Bruce Springsteen was rescued by passing bikers when his motorcycle broke down on a rural road near Freehold, New Jersey on Friday.
Riders from the Freehold American Legion had just left a Veterans Day event when they spotted a man standing on the side of the road next to his bike. The Good Samaritans pulled over to assist and couldn't believe their eyes when it turned out to be "The Boss" himself.
"It's a day I probably won't forget for a while," Dan Barkalow told CNN. "The moment I got off the bike I saw it was him, and he was a real nice, down-to-earth guy."
Springsteen hopped on the back of fellow rider Ryan Bailey's bike, and they all headed to a nearby bar. The rocker, who is a Freehold native and still lives in the area, treated the men to a round of drinks, and they shot the breeze about motorcycles for 30 or 40 minutes until his ride showed up.
Although there was no talk of politics, the bikers later felt some backlash after posting their experience with the left-leaning musician on the Freehold American Legion – Monmouth Post 54's Facebook Page.
"What started out as a story of interest posted to our American Legion Facebook page has devolved into a nauseating political altercation full of vitriol and insults, none of which are from our members," a statement on the page says. "If we are to survive as a nation both sides have to stop the hate."
"It's pretty disgusting," Barkalow later told CNN. "All I know is, I'm a pretty humble guy. I just stopped to help someone out."
