Rock legend Bruce Springsteen has been hailed as a hero after a documentary revealed his generous \$20,000 donation to support striking miners in 1985. The BBC program *When Bruce Springsteen Came To Britain* showed how the 75-year-old invited women from miners’ support groups to his concert at Newcastle United’s St James’ Park during a time of widespread pit closures.
Juliana Heron, who led a miners’ wives support group, shared how she was initially hesitant to attend because she supported Sunderland, a rival football team. However, her friend Anne Suddick was called backstage and returned with a \$20,000 cheque from Springsteen.
Juliana said, “He didn’t know us personally, but he knew what we were doing. He’s a hero to us. He didn’t do it for publicity. It was life-saving.” The donation helped many families facing hardship during the strike.
Springsteen explained his support saying, “My parents were working-class people, and I watched them struggle their whole lives. I read about the strike and felt it was a good thing to do.”
Since starting his career in the 1960s, Springsteen has released 12 UK top 10 albums and four top 10 singles. Known for songs like *Born In The USA* and *Born To Run*, he remains a voice for the working class and often speaks out on political issues.
Recently, Springsteen criticized former President Donald Trump at a concert in Manchester, calling him unfit to lead. Trump responded by calling Springsteen overrated and a “pushy, obnoxious jerk.”
The full documentary *When Bruce Springsteen Came To Britain* will air on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer at 9:30 pm on May 31.
