Fans and performers have criticised the decision to switch off Bruce Springsteen's microphone during a gig in London on Saturday night (14.07.12).

The 'Born to Run' singer went beyond a curfew to perform with Beatles legend Sir Paul McCartney at Hard Rock Calling in front of 76,000 revellers in Hyde Park, with Westminster Council saying it was a necessary move in order to ''comply with the licence'' on live music.

But Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, has slammed the decision and says he would've given permission for Bruce to keep singing.

He said: ''It sounds to me like an excessively efficacious decision. If they'd have called me, my answer would have been for them to Jam in the name of the Lord.''

Bruce's guitarist Steve Van Zandt has taken to his twitter account to hit out at the decision, saying he ''feels bad'' for the fans.

In a series of tweets: ''One of the great gigs ever in my opinion. But seriously, when did England become a police state?

''We break curfews in every country but only English cops need to 'punish us' by not letting us leave until the entire crowd goes. I'm sorry but I have to be honest I'm p***ed. Like I said, it didn't ruin the great night. But when I'm jamming with McCartney don't bug me!

''There's no grudges to be held. Just feel bad for our great fans. Hard Rock is cool. Live Nation is cool. It's some City Council stupid rule.

''Nobody's blaming England! I owe my life (and radio format) to the British Invasion! And I hear this Boris Johnson is a cool dude.''