POP & ROCK

Bruce Springsteen is profiled in the December issue of Esquire (out this week)--but don’t expect the usual glowing treatment of America’s favorite rock ‘n’ roll son. Writer John Lombardi’s 10-page piece portrays Springsteen as a person more concerned with his media profile than his musical efforts. The article, titled “The Santification of Bruce Springsteen and the Rise of Mass Hip,” claims to show that Springsteen made donations to charities in 1984 and ’85 solely for the tax breaks. Not surprisingly, Team Springsteen is less than overjoyed with the article’s appearance. A source with Springsteen’s manager, Jon Landau, dismisses much of the piece as inaccurate and unfair.