Is “The Boss” coming to Minneapolis? A group of local and national musicians, led by Tom Morello from Rage Against the Machine, organized a benefit concert yesterday to raise money to support the families of Renee Macklin Good and Alex Pretti, who were gunned down this month by federal Immigration Control Enforcement (ICE) agents in Minneapolis.

The anti-ICE event dubbed “Concert of Solidarity and Resistance to Defend Minnesota” commenced at noon yesterday at the legendary local club First Avenue. Rumors persisted that a special guest would appear sometime during the concert. Near the end of the concert, the poorly kept secret was finally revealed when Bruce “The Boss” Springsteen stepped to the stage.

“The Boss’” Appearance at First Avenue

The concert’s official headliners were Morello and the Chicago punk band Rise Against. Also on the bill were performers Al Di Meola, Ike Reilly, and a “very special guest” that turned out to be “The Boss.” It turns out that Springsteen and Morello are good friends, and Bruce actually reached out to Morello for feedback on his newly released song dedicated to Good and Pretti, “Streets of Minneapolis.”

Springsteen commented to Morello that he thought that the song might be too preachy, to which Morello replied, ‘Bruce, nuance is wonderful, but sometimes you have to kick them in the teeth.’ So, this is for the people of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and the people of our good country, the United States of America.”

Performing solo, “The Boss” started his set with the first-ever live rendition of “Streets of Minneapolis.” After that, he was joined by Morello and the band for an eight-minute version of his “Grapes of Wrath” song from the album “The Ghost of Tom Joad.” The crowd shouted along with Springsteen near the end of the song when he utters the words “ICE out now!

Backdrop and Proceeds and Appearances

The concert took place at the same time as millions took to the streets of Minneapolis and other cities across the nation for a general strike, where many workers and students walked out of their workplaces and schools to protest the ICE occupations that have terrorized several major US cities.

Promotions for the concert informed attendees that 100% of the proceeds of the show would go to “the families of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Besides “The Boss,” other luminaries who attended the event included US senator Amy Klobuchar, who had just announced her campaign for Minnesota governor, and former Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura.