Do Bono's Politics Interfere with His Stage Presence?

[David Walton]

I've got a friend who really loves U2. I've never been to a U2 concert. Wouldn't go to this one, either. I like U2, I just am not a real music buff and don't have the cash to shell out.

But my question is this. I was listening to the Glenn Beck show the other day, and Glenn's producer Stu was talking about the U2 concert. Stu's pretty conservative (besides being a recently outed vegetarian) and said he enjoyed the concert immensely. He said the politics were not partisan, but Bono did stop frequently to push every kind of cause under the sun. I think Bono is pretty legit, but he comes across as pretensious sometimes in his interviews. Still, he's gotten his hands dirty...he's been to several hospitals where children are dying of AIDS and malnutrition. So it's not like he hasn't moved past the realm of theory and into the reality...

That being said, has anyone been to a U2 concert lately? And if so, were the charity pushes disrupting to the overall effect? I mean, it's not so much the political aspect...rock has always been a political creature...but there is a certain kind of continuity you want in a show. It seems to me like it would disrupt the overall mood of the concert. I don't know that 'With or Without You' complements world poverty relief efforts...or that poverty complements rock concerts. I know it's real, but so's cancer, and I don't expect to hear about it constantly at anything I shelled out big bucks for under the pretense that it was solely for entertainment purposes.

So, like I said, what advice could I give my friend? U2 isn't even his favorite band (he loves My Chemical Romance) but does like them a lot, and there's a certain feel of partcipating in history by being there for him. But he's heavy into politics and doesn't like it in his music. Besides that, he really hates the UN...

So, knowing as little as you do about him, would he enjoy a U2 concert?

[Deathstroke]

I saw U2 on the Pop tour, and I don't know how much his politics are involved now, but I don't think it interfered at all during the superb concert performance I witnessed.

[Grant]

He's not as obnoxious as Sting.

[David Walton]

Thanks for the info.

Yeah, I never thought of his politics as obnoxious. By all accounts, he does everything possible to include people of all persuasions for his concerts. My only concern was whether or not the charity pushes are distracting from the overall effect. I mean, you go to a concert for the experience, otherwise you could just listen to the cd. If I was watching a television show with about five minutes of commercials for every ten minutes of show, it might be the best show around, but I'd probably get so annoyed that it would have a negative effect on my perceptions of it. There's a few radio talk show hosts I won't listen to because they constantly interrupt the flow of thought with more and more commercials. Honestly, they cut into commercials to announce...their upcoming guests, a snippet of thought, and more commercials. I was just wondering if Bono has gotten to the point that his concerts aren't what they were five years ago.

And it seems that he is still very popular on stage, so I guess the answer is no.

[Bakema NL]

I like the older U2, the last 15 years or so doesn't interest me really. And I would get fed up with all that charity pushing were I to visit their concerts, so I'm glad I don't. I can reach 18 000 people a week in the store I work at, but I'm not pushing for charity there either, that's uncalled for.

[ACK!]

I've never been to a U2 show, so I can't comment on this, but I do remember that when Paul McCartney toured in 1993, he screened an animal cruelty film at his shows prior to taking the stage. I found this to be offensive. If I had paid good money to go see Sir Paul and had to watch that as part of the audience, I may have left and demanded a refund. I understand that Paul is a vegetarian and supporter of animal rights and I respect that - but I don't want his views forced on me in such a way.

On a lighter note, when U2 appeared on The Simpsons, there was a funny scene where Bono went into a political monologue onstage, prompting The Edge (U2 guitarist) to roll his eyes and say something like "Here he goes again." Eventually, The Edge, Larry Mullen Jr. and Adam Clayton leave the stage and head over to Moe's Tavern. :D

[leonaozaki]

I've never been to a U2 show, so I can't comment on this, but I do remember that when Paul McCartney toured in 1993, he screened an animal cruelty film at his shows prior to taking the stage. I found this to be offensive. If I had paid good money to go see Sir Paul and had to watch that as part of the audience, I may have left and demanded a refund. I understand that Paul is a vegetarian and supporter of animal rights and I respect that - but I don't want his views forced on me in such a way.

On a lighter note, when U2 appeared on The Simpsons, there was a funny scene where Bono went into a political monologue onstage, prompting The Edge (U2 guitarist) to roll his eyes and say something like "Here he goes again." Eventually, The Edge, Larry Mullen Jr. and Adam Clayton leave the stage and head over to Moe's Tavern. :D

So, you didn't go to the show, and didn't see the film, but you were still offended?

Hoo boy. And here's another thing I'll never understand. I assume that even though Macca showed the film he still played the show, right? Did he make you agree to his views before playing the show? In what way does showing the film constitute -forcing- his views on you?

rob

[Alex]

Does the guy who wrote sunday bloody sundays politics affect his concerts.....

[Grant]

Does the guy who wrote sunday bloody sundays politics affect his concerts.....

Say what???

[ACK!]

So, you didn't go to the show, and didn't see the film, but you were still offended?

Hoo boy. And here's another thing I'll never understand. I assume that even though Macca showed the film he still played the show, right? Did he make you agree to his views before playing the show? In what way does showing the film constitute -forcing- his views on you?

rob

I saw the concert on a VHS video, which included the animal cruelty film that was shown to audiences on that tour. Fortunately, I was able to fast-forward to the actual concert, but not before I saw some very disturbing images.

When I go to a Paul McCartney concert, I am expecting to see Paul and his band play his classic songs and be entertained. Nothing more, nothing else. McCartney took advantage of the fact that he had a sort of captive audience - people who'd paid good money for the tickets and probably had to drive a considerable distance to get to the venue - to force his political agenda on his fans.

I'm willing to bet that most of the people in attendance were there to be entertained, not lectured on animal rights. Now, if Paul wants to have a vegetarian activist group and PETA set up informational booths inside the auditorium, I don't have a problem with that. People can choose whether or not they want to check those out. They have a choice in the matter

But when the lights go out and the crowd roars in anticipation of what the first song will be, their expectation shouldn't be met with a film that shows acts of animal cruelty. As I said before, Paul has the right to his views and beliefs, but he should keep them separate from his music.

And he indeed is forcing his views, because do I get the opportunity for a rebuttal?? Is Paul being made to watch a movie made by people who choose to eat red meat or use products that come from animals?? I don't think so. It's not like I can just go backstage after the show and give McCartney a lecture on my side of the issue.

I have also heard that McCartney has fired members of his road crew who were found to have snuck off and eaten hamburgers. I don't know if being a vegetarian is a pre-condition for employment with McCartney, but he's certainly forcing his lifestyle on others if he does things like that.

I stand by my statements.

[phoenixrising]

I went to U2 shows on this current tour and Elevation a coupla years back and there was very little actual politics involved at all. It was a bit of "this song is about the starving children I encountered when..." sort of stuff tossed in maybe twice the entire show, not "You should feel bad for being a gigantic conservative".

Bono may be very upfront about his beliefs on certain things, but he certainly isn't upfront about his stance on American politics. I've seen interviews where he's been asked about the 04 election and he skirted the subject every time. And last I checked, helping kids with AIDS and starving folks in other countries wasn't something that any one party/ideaology does...

[twilight]

On a lighter note, when U2 appeared on The Simpsons, there was a funny scene where Bono went into a political monologue onstage, prompting The Edge (U2 guitarist) to roll his eyes and say something like "Here he goes again." Eventually, The Edge, Larry Mullen Jr. and Adam Clayton leave the stage and head over to Moe's Tavern. :D

Even funnier was Bono's appearance in the Family guy movie.

*flashback to Peter and Bono trapped on a desert island with a big box of food*

Peter:C'mon Bono gimme some food
Bono:I can't do that Peter,it's for the starving children of the world
Peter:C'mon!
Bono:Sorry Peter,s'for the starving children

*Peter sits down and while Bono sneaks some food from the box*

Peter:AHA!
Bono:Just making sure it'll taste good for the starving children

*Peter clubs Bono over the head with a rock and starts eating*

[HomerJay]

The reason I have MUCH more respect for Bono than I do other "celebrity activists" is that it's clear that he has no political agenda, rather he focuses on issues. If an issue is important to him, he does his best to increase awareness of it without shoving it down people's throats. He succeeds in drawing attention to causes without alienating fans.

It's also VERY refreshing to me that Bono takes his causes seriously, but NOT HIMSELF (Sean Penn, I'm looking in your direction).

[Grant]

His concerns seem to be more humantarian then political. Considering he tries to get support from conservatives as well as liberals it probably would be a bad idea to knock conservatives.

[howyadoin]

Say what???I'm not Alex, but it looked to me like he thinks it's goofy to ask if Bono's concerts are at all political, given that he (Bono, not Alex) wrote this song:

I can’t believe the news today
Oh, I can’t close my eyes and make it go away
How long...
How long must we sing this song?
How long? how long...

’cause tonight...we can be as one
Tonight...

Broken bottles under children’s feet
Bodies strewn across the dead end street
But I won’t heed the battle call
It puts my back up
Puts my back up against the wall

Sunday, bloody sunday
Sunday, bloody sunday
Sunday, bloody sunday (sunday bloody sunday...)
(allright lets go!)

And the battle’s just begun
There’s many lost, but tell me who has won
The trench is dug within our hearts
And mothers, children, brothers, sisters torn apart

Sunday, bloody sunday
Sunday, bloody sunday

How long...
How long must we sing this song?
How long? how long...

’cause tonight...we can be as one
Tonight...
Tonight...

Sunday, bloody sunday (tonight)
Tonight
Sunday, bloody sunday (tonight)
(come get some!)

Wipe the tears from your eyes
Wipe your tears away
Wipe your tears away
I wipe your tears away
(sunday, bloody sunday)
I wipe your blood shot eyes
(sunday, bloody sunday)

Sunday, bloody sunday (sunday, bloody sunday)
Sunday, bloody sunday (sunday, bloody sunday)
(here I come!)

And it’s true we are immune
When fact is fiction and tv reality
And today the millions cry
We eat and drink while tomorrow they die

The real battle yet begun (sunday, bloody sunday)
To claim the victory jesus won (sunday, bloody sunday)
On...

Sunday bloody sunday

[Spike-X]

Watching this on the Slane Castle DVD where he reads out the names at the end is incredibly intense.

[Eric D.]

no, - his bloated ego interferes with most day-to-day functions, I believe.

[Ziggy Stardust]

Bono takes himself WAY too seriously. WAY too seriously.

And I find him funny for it.

When he showed up at Live 8 and did that idiotic speech about how he "met with the world leaders" and golf courses and yadda yadda, I laughed, then went to another channel and only tuned back in when I saw he was done.

[dupersuper]

I was listening to the Glenn Beck show the other day,

Problem #1 :tongue:

[ACK!]

If Bono put as much into his music as he did his politics, U2's music would be better. Not that it's bad, but...

I read an article about one of their albums and how Bono wasn't there through much of the recording. It kind of bugged his bandmates. They kind of danced around it. They said that he wasn't around, but it was okay because he was doing all these good things.

Reading between the lines, I think it bugs them a bit.

[RachelRules]

U2 has always been about trying to make the world a better place. Look at the album notes for the earlier albums. They urged people to support Greenpeace, the Free Tibet cause, no nukes, etc. Yes, Bono has causes that he's helped with and spoken out for. He's helped to raise money for starving people, for victims of AIDS, for debt relief. And, for some reason, he takes flack for it. Sometimes I think it's just easier for people to deride someone who's using the position that they have to try and help people then to actually get off their own butts and do something to help too. Here's a guy who, at least at every U2 concert I've ever been to (6 so far), always takes a minute to thank the fans for coming out and for giving him, and the band, a good life. And he wants to use that money and his influence to help people. So what's wrong with that? Better than many rock stars who use the money for drugs or bigger houses or whatever else they can lay their hands on.

[king mob]

Bono wants to help people but he also wants to avoid paying tax in the Republic of Ireland.


U2 HAVE begun pulling their multi-million business empire out of Ireland and moving it to Holland as a result of the cap on the artists' tax exemption which came into existence earlier this year. Arts chiefs warned that the €250,000 cap announced as part of last December's budget would mean many of the biggest earners such as U2 would leave Ireland because they now face sizeable tax bills on their incomes.
DANIEL McCONNELL

U2 HAVE begun pulling their multi-million business empire out of Ireland and moving it to Holland as a result of the cap on the artists' tax exemption which came into existence earlier this year.

Arts chiefs warned that the €250,000 cap announced as part of last December's budget would mean many of the biggest earners such as U2 would leave Ireland because they now face sizeable tax bills on their incomes.

From June 1, U2 moved some of their business affairs to the same Dutch finance house used by the Rolling Stones to avail of a virtually tax-free status on their multi-million Euro royalties.

The northside Dublin rockers were the world's biggest musical earners last year, taking in a whopping €217m. According to industry sources, they faced a potential multi-million Euro tax bill had their business remained in Ireland this year as a result of royalty earnings from their ongoing Vertigo world tour.

Holland's virtual tax-free status is a great attraction for big players such as the Stones and U2 because there is no direct tax on royalties, unlike in most other countries.

Bono (Paul Hewson), The Edge (Dave Evans), Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr, who share their earnings with their manager Paul McGuinness, have copied a business model adopted by the Rolling Stones, who have operations based in Amsterdam since the early Seventies. Reports last week revealed that the British rockers have established two foundations to manage the rights to their music, performances, merchandise and films and to settle ownership issues should one of them die.

The man who masterminded the Rolling Stones' virtually tax-free Dutch companies has become a director of U2 Limited which owns all the U2 master tapes.

Jan Favie, a 41-year-old Dutchman, runs Promogroup out of an up-market area in Amsterdam. According to sources, he was one of the main reasons why U2 decided to move its U2 Limited firmto the office at Herengracht. Favie has become director and secretary of U2 Limited along with Gaby Smith, who is U2's accountant in Ireland, and 63-year-old Roelof Kloeten, a member of the board of PON, the largest car import company in the Netherlands.

The Irish tax exemption from which U2 and others have benefited so handsomely is attributed to the royalties earned from the sale and performance of their work, but excludes merchandise and other related side projects.

Dick Molenaar, widely recognised as the number one expert in the Netherlands on issues regarding taxes and the arts, says U2 have made a smart decision by moving U2 Ltd to Amsterdam.

"Since Ireland has a zero-tariff on outward royalties, many countries try to tax royalties from Irish groups within their own borders. By introducing a Dutch daughter company, U2 can avoid this by first booking their royalty income to the Netherlands, and then on to Ireland. This is a bright move by U2's advisors," he said.

Although the tax exemption introduced by the late Charles Haughey was originally intended to aid struggling artists, international stars such as U2, Enya and the Corrs have benefited significantly from the attractive tax breaks on their song-writing and royalty earnings.

According to latest available figures, a handful of artists account for the majority of the estimated €20m a year which the exemption costs the exchequer.

Little or no information about U2's global operation is in the public domain but they are known to employ some of the world's top tax experts to enable them to maximise their income. Their affairs are managed by McGuinness and his company, Principle Management, which has an office in Ireland but is based primarily in London.

The company refused to make any comment in reply to a number of questions from the Sunday Independent last week.

Olive Braiden, chairwoman of the Arts Council, said that many star acts such as U2 stayed in the country because of the benefits of the artists' tax exemption and it would be unfortunate if any of them left as a result of the cap.

"The Arts Council campaigned vigorously on the issue of tax exemption for artists, buoyed up by the active support of the arts community itself. Although not every aspect of the Arts Council's submission was incorporated into the resulting legislation, the Arts Council was pleased with the outcome, believing that the Minister had adopted a fair and reasonable approach to the issue," said Olive Braiden yesterday.

"The Arts Council has consistently argued that one of the benefits of the artist tax exemption scheme was that many high-profile artists chose to live in Ireland as a result. It would be unfortunate if the artistic community were to be diminished as a result of some of these artists choosing to base themselves elsewhere on account of recent changes to the legislative environment," Ms Braiden added.

The Department of Arts, Sports and Tourism said that the exemption was an incentive for artists to work, live and create in Ireland. The revision of the scheme announced recently was introduced to ensure the broadest benefit from everyone from the first-time novelist to the internationally established music act.

A spokesman for the Department said the cap is flexible upwards in order to attract artists to conduct non-exempt work in Ireland. The department refused to comment on the tax or business dealings of any individual act or artist


http://www.independent.ie/national-news/u2-move-their-rock-empire-out-of-ireland-133364.html

The carbon footprint for their tours are also questionable, (http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/u2s-massive-carbon-footprint-called-into-question-1734827.html)so I'm no great fan of an act who have been seen to be preaching on one hand, while being hypocritical on the other.

[Electric i]

I think Bono is pretty legit, but he comes across as pretensious sometimes in his interviews. Still, he's gotten his hands dirty...he's been to several hospitals where children are dying of AIDS and malnutrition. So it's not like he hasn't moved past the realm of theory and into the reality...

Bono has also complained about how Ireland's government doesn't spend enough on helping the poor and helpless.

[Then U2 moved their finances OUT of Ireland to a country with a lower tax base, thus further weakening Ireland's ability to spend money to help anyone.]

Bono has also championed the environment and global warming.

[Then U2 goes on a tour with a stage set that requires 7 cargo planes to move it from one continent to another, and 17 tractor trailers to transport it on the ground.]

Essentially what I am saying is that Bono's hypocrisy and lack of common sense might interfere with his stage presence, but doesn't seem to based on U2s success.

[Karl O'Neill]

He has his fans in Ireland, no doubt, but he is generally referred to as an "arsehole" by many people here.

All of this I heard anecdotally.

[Electric i]

U2 has always been about trying to make the world a better place. Look at the album notes for the earlier albums. They urged people to support Greenpeace, the Free Tibet cause, no nukes, etc. Yes, Bono has causes that he's helped with and spoken out for. He's helped to raise money for starving people, for victims of AIDS, for debt relief. And, for some reason, he takes flack for it. Sometimes I think it's just easier for people to deride someone who's using the position that they have to try and help people then to actually get off their own butts and do something to help too. Here's a guy who, at least at every U2 concert I've ever been to (6 so far), always takes a minute to thank the fans for coming out and for giving him, and the band, a good life. And he wants to use that money and his influence to help people. So what's wrong with that? Better than many rock stars who use the money for drugs or bigger houses or whatever else they can lay their hands on.


Wow...I didn't read your post before I made mine, so don't get mad and think I was slamming you or anything.

[The Black Guardian]

I always thought that Bono would have no stage presence were it not for his politics.

/shrug

[RachelRules]

Then U2 goes on a tour with a stage set that requires 7 cargo planes to move it from one continent to another, and 17 tractor trailers to transport it on the ground.

Actually, the band is working with a group called MusicMatters which creates environmental impact reduction programs for music festivals and tours. This includes recycling, refillable water stations, composting and examining all vehicles used in order to reduce carbon emissions. So, yes, it's a huge tour but they're trying their best to make it both enjoyable for the fans and as environmentally sound as possible.

[king mob]

Actually, the band is working with a group called MusicMatters which creates environmental impact reduction programs for music festivals and tours. This includes recycling, refillable water stations, composting and examining all vehicles used in order to reduce carbon emissions. So, yes, it's a huge tour but they're trying their best to make it both enjoyable for the fans and as environmentally sound as possible.

This is only something they started doing when it was pointed out that the band's huge carbon footprint was at odds with the band telling people to control their own carbon footprint. Add to this the situation of them not paying tax in their home country & you've got a band who don't practise what they preach.

This said, I'd have probably watched a bit of them next month at Glastonbury, but I'm happy they've cancelled & been replaced by Gorillaz.

[C. Earl]

Anyone who wants to help people and make the world a little better is just setting himself up to be crucified. You're criticized if do something and criticized if you do nothing. But I recall some really old interview back in the '80s in which Bono said you gotta raise a big stink in order to get noticed (or something like that)...

As far as the original topic, I've been to two U2 concerts--ZOO TV in '92 and Pop Mart in '97--and Bono didn't get political at all on stage both times. I've seen other concerts on video going as far back as '83. There was one time back in '87 or '88 when there was a terrorist bombing in Ireland in which innocent people were killed that really pissed Bono off, though, and it came through during a performance of "Sunday Bloody Sunday." Looking back through their entire song catalogue, there are very few that deal with anything remotely political, with "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and "Mothers of the Disappeared" being the more blatant ones, IMO...

[The Black Guardian]

Politics certainly isn't a theme of most of their songs, but every album seems to have 2-3 songs (over half the songs on War, and quite a few on Joshua Tree and Achtung). Religion is probably their most used theme.

[Cyke]

Bono may be very upfront about his beliefs on certain things, but he certainly isn't upfront about his stance on American politics. I've seen interviews where he's been asked about the 04 election and he skirted the subject every time.

I get the feeling that he would have preferred Kerry since last year, Bono dodged a hug from Bush; but in 2004 he couldn't disavow the efforts that he and Bush worked on together. For a celebrity/politician match-up, they were famously in constant contact when it came to AIDS funding, and they've publicly met to discuss world hunger. He might not like Bush personally, but he recognizes and acknowledges that the two of them together made some fairly large strides. When a celebrity and politician team-up, it's usually just lip service and photo ops, but surprisingly not so with Bono and Bush.

With that said, it should be worth mentioning that he probably sought Bush simply because he was the president, and would have pursued anyone almost equally, whoever holds that office.

[king mob]

Anyone who wants to help people and make the world a little better is just setting himself up to be crucified. You're criticized if do something and criticized if you do nothing. But I recall some really old interview back in the '80s in which Bono said you gotta raise a big stink in order to get noticed (or something like that)...


You stand to be criticised if you're telling your government to increase aid payments & then shift your vast amount of tax income out of the Irish economy in order to pay less tax. You're classed as hypocritical if your carbon footprint for your tour is that of a small country. You stand scruitiny if you're seen to publically back Gordon Brown & Tony Blair's ideas on aid relief and avoid taking criticism for it.

If Bono were to be consistant then fine, but he's not & yes he has helped raise awareness of certain subjects, but his involvment often obfuscates the subject at hand, so it's less about aid in African countries & more about Bono or U2.

[C. Earl]

Originally Posted by Shameless Fanboy
Anyone who wants to help people and make the world a little better is just setting himself up to be crucified. You're criticized if do something and criticized if you do nothing. But I recall some really old interview back in the '80s in which Bono said you gotta raise a big stink in order to get noticed (or something like that)...

You stand to be criticised if you're telling your government to increase aid payments & then shift your vast amount of tax income out of the Irish economy in order to pay less tax. You're classed as hypocritical if your carbon footprint for your tour is that of a small country. You stand scruitiny if you're seen to publically back Gordon Brown & Tony Blair's ideas on aid relief and avoid taking criticism for it.

A lot of that is just the business of being a big rock star. So unless one gives up everything they own and start living out of a tent, yeah, they'll be labeled a hypocrite no matter what they do. But I do think it takes a change in government policies to create lasting change, because I think if Bono (or any any big rock star) gave up his entire fortune to charity, it'd be even less than a drop in the bucket and the problems really wouldn't be solved.


If Bono were to be consistant then fine, but he's not & yes he has helped raise awareness of certain subjects, but his involvment often obfuscates the subject at hand, so it's less about aid in African countries & more about Bono or U2.
Hardly. That's just hating. Bono & U2 have donated and raised millions for various charities, most without so much as a press release:
46664
Amnesty International
DATA
Greenpeace
Live 8
Make Poverty History
Mencap
Music for Relief
(RED)
The HollyRod Foundation

They've also supported general causes such as:
Adoption, Fostering, Orphans, AIDS, Animals, Children, Disaster Relief, Environment, Fair Trade, Family/Parent Support, Health, Human Rights, Literacy, Mental Challenges, Physical Challenges, Poverty, Unemployment/Career Support, Treatment of Women

Despite some people's claims to the contrary, I think Bono would be the first person to tell you he isn't a saint and he certainly isn't perfect, but I do think he's done far more good in the world than harm.

[howyadoin]

As far as the original topic, I've been to two U2 concerts--ZOO TV in '92 and Pop Mart in '97--and Bono didn't get political at all on stage both times.Just once for me (All That You Can't Leave Behind, spring of 2001). Very little politics, lots of great rock 'n' roll. I can't help wondering if the naysayers are reacting to U2's music and their actions, or just to some imagined image they that themselves have bought into.

And beyond that, the idea that politics and rock 'n' roll should never mix is a bit simple-minded.

[ACK!]

I get the feeling that he would have preferred Kerry since last year, Bono dodged a hug from Bush; but in 2004 he couldn't disavow the efforts that he and Bush worked on together. For a celebrity/politician match-up, they were famously in constant contact when it came to AIDS funding, and they've publicly met to discuss world hunger. He might not like Bush personally, but he recognizes and acknowledges that the two of them together made some fairly large strides. When a celebrity and politician team-up, it's usually just lip service and photo ops, but surprisingly not so with Bono and Bush.

With that said, it should be worth mentioning that he probably sought Bush simply because he was the president, and would have pursued anyone almost equally, whoever holds that office.

Exactly. While Bono may not have been crazy about some of Bush's policies and whatnot, he didn't want to close off an avenue of support for his efforts, so he tried to make the best of it and emphasize the positive aspects of their relationship and what they'd accomplished.

Bono is a better politician than most politicians in that regard...and it has yielded some positive results.

[king mob]

A lot of that is just the business of being a big rock star. So unless one gives up everything they own and start living out of a tent, yeah, they'll be labeled a hypocrite no matter what they do. But I do think it takes a change in government policies to create lasting change, because I think if Bono (or any any big rock star) gave up his entire fortune to charity, it'd be even less than a drop in the bucket and the problems really wouldn't be solved.

Being a multi millionaire pop star is all fine and good, but one who tells the Irish government to give more money for aid but takes his tax income out of the Republic is asking for trouble. Do you not consider that this type of behaviour leaves U2 open for greater scruitiny than a band pissing their money away on whatever.

Political pop stars are fine but if they want to be political animals then they have to accept they're get treated as political animals.


Hardly. That's just hating.

Can we cut this 'hating' bollocks. That's language for 12 year olds on Facebook.


Despite some people's claims to the contrary, I think Bono would be the first person to tell you he isn't a saint and he certainly isn't perfect, but I do think he's done far more good in the world than harm.

I'm not going to play the 'he's done more good than harm' card as it's an attempt to deflect criticism of Bono for things like Red, or the shamless Brownite agenda of Live 8 & how Live 8 got in the way of what Comic Relief & MPH were trying to do. We should be putting these things under close attention as musicians/celebrities have a position to put a case to the public with suffering the same critical scritiny as anything else would.

Bono's done good, but ignoring the harmful effects of his support of Live 8 shouldn't be igored.

[C. Earl]

Being a multi millionaire pop star is all fine and good, but one who tells the Irish government to give more money for aid but takes his tax income out of the Republic is asking for trouble. Do you not consider that this type of behaviour leaves U2 open for greater scruitiny than a band pissing their money away on whatever.

Political pop stars are fine but if they want to be political animals then they have to accept they're get treated as political animals.


Can we cut this 'hating' bollocks. That's language for 12 year olds on Facebook.


I'm not going to play the 'he's done more good than harm' card as it's an attempt to deflect criticism of Bono for things like Red, or the shamless Brownite agenda of Live 8 & how Live 8 got in the way of what Comic Relief & MPH were trying to do. We should be putting these things under close attention as musicians/celebrities have a position to put a case to the public with suffering the same critical scritiny as anything else would.

Bono's done good, but ignoring the harmful effects of his support of Live 8 shouldn't be igored.

That's all just more hatin'.
http://planetsmilies.net/eat-drink-smiley-7838.gif (http://planetsmilies.net)

[RachelRules]

Can we cut this 'hating' bollocks. That's language for 12 year olds on Facebook.

But sometimes 12-year-olds are right.

So you have to be perfect before you can help someone? In that case, no one is helping and no one is getting helped. By this line of reasoning, anyone who takes advantage of any way to legally lower their income tax and makes donations to charity is a hypocrite for it. And since the Irish Arts Council didn't support the government's imposition of the tax changes, then they're just wrong? If Mick Jagger were to lobby the English government for help for starving people, then he's a hypocrite as well (since the Stones have done the same thing and moved their business to Holland)?

I don't recall ever seeing Bono claim he was perfect (far from it in anything I've ever read or any interview I've ever seen). And sometimes, yes, it does count to say he's done more good than harm. If his work has resulted in the saving of even one life, that, to my mind, renders arguments about paying taxes moot.

[Spike-X]

That's all just more hatin'.
http://planetsmilies.net/eat-drink-smiley-7838.gif (http://planetsmilies.net)
I suppose it's a lot easier to dismiss somebody's points in such a fashion than it is to actually engage in an adult discussion, isn't it?

In other words, go play with your Pokemons. Grownups are talking.

[C. Earl]

Originally Posted by Shameless Fanboy
That's all just more hatin'.


I suppose it's a lot easier to dismiss somebody's points in such a fashion than it is to actually engage in an adult discussion, isn't it?

In other words, go play with your Pokemons. Grownups are talking.
Maybe you can go get one after you're finished with your temper tantrum and your childish need to lash out at somebody you don't know and who wasn't talking to you in the first place...
http://planetsmilies.net/tongue-smiley-8871.gif (http://planetsmilies.net)

[pariah-1972]

I am a big fan of U2 and i like that he actually puts forth some effort into his humanitarian causes and his political causes.

I do get a bit tired of the ranting in concert and on the dvd's live albums.


Also i kind of lost respect for him when he started kissing up to the republican party and George Bush.
even tho he did it for a good cause i think it affects your musical and political credibility a bit when you preach world peace and then go kissing the ass of one of the biggest war mongers ever.


Sometimes i wish i could be more like him and stop being selfish and lazy.



I still haven't got no line on the horizon (tho i came close when i saw it was selling used at my local store)

[janthonyh]

Not sure about U2, but the Flobots and REM are two recent shows that got under my skin. Between every song, it seemed, the bands were spouting some such political nonsense. I don't know, I guess when I go to a concert, I want to hear music, when I want to hear political speeches, I'll go to a political speech. That's probably why i don't go to any political speeches...

[Spike-X]

REM I can kinda understand, but had you listened to any Flobots music before you went to the concert?

[Ship]

I've never been to a U2 concert myself but a friend of mine was at one of their Toronto shows last year. He said the show was fantastic but did mention that he thought the band probably could've done another four or five songs if it weren't for Bono talking politics.

[howyadoin]

I am a big fan of U2 and i like that he actually puts forth some effort into his humanitarian causes and his political causes.

I do get a bit tired of the ranting in concert and on the dvd's live albums.How many times have you gone to see them?

[Spike-X]

"Dance, monkey! We don't pay to hear what you think about politics! We pay to hear your songs, many of which are about politics!"

[ACK!]

I think any celebrity has the right to express their political views publicly.

However, when I go to a concert, I don't want to hear them drone on about their political views. I pay to see and hear music!!

And this applies to U2, the Dixie Chicks, whoever....

[pariah-1972]

How many times have you gone to see them?Do you know how expensive their tickets are?

[limerick]

Bono takes himself WAY too seriously. WAY too seriously.

And I find him funny for it.

When he showed up at Live 8 and did that idiotic speech about how he "met with the world leaders" and golf courses and yadda yadda, I laughed, then went to another channel and only tuned back in when I saw he was done.

*nods head in agreement*


Bono wants to help people but he also wants to avoid paying tax in the Republic of Ireland.



http://www.independent.ie/national-news/u2-move-their-rock-empire-out-of-ireland-133364.html

The carbon footprint for their tours are also questionable, (http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/u2s-massive-carbon-footprint-called-into-question-1734827.html)so I'm no great fan of an act who have been seen to be preaching on one hand, while being hypocritical on the other.


Bono has also complained about how Ireland's government doesn't spend enough on helping the poor and helpless.

[Then U2 moved their finances OUT of Ireland to a country with a lower tax base, thus further weakening Ireland's ability to spend money to help anyone.]

Bono has also championed the environment and global warming.

[Then U2 goes on a tour with a stage set that requires 7 cargo planes to move it from one continent to another, and 17 tractor trailers to transport it on the ground.]

Essentially what I am saying is that Bono's hypocrisy and lack of common sense might interfere with his stage presence, but doesn't seem to based on U2s success.

The hypocrisy of the man beggars believe....I attended their 'homecoming' concert at Croke Park in Dublin(2009) and found it to be a soul-less stroking of their own ego.....Don't get me wrong,the musicianship was amazing and Bono's vocal performance was surprisingly strong but the political preaching(and it obviously pissed the other band members off)didn't sit well with the extortionate ticket prices,the shameless corporation advertising sell-out and the tax-dodging while encouraging governments to donate more money to struggling nations.....If he had just shut his mouth and sang it might have been worth the money.....But listening to him bull-shitting on was painful and annoying.




He has his fans in Ireland, no doubt, but he is generally referred to as an "arsehole" by many people here.

All of this I heard anecdotally.

Ireland caught on to the fact that he's just a spoofer years ago....the rest of the world have copped on to it and the backlash is genuinely hurting him.....He was begging the crowd for adoration at Croke Park.....And he got it....What he didn't realise was most people there were well boozed up and would have cheered if he'd sang 'ring-a-ring-a-rosey'.....In fact the 'cheering' was generally people shouting at him 'to shut the f**k up and sing'--insert U2song title here.

[limerick]

U2 intermittently appear on an Irish talk show,'The Late Late Show'......The link below features some of their most recent appearance to promote 'No Line on The Horizon'.....On this Youtube clip you can sense some real tension between the band,especially from Larry Mullen Jr. towards Bono(From about 58 secs on).....I've seen them interviewed several times before but this is the first time this sort of division was so 'on show'.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYWOa0yLI2c

IMO,the last three albums have been mixed bags,each producing some standout tracks but several duds as well......Overall,it may well be time to call it a day and leave the public to appreciate their creative triumph,'Achtung Baby',by far their most consistent album as well as 'The Joshua Tree' and the very under-rated 'Zooropa'.

[pariah-1972]

U2 intermittently appear on an Irish talk show,'The Late Late Show'......The link below features some of their most recent appearance to promote 'No Line on The Horizon'.....On this Youtube clip you can sense some real tension between the band,especially from Larry Mullen Jr. towards Bono(From about 58 secs on).....I've seen them interviewed several times before but this is the first time this sort of division was so 'on show'.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYWOa0yLI2c

IMO,the last three albums have been mixed bags,each producing some standout tracks but several duds as well......Overall,it may well be time to call it a day and leave the public to appreciate their creative triumph,'Achtung Baby',by far their most consistent album as well as 'The Joshua Tree' and the very under-rated 'Zooropa'.Thanks for that link man and i do agree about the hypocrisy with the tax evasion.

It's really weird whenever i see Larry talk cause him and Adam are the quit ones in the band and don't usually express any opinions on stage or in interviews so you figure they must agree at least politically on things.

I'm really not sure why he seems so angry but a part of it could be he doesn't like being interviewed he is extremely shy and Bono even forced him to sing irish drinking songs on one tour so Bono could change into his Mephisto outfit and i know that was probably like pulling teeth.


I know that Bono has bent over backwards to accommodate both of them just for the sake of keeping the band together if for nothing else so i would be shocked if he did leave.

[C. Earl]

Larry has been angry ever since he joined the band, IMO. Adam is the "whatever, but where's my drink?" kind of guy. Edge is the brainy one. Bono is Bono. After 30+ years together, you bet they eventually get on each other's nerves alot, and there's probably been quite a few heated arguments between them (understatement). But U2 would definitely end if any one of them left...

[pariah-1972]

Larry has been angry ever since he joined the band, IMO. Adam is the "whatever, but where's my drink?" kind of guy. Edge is the brainy one. Bono is Bono. After 30+ years together, you bet they eventually get on each other's nerves alot, and there's probably been quite a few heated arguments between them. But U2 would definitely end if any one of them left...I think it has to do with being interviewed if there is anyone who probably hates doing that it would be him for some reason.

Although he did give a pretty memorable interview during the Rattle and Hum video


Also Bono is sort of the heart of the band in a lot of ways especially if Edge is the brains (which i def agree with)

[RachelRules]

My, people seem to have strong feelings about Bono . . .

However, I think he would be the first one to say that as long as it gets people talking about these issues, then let the criticism continue.

Again, though, dismissing the man's work because the band moved their business to Holland is really a case of throwing out the baby with the bath water. Last time I checked, U2 was not Bono alone. There are three other band members and their manager. It wasn't Bono's choice alone and, despite what people may think, it was a perfectly legal move.

As for the shut up and sing comments . . . I believe the Dixie Chicks had a song about that. If you listen to U2's music, then you know that there are political themes running throughout them. Walk On is a song about Aung San Suu Kyi, Love and Peace or Else is about peace in the Middle East, Bullet the Blue Sky is about the US's involvement in El Salvador, and Pride is about Martin Luther King Jr. The songs speak for themselves. It only makes sense that Bono speak about some of them in concert. I've been to a number of U2 concerts and own all of the concert DVDs they've released. I don't find the politics overwhelming. Using a concert to raise awareness of an issue is perfectly fine in my book. I believe Adam Clayton said it best in the Rattle and Hum concert film/documentary when he said, "There are some people who say you shouldn't mix music and politics or sports and politics. Well... I think that's kinda bullsh*t!"

[pariah-1972]

Sports and politics really?

[beetlebum]

Sports and politics really?

http://www.aframnews.com/html/interspire/content_images/1/1968-Mexico-Olympics-Black-Power-Salute-6162944.jpg

Caslavska's silent protest -- 1968 Olympics (http://www.sipresponse.com/view.php?video=dykBBhaoczg&feature=youtube_gdata&title=Caslavska's+silent+protest+--+1968+Olympics)

[pariah-1972]

http://www.aframnews.com/html/interspire/content_images/1/1968-Mexico-Olympics-Black-Power-Salute-6162944.jpg

Caslavska's silent protest -- 1968 Olympics (http://www.sipresponse.com/view.php?video=dykBBhaoczg&feature=youtube_gdata&title=Caslavska's+silent+protest+--+1968+Olympics)I stand corrected.:redface:

[howyadoin]

Sports and politics really?


http://www.aframnews.com/html/interspire/content_images/1/1968-Mexico-Olympics-Black-Power-Salute-6162944.jpg

Caslavska's silent protest -- 1968 Olympics (http://www.sipresponse.com/view.php?video=dykBBhaoczg&feature=youtube_gdata&title=Caslavska%27s+silent+protest+--+1968+Olympics)Among many, many examples. Especially in the Olympics.

[limerick]

My, people seem to have strong feelings about Bono . . .

However, I think he would be the first one to say that as long as it gets people talking about these issues, then let the criticism continue.

Again, though, dismissing the man's work because the band moved their business to Holland is really a case of throwing out the baby with the bath water. Last time I checked, U2 was not Bono alone. There are three other band members and their manager. It wasn't Bono's choice alone and, despite what people may think, it was a perfectly legal move.

As for the shut up and sing comments . . . I believe the Dixie Chicks had a song about that. If you listen to U2's music, then you know that there are political themes running throughout them. Walk On is a song about Aung San Suu Kyi, Love and Peace or Else is about peace in the Middle East, Bullet the Blue Sky is about the US's involvement in El Salvador, and Pride is about Martin Luther King Jr. The songs speak for themselves. It only makes sense that Bono speak about some of them in concert. I've been to a number of U2 concerts and own all of the concert DVDs they've released. I don't find the politics overwhelming. Using a concert to raise awareness of an issue is perfectly fine in my book. I believe Adam Clayton said it best in the Rattle and Hum concert film/documentary when he said, "There are some people who say you shouldn't mix music and politics or sports and politics. Well... I think that's kinda bullsh*t!"

I see where you are coming from but you would be mistaken if you think I have a problem with Bono and U2 taking a political stand.....Any artist worth their salt will have views on political or social topics and air them to generate publicity for their adopted causes.

But when your actions as an artist seem contradictory to the messages you are preaching then the problem of hypocrisy arises.

Bono criticised the Irish government for not giving enough aid to underdeveloped countries in Africa....But despite having benefitted from very favourable tax breaks to creative artists by being resident in Ireland(Earnings from direct artistic endeavour are tax free in Ireland....So all songwriting royalties encur no taxation at all.....Earnings from merchandising and other less artistic income sources are taxable)they throw it back in our faces by moving their other interests to Holland......How can the Irish government give more to Africa if our wealthiest citizens refuse to contribute their fair share.

So my problem is not with them using their concert to raise awareness of an issue.....It is the fact that I find that self same preaching annoying(lol.....I-TUNES shuffle has just selected 'Twilight'-Live by U2)when the band don't back it up with their own actions.....In fact no fat,jumped up little midget is going to preach to me(I've had a few Buds!)so like the other guy said.....'Dance,Monkey,Dance'

BTW,I am a huge fan of U2's music and have almost everything they've recorded......I'm only missing a few tracks from the re-mastered album releases from the last few years.....They had the gaul to make some of those tracks 'album only' purchases on I-Tunes so I'd have to pay the full whack for a couple of missing tracks.....Nice way to treat your fans,guys.

[pariah-1972]

Don't forget both of their greatest hits was promoted as being limited only releases when in fact that was a lie and both are still easily available everywhere.

And also filling out the second side of the greatest hits with pointless remixes of mostly b-sides and obscure songs.

[limerick]

When 'The Fly' was released as a single,it was promoted as being availible for one week only!!......I remember buying a copy of the CD single in HMV 6 years later.....Paul McGuinness is a genius for thinking of new ways to rip fans off!!

[pariah-1972]

When 'The Fly' was released as a single,it was promoted as being availible for one week only!!......I remember buying a copy of the CD single in HMV 6 years later.....Paul McGuinness is a genius for thinking of new ways to rip fans off!!Which is pretty ironic considering they may not have gotten to where they are now if it wasn't for him.


But that sort of capitalist grab is not something i would expect from U2 it's more of a Kiss thing really.

[limerick]

I think the band let McGuinness call the business shots,really....He's practically a 5th member and makes the tough business decisions they may be uncomfortable making.

From 'Rattle and Hum' through to 'How to Dismantle....',his aggressive marketing gave them a U.K. number one with the opening single.....The wheels came off with 'Get on your Boots' which missed the top 10,IIRC.....It was a sign that the band have finally lost their popularity a little.

[pariah-1972]

I think the band let McGuinness call the business shots,really....He's practically a 5th member and makes the tough business decisions they may be uncomfortable making.

From 'Rattle and Hum' through to 'How to Dismantle....',his aggressive marketing gave them a U.K. number one with the opening single.....The wheels came off with 'Get on your Boots' which missed the top 10,IIRC.....It was a sign that the band have finally lost their popularity a little.I think it was more that it was a shite single that had a really poor looking video more than anything else.

on AMG they said it sounded like a cheap mashup produced on Garageband.

[janthonyh]

REM I can kinda understand, but had you listened to any Flobots music before you went to the concert?

I did. i know there lyrics are politically charged, and I agree to some extent what they're saying. It's just they way they go about it. Like i said, I don't like gettig it shoved down my throat. I guess I should have known that they might rant during their show, but at the time i really like that Handlebars song, lol.

[janthonyh]

"Dance, monkey! We don't pay to hear what you think about politics! We pay to hear your songs, many of which are about politics!"

exactly, lol :)