In defence of Bono and U2

Kevin says:

07:19am | 10/12/10

I am reminded of the day each year when a certain fast food outlet gives $1 for each burger sold to the Childrens’ Hospitals allowing people to feel good about paying money to a multi-billion dollar corporation for junk food.

Steve Smith says:

08:07am | 10/12/10

People who go to U2 concert’s and complain about the bands political stances are just as useless as those who believe attending a concert will influence politicians.

Bono has been preaching for a bloody long time.. I’d doubt their is anyone left who would go to a U2 concert expecting sex, drugs and rock and roll.

mg says:

08:15am | 10/12/10

thatmosis - I am so 100% in agreement you.
bono. get off the stage.

Barman says:

08:16am | 10/12/10

Gimme a break. They’re as boring as purgotary and more self important than KRudd.

iansand says:

08:54am | 10/12/10

Marketing.

Bryndal says:

09:11am | 10/12/10

Very good marketing - when is hanging out with Oprah?

Ryan says:

10:14am | 10/12/10

What is disgusting is enriching yourself with riches beyond the imagination of most human beings by leeching off the suffering and sorrow of others around the world. Bob Geldoff pioneered it and U2 jumped on the bandwagon.

James says:

10:25am | 10/12/10

So dam true ‘Keith Richards’ @9am. Cyncism helps absolutely no one, especially those in need. If your conscience bothers you then political activism in music obviously bothers you. Wouldn’t it be great if more people were congratulating them (all four) for cashing in their band’s ‘reputation’ in the name of great causes?
It’s unfortunate that it seems cyncism and jealousy at their musical success get in the way of all that. “Am I bugging you? I don’t mean to bug ya”

bella starkey says:

11:33am | 10/12/10

“It is difficult to be a fan of U2 and not have some social and political awareness”

I think you mean “It is difficult to be a fan of U2 and not be completely tone deaf”

Paul Hewson says:

11:39am | 10/12/10

Edge, is not a technically very good guitarist. He relies on effects processors and repetitive rhythms - his solo’s lack creativity, virtuosity and style.

hot tub political machine says:

11:51am | 10/12/10

The charges of hypocrisy against U2 (I’m not a fan btw) worry me.

This is because saying someone is a hypocrite or “they are just as bad” is so often used as an excuse for our own wilful inaction.

Who gives a rats whether U2 are hypocrites or not? Its not them we have to answer to.

Traxster says:

12:01pm | 10/12/10

I think U2 will be even better once Bono learns to sing in tune !

Vince says:

01:31pm | 10/12/10

I caught the concert in Brisbane last night and did not find the political messages overly annoying.  What was annoying, however, was the sound, which was crap.  Couldn’t even hear the poem by the NASA astronaut you mention.  Overall, too many special effects and not enough soul.  The best bits were when they went back to their old stuff.  Definitely got the impression that their past their prime.

Shane From Melbourne says:

02:25pm | 10/12/10

One band I liked was Redgum. Too hard to get a hold of any of their old albums. Their stuff is fun but very dated….

tcm says:

02:50pm | 10/12/10

Excuse me - Live aid 1985 - Band of the whole shebang was the one and only QUEEN thank you very much !!!!!
Knocked the socks of any other band on the bill.

Diamantina Dick says:

04:55pm | 10/12/10

U2 is one of the only bands that has been able to genuinely move me. Two or three songs on each album (except perhaps Pop) have done it.  I buy every one and have seen them every time they have been here since 1984. That’s what it’s about folks, what the music does for you, its peronal.  And could those who confuse carbon emissions with the ozone layer please stop preaching to me and take thier little cause du jour somewhere else where people are interested in your version of the truth.

MM says:

08:16pm | 10/12/10

Disagreeing/disliking is fine, but its worth pointing out that there is one key difference between Bono and your average ‘celebrity campaigner’, and this is that he fronts an organisation he founded, runs, and is very much involved in on a day to day, hands on basis (and with only 6-8 ‘donors’ financing it – its not a charity, does not ask for ‘your’ money – it’s probably a good bet he’s dropped a lot of his own coin into it as well.) Not just a loud mouth living large, parachuted in for the odd photo shoot in some desperate Third World locale, good work done for another year. And that organisation is very real, very effective, and very well respected. Ask anyone you know who works for a major NGO what they think of his/this organisations scope and achievements. There is of course often disagreement about ideas and methods when it comes to development etc, but I bet they’ll universally defend him as legitimate and the effectiveness of his/their work as being quite significant.

This is the organisation: http://www.one.org/international/

Alan, click on the Issues page, you’ll find plenty on Malaria.

But agreed, U2 have slid significantly over the past 10 years.

MM says:

08:25pm | 10/12/10

And I would also add that, as the article points out, U2 have been a politically charged band since Day 1. So I’d say he’s in a lose/lose position. If he weren’t doing this, I’d bet the same people would be complaining along the lines of “Why not, rather than just singing about it, you actually go and do something pro-active about it.” Well…

MF says:

08:52am | 12/12/10

The same people who whinge about U2 and suggest that their political stance is hyprocritical and inneffective are the same people who shit on John Lennon for starting an ‘advertising campaign for peace”. If a band can captivate 7 million people on a world tour, why not use that position to heighten their awareness of the thousand of social injustices that are purputrated daily around the world. If 1 person walks out of a gig inspired to make a difference, that’s a result. BTW - U2 never preach to “save the planet”.

autoversicherung ausrechnen says:

07:25am | 10/10/11

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