Citing concerns over "adult content" in the song "Reno" Starbucks has banned Bruce Springsteen's new record "Devils and Dust" from its coffee stores. Starbucks sold nearly a quarter of the 3 million copies of Ray Charles' "Genius Loves Company" and many thought they would deliver similar numbers for the Springsteen disc. Devils and Dust debuted at #1 in ten countries, including the United States. Starbucks is carrying the disc at their "Hear Music" locations in Berkeley and Santa Monica, California.

The lyrics from "Reno":


She took off her stockings
I held 'em to my face
She had your ankles
I felt filled with grace

"Two hundred dollars straight in
Two-fifty up the ass" she smiled and said
She unbuckled my belt, pulled back her hair
And sat in front of me on the bed

She said, "Honey, how's that feel
Do you want me to go slow?"
My eyes drifted out the window
And down to the road below

I felt my stomach tighten
As the sun bloodied the sky
And sliced through hotel blinds
I closed my eyes

Sunlight on the Amatitlan
Sunlight streaming through your hair
In the Valle de dos Rios
The smell of mock orange filled the air

We rode with the vaqueros
Down into cool rivers of green
I was sure the work and the smile coming out 'neath your hat
Was all I'll ever need

Somehow all you ever need's
Never quite enough you know
You and I, Maria, we learned it's so

She slipped me out of her mouth
"You're ready," she said
She took off her bra and panties
Wet her fingers, slipped it inside her
And crawled over me on the bed

She bought me another whisky
Said "here's to the best you ever had"
We laughed and made a toast
It wasn't the best I ever had
Not even close


A spokesperson for Sony/BMG declined to disclose the specifics of their relationship with Starbucks, but said Sony/BMG understood that a number of factors went into Starbucks' decision. He also stated that Sony/BMG was pleased that the cd is available at two of the flagship "Hear Music" locations and that Sony/BMG has a good relationship with Starbucks.

Springsteen is doing an acoustic tour in small venues in support of the new cd. Tour dates:

May 7 Denver, CO Lecture Hall at Colorado Convention Center
May 10 St Paul, MN Xcel Energy Center
May 11 Chicago, IL Rosemont Theatre
May 14 Fairfax, VA Patriot Center
May 15 Cleveland, OH CSU Convocation Center
May 17 Philadelphia, PA Tower Theatre
May 19 East Rutherford, NJ The Theater at Continental Arena
May 20 Boston, MA Orpheum Theatre
May 24 Dublin, Ireland The Point
May 27 London, UK Royal Albert Hall
May 28 London, UK Royal Albert Hall
May 30 Brussels, Belgium Forest National
June 1 Barcelona, Spain Pavello Olimpic Badalona
June 2 Madrid, Spain Palacio De Deportes de la Comunidad
June 4 Bologna, Italy Palamalaguti Arena
June 6 Rome, Italy Palalottomatica Arena
June 7 Milan, Italy Milan Forum
June 11 Hamburg, German Color Line Arena
June 12 Berlin, Germany ICC
June 13 Munich, Germany Olympia Hall
June 15 Frankfurt, Germany Festhalle
June 16 Dusseldorf, Germany Phillipshalle
June 19 Rotterdam, Holland Ahoy
June 20 Paris, France Bercy
June 22 Copenhagen, Denmark Forum
June 23 Gothenberg, Sweden Scandinavium
June 25 Stockholm, Sweden Hovet