Hard Rock Calling 2012: England a 'police state', says Bruce Springsteen guitarist

Organisers said it was "unfortunate" that the performance was stopped at the end but insisted the curfew was put in place for to help protect "public health and safety".

^{Sir Paul McCartney with Bruce Springsteen on stage at the Hard Rock Calling festival, Hyde Park, London (Giovanni Canitano/Rex Features)}

The decision, however, sparked outrage amongst fans while Van Zandt took to Twitter to accuse England of becoming a “police state”.

Sir Paul had joined Springsteen, 62, and his E Street band on stage at the Hard Rock Calling music festival following a performance by the American rock star that had lasted more than three hours.

The US singer greeted the former Beatle, 70, by saying “I’ve been waiting for this for 50 years”.

^{Sir Paul McCartney joind Bruce Springsteen on stage to perform The Beatles' Twist and Shout and I Saw Her Standing There (Giovanni Canitano/Rex Features)}

Springsteen, known for his long performances, had exceeded the curfew by half an hour.

After belting out hits such as Born In The USA and Because The Night, he welcomed Sir Paul to the stage to sing Beatles hits I Saw Her Standing There and Twist and Shout.

But after singing two Beatles hits both performers were forced to leave the stage in silence after their sound equipment was turned off - meaning they were unable to thank the audience.

^{Bruce Springsteen and Steven Van Zandt on stage during the Hard Rock Calling in Hyde Park, London (Getty Images)}

The band had stood for some minutes, bemused and bowing, before speaking their thanks into switched-off microphones to growing jeers.

In a series of angry tweets from @StevieVanZandt, Springsteen's guitarist said: "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 needs to 'punish us' by not letting us leave until the entire crowd goes.

"Is there just too much fun in the world? We would have been off by 11 if we'd done one more. On a Saturday night! Who were we disturbing?"

He added: "The cops got nothing more important to do? How about they go catch some criminals instead of f****** with 80,000 people having a good time?

"English cops may be the only individuals left on earth that wouldn't want to hear one more from Bruce Springsteen and Paul McCartney!

"I'm sorry but I have to be honest I'm p*****. Like I said, it didn't ruin the great night. But when I'm jamming with McCartney don't bug me!"

He continued: "If it's a public transport issue I'm sorry but people are adult enough to go get a train if they need to without the cops pulling the plug!"