AceShowbiz - During the recent stop of the politically charged Land of Hope and Dreams Tour at L.A.'s Kia Forum, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band delivered a memorable surprise to fans. Four songs into their set, they performed the Clash's "Clampdown" for the first time since 2014.

This marked only the seventh time the band has played "Clampdown" live, with all previous performances taking place in April and May of 2014. At that time, Tom Morello was touring with the E Street Band, filling in for Steve Van Zandt, who was occupied filming the television series Lilyhammer. Now back on tour, Morello shared lead vocal duties with Springsteen as they powered through the classic 1979 track.

During the performance, when Springsteen sang the line "in these days of evil presidents," the music paused briefly to underline the lyric’s significance, adding a poignant political edge to the moment.

The inclusion of "Clampdown" was the only change in the setlist compared to the band's previous concert in Portland, Oregon. Similarly, during the tour opener in Minneapolis, the only unique addition was a cover of Prince’s "Purple Rain" as a tribute.

Besides "Clampdown," the only other Clash song regularly featured in Springsteen's live shows is "London Calling." He previously performed it at the 2003 Grammys alongside artists like Dave Grohl, Elvis Costello, Steve Van Zandt, Pete Thomas, and Tony Kanal to honor Joe Strummer. He also played it three times in 2009.

The 2014 "Clampdown" performances came during the "Stump the Band" phase of the tour, where Springsteen responded to audience requests from signs, surprising fans with covers ranging from the Bee Gees' "Stayin' Alive" to Van Halen's "Jump" and even Lorde’s "Royals."

With the reappearance of "Clampdown" in 2026, Springsteen and the E Street Band continue to blend powerful social commentary with their dynamic live shows, keeping their setlist fresh and resonant for audiences nationwide.