Springsteen defends himself against 'unpatriotic' tags

Bruce Springsteen has hit back at critics who label him unpatriotic - insisting the US itself has been engaged in "anti-American" activity since President George Bush took power.

The 'Born to Run' hitmaker, 58, notably criticised CIA interrogation techniques, Bush's domestic surveillance program and the detention of terrorist suspects at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

He says: "I think we've seen things happen over the past six years that I don't think anybody ever thought they'd ever see in the United States.

"When people think of the Unites States' identity, they don't think of torture. They don't think of illegal wiretapping...

"Those are things that are anti-American. There's been a whole series of things that... I never thought I'd ever see in America."

Springsteen appeared on the campaign trail with Democrat John Kerry during the 2004 US election, despite not publicly endorsing presidential candidates before.