Rock legend Bruce Springsteen has spoken out about the “enormous pressure” facing young artistes in the wake of former One Direction star Liam Payne’s tragic death on October 16, per faroutmagazine.co.uk.
In a candid interview with The Telegraph, Springsteen drew stark comparisons between his own rise to fame in his mid-20s and Payne’s early exposure to stardom at just 16 through The X Factor. The “Born to Run” singer emphasised how the music industry can be particularly dangerous for young performers who lack the “inner facility” to protect themselves from fame’s darker aspects.
“It’s a business that puts enormous pressure on young people,” Springsteen stated, noting that artists dying young is “not an unusual thing.” He referenced music legends like Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, and Kurt Cobain, warning that their tragic endings still entice young performers today.
Sharon Osbourne, former X Factor judge, echoed these concerns in a poignant tribute to Payne, questioning the industry’s support for young artistes. “Where was this industry when you needed them?” she wrote, highlighting the challenges faced by young performers in “one of the toughest industries in the world.”
•Featured image: Bruce Springsteen/Far Out/Raph Pour-Hashemi
