Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images

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