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Bruce Springsteen Regrets Declining Bono's Gap Commercial Song Request

Bruce Springsteen apologized to Bono for not licensing "Girls in Their Summer Clothes" for a Gap commercial. Bono had wanted the song for a campaign benefiting his AIDS foundation (RED).

Variety Music·Jun 13, 2026·via Variety Music

Bruce Springsteen Regrets Declining Bono's Gap Commercial Song Request

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Jun 13, 2026 3:27pm PT

Bruce Springsteen Apologizes for Refusing to Allow His Song in Bono’s Gap Commercial, Tells U2 Frontman: ‘I Should Have F—ing Done It!’

By Ethan Shanfeld

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Ethan Shanfeld

@ethanshanfeld

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Bono gave Bruce Springsteen a hard time for refusing to license his song “Girls in Their Summer Clothes” for a commercial for the clothing brand Gap in partnership with Bono’s AIDS foundation (RED).

While presenting Springsteen with the Harry Belafonte Voices for Social Justice Award at Tribeca Festival, Bono started to praise the Boss’ ability to bring a Woody Guthrie sensibility to pop radio. It reminded him of his failed attempt to get Springsteen to bring it to a TV ad.