Bono, U2 and the BBC.

[TêteDeMaure]

Why is the BBC so in love with Bono when he's a dreadful old hypocrite?

 

By Christopher Hart

 

From the fuss that some are making - well, the BBC is making anyway - you would think it was a long-lost sonnet of Shakespeare or at the very least a newly discovered poem by Philip Larkin.

 

Indeed, the BBC press office is in full gush-mode as it unveils its latest poetry reading addition to the Radio 4 schedule. 'Unique,' they drool. 'An atmospheric and artistic radio feature... purposefully quintessential'.

 

How wonderful, you might think. Better tune in for that one - a real cultural coup from Auntie at last. Sadly, though, as is so often the case with the Beeb nowadays, its sell is somewhat different to the reality.

 

In fact, what they're all getting so excited about is a baffling 850-line epic entitled Elvis: American David. And its author? The BBC's in-house Saint, U2's Bono. Or, as he was more conventionally christened, Paul Hewson.

 

Bono has always had all the usual egomaniac rock star mannerisms. Going by a coolsounding nickname, like Sting or Madonna, is one of them. Bono actually means 'good', a moniker the great man has accepted with his customary modesty.

 

Similarly, every good rock god must bestow equally ridiculous labels on his long-suffering children. Bono's contribution to this flourishing genre is to name one of his own Elijah Bob Patricius Guggi Q.

Tawdry

 

Then there's their numerous mansions in different countries, the really irritating habit of wearing sunglasses all the time and the elaborate tax avoidance schemes abroad.

 

But if Bono only wanted to enjoy the slightly tawdry trappings rock star success has brought him, no one would particularly complain.

 

What sticks in my craw is the philanthropic posturing that goes with it all. It's rather odd to make grandiose pronouncements about how climate change will hit the world's poor hardest, while flying on a private jet between your many homes.

 

More gob-smacking still was the recent revelation that, while demanding the rest of us pay more taxes to help address global poverty, Bono has shifted his music publishing business from Ireland to the Netherlands, thus reducing U2's own tax bill to a few pence in the pound.

Tax, after all, is for poor people. The rich have clever accountants, instead. Yet the Tax Justice Network reckons if the rich paid their taxes like the rest of us, instead of using tax havens, it would raise a staggering £255billion per annum. More than enough to tackle world poverty - in fact, enough to pay for the UN's current anti-poverty programme five times over.

 

Yet Bono still has one little group of ardent fans who think the sun shines out of his well-upholstered behind. Our dear old BBC, which perhaps should henceforth be called the Bono Broadcasting Corporation.

 

It has always been more than willing to flatter his vanity in thinking him not only a rock star, but a philanthropist, too. Now it's lauded him a poetic genius, polluting the airwaves of the generally sensible Radio 4 with his grandiose twaddle.

This is by no means the first time our licence fee has been spent on promoting the hypocrisy of Saint Bono.

 

Just a few months ago, the BBC gave U2 an astonishing amount of lucrative air time to plug their new album in a special campaign which saw the corporation rebranded as 'U2 equals BBC'.

It all culminated in a unique concert on the roof of Broadcasting House. Money literally couldn't buy such glowing and sustained publicity. But the album sold only 65,000 copies on its release date, compared with 133,000 for Take That's latest offering.

It seems poor old Auntie hasn't noticed that U2 don't exactly set the hearts racing like they used to. As well as this, it appears that you can't criticise Bono or his rather cushy and self-serving arrangements on the BBC without being censored.

Journalist Marina Hyde recently referred to Bono's use of tax loopholes on Radio 4's Start The Week, only for presenter Andrew Marr to immediately start harrumphing and casting doubt on the perfectly verifiable facts. And when the programme was repeated, Hyde's remarks were cut entirely.

And now we have the BBC announcing that, next week, it is to broadcast Saint Bono reading his poem, Elvis: American David. It is a gruesome outpouring of fantastically pretentious rubbish, only made worse by musical accompaniment.

 

Apparently, this will create what the BBC calls an 'atmospheric soundscape' of intertwined music and poetry. Yikes. It sounds like what happens when you're twiddling your tuner and can find nothing but radio static.

 

But Bono's poetic self-importance is one thing. In the normal world we would all laugh at him, he would go quiet again, and that would be the end of it.

 

Unfortunately the BBC has long since ceased to inhabit the normal world, and is all too eager to confirm Bono's self-importance at every opportunity. It's true that the Beeb isn't the only section of the media to show a slavish devotion to celebrity culture. But surely the point about the Beeb is that it's supposed to know better.

 

It doesn't. Which is why next week it will be spending our money broadcasting Bono's 'poem' - inverted commas needed, surely - with the hushed reverence demanded by an Immortal Work of Art.

 

In case you've had the good fortune to miss it so far, here's a sample. Apologies for inflicting it on you. You can hear the whole performance next Wednesday, just in case you haven't got anything better to do, like sorting out your paperclips or putting all your CDs in alphabetical order.

 

It goes: 'Elvis, here come the killer bees, Head full of honey, potato chips and cheese.'

 

The BBC believes this is the kind of stuff that will 'make listeners view Elvis in a new light'. Well, that's true. Personally I never pictured Elvis with a head full of chips and cheese. I've always thought it was more his ample stomach which gave him trouble.

 

Mind you, I never thought of 'The King' dancing like a 'spastic' either - though no doubt that's because I am hopelessly pedestrian and prosaic and unable to keep up with Bono's own lofty and rapturous flights of poetic fancy.

 

He says: 'Elvis the ecstatic, Elvis the plastic, Elvis the elastic with a spastic dance'.

Worthless

 

Is it just me, or do 'ecstatic' and 'plastic' not actually rhyme? And can you imagine the paroxysms in which the BBC would have contorted itself if anyone else had dared to use the word 'spastic'?

 

'Elvis the bumper stickers, Elvis the white knickers, Elvis the white nigger ate at

Burger King, And just kept getting bigger...'

Perhaps, like all genuinely worthless songs, books or films, Bono's Elvis poem, with its oh-so-outrageous allusions to 'spastics' and 'niggers', is merely trying to conceal its own ineptitude by shocking us. The oldest trick in the book - and very, very tired.

 

All the same, inspired by the example of Elvis: American David, I have written my own poem, called 'Bono: Irish Twit', set to an 'atmospheric soundscape' of chanting leprechauns. I wonder if the BBC would be interested?

 

'Bono in your sunglasses, even when it rains, Bono in your private jet while the rest of us take trains, Bono with your tax affairs safely overseas, Bono, oh will you shut up, please.'

 

The craven reverence with which the BBC has taken to treating the ludicrous Bono is almost beyond a joke - but not quite. Let licence fee-payers everywhere keep laughing - while we still can.

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1178165/CHRISTOPHER-HART-Why-BBC-love-Bono-hes-dreadful-old-hypocrite.html

 

Love it.

 

Bono = w*****. U2 = w***.

 

 

Edit : Used a bit of bold.

[Nobody]

Bono = Wanker. U2 = Wank.

Agree

Couldn't be arsed reading the article, btw.

[themanupstairs]

 

brilliant.

 

Never liked the pretentious twit to begin with. Decent singer, average band. Not a fan myself by any means. Never bought an album/single, and never will.

 

Will you marry me Testa? 

[Tooj]

Testa you have to be the most negative person I have ever encountered in my life.

[themanupstairs]

Testa you have to be the most negative person I have ever encountered in my life.

 

oi 

[TêteDeMaure]

I accept, themanupstairs.

[themanupstairs]

I accept, themanupstairs.

 

Wahey giddy up cowgirl 

 

Right, now for the invitations. Dave can come but will be thrown out if caught using his mobile to post on the forum at the ceremony.

 

Oooh, I also want to invite Andy just so I can chuck him out and ban him for the fuck of it 

 

What say you mon amour? 

[Shak]

Hello, hello, hello, HELLO....

 

YEAH YEAH YEAH!!

 

http://media.southparkstudios.com/media/images/1109/1109_bono_in_africa.jpg

[kingkerouac]

Article is from the Hate Mail, though. So I will, for the first time in my life, defend the pretentious twat.

Haway Bongo!

[themanupstairs]

 

And here it is, in all its glory, Bono's tribute, entitled, "Elvis: American David"

 

Biggest load of drivel I have ever had the misfortune of reading. Enjoy

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

elvis son of tupelo.

 

elvis mama's boy.

 

elvis the twin brother of Jesse who died at birth and was buried in a shoe box.

 

elvis drove a truck.

 

elvis was recorded at sun studios by the musical diviner sam phillips.

 

elvis was managed by colonel tom parker, an ex-carnie barker whose last act was a singing canary.

 

elvis was the most famous singer in the world since king david.

 

elvis lived on his own street.

 

elvis liked to play speed cop.

 

elvis had a monkey named scatter before anyone.

 

elvis wore a cape at the white house when he was presenting nixon with two silver pistols.

 

elvis was a member of the drug squad.

 

elvis wore eye make up, just hangin' out.

 

elvis wore a gold nudie suit and trained his lip to curl.

 

elvis was macho, but could sing like a girl.

 

elvis was not a big talker.

 

elvis was articulate in every other way.

 

elvis dyed his hair black to look like valentino.

 

elvis held a microphone the way valentino held nitanaldi in blood and sand.

 

elvis dressed black long before he dressed in black.

 

elvis sang black except in lower registers where he was a student of dean martin.

 

elvis admired mario lanza.

 

elvis delivered the world from crooning.

 

elvis was a great crooner.

 

elvis had a voice that could explain the sexuality of america.

 

elvis was influenced by jim morrison in his choice of black leather for the '68 comeback special.

 

elvis invented the beatles.

 

elvis achieved world domination from a small town.

 

elvis was conscious of myth.

 

elvis had pharoah-like potential.

 

elvis was made by america, so america could remake itself.

 

elvis had good manners.

 

elvis was a bass, a baritone, and a tenor.

 

elvis sang his heart out at the end.

 

elvis the opera singer.

 

elvis the soap opera.

 

elvis loved america, God, the bible, firearms, the movies, the office of presidency, junk food, drugs, cars, family,television, jewellery, straight talkin', dirty talkin' gameshows, uniforms, and self-help books.

 

elvis like america, wanted to improve himself.

 

elvis like america, started out loving but later turned on himself.

 

elvis body could not stop moving.

 

elvis is alive, we're dead.

 

elvis the charismatic.

 

elvis the ecstatic.

 

elvis the plastic, elvis the elastic with a spastic dance that might explain the energy of america.

 

elvis fusion and confusion.

 

elvis earth rod in a southern dorm.

 

elvis shaking up an electrical storm.

 

elvis in hollywood his voice gone to ground.

 

elvis in las vegas with a big brassy sound.

 

elvis the first rock'n'roll star with scotty moore, bill black, and d.j. fontana.

 

elvis with james burton and ronny tutt.

 

elvis the movie star made three good films : viva las vegas,flaming star, and jailhouse rock.

 

elvis the hillbilly brought rhythm to the white race,blues to pop, and rock'n'roll to where ever rock'n'roll is.

 

elvis the pelvis, swung from africa to europe, which is the idea of america.

 

elvis liberation.

 

elvis the kung fu would come later.

 

elvis hibernation.

 

elvis built a theme park he later called Graceland.

 

elvis woke up to whispers.

 

elvis thought of himself as a backslider.

 

elvis knew guilt like a twin brother.

 

elvis called God every morning then left the phone off the hook.

 

elvis turned las vegas into a church when he sang "love me tender".

 

elvis turned america into a church when he sang "the trilogy".

 

elvis was harangued by choice;flesh vs. spirit, God vs. rock'n'roll mother vs. lover,father vs. the colonel.

 

elvis grew sideburns as a protest against tom jones'hairy chest.

 

elvis would have a president named after him.

 

elvis was one of the boys.

 

elvis was not one of the boys.

 

elvis had an acute intelligence disguised as talent.

 

elvis broke pirscilla's heart.

 

elvis broke lisa marie's heart.

 

elvis woke up my heart.

 

elvis white trash.

 

elvis the memphis flash.

 

elvis didn't smoke hash and woulda been a sissy without johnny cash.

 

elvis didn't dodge the draft.

 

elvis had his own aircraft.

 

elvis having a laugh on the lisa marie in a colour photograph.

 

elvis under the hood.

 

elvis cadillac blood.

 

elvis darling bud flowered and returned to the mississippi mud.

 

elvis ain't gonna rot.

 

elvis in a memphis plot.

 

elvis didn't hear the shot but the king died just across the lot from.

 

elvis vanilla ice cream.

 

elvis girls of 14.

 

elvis memphis spleen shooting at the tv reading corinthians 13.

 

elvis with God on his knees.

 

elvis on three tvs.

 

elvis here come the killer bees head full of honey,potato chips and cheese.

 

elvis the bumper stickers.

 

elvis the white knickers.

 

elvis the white nigger ate at burger king and just kept getting bigger.

 

elvis sang to win.

 

elvis the battle to be slim.

 

elvis ate america before america ate him.

 

elvis stamps,elvis necromance.

 

elvis fans,elvisp sychphants.

 

elvis the public enemy.

 

elvis don't mean shit to chucked.

 

elvis changed the centre of gravity.

 

elvis made it slippy.

 

elvis hitler,elvis nixon,elvis christ, elvis mishima.

 

elvis marcus, elvis jackson, elvis the pelvis.

 

elvis the psalmist,elvis the genius, elvis the generous.

 

elvis forgive us.

 

elvis pray for us

 

elvis aaron presley(1935-1977)

 

C Bono 1995

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

[GM]

It's high time he just took his mask off, dropped the persona and just confirms that, as suspected, he IS actually The Second Coming.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Legend.

[macphisto]

It's high time he just took his mask off, dropped the persona and just confirms that, as suspected, he IS actually The Second Coming.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Legend.

 

Couldn't agree more with you!! Easy to have a go at Bono but at least he's doing something about what's going on in the world. I find it odd that more people would probably like him if he didn't campaign so much.

 

It's funny how the generation of bands after U2 just don't give a damn about what's going on in the world as I really struggle to think of an overtly political song that has been a big hit the last ten years or so. Before U2 you had Springsteen, Bob Marley, The Clash, John Lennon/Beatles.

 

I also find it very odd that a band like Oasis can admire John Lennon so much and rip off a lot of his music but just not be interested in making any political statements, how can you divorce John Lennon's music from politics?

 

Maybe it's not the fault of bands but more of a mirror on society that people just don't care too much these days.

[indi]

That's not a poem, that's lines.

 

Did he do the "l"s by drawing a line all the way down the page?

[TêteDeMaure]

It's high time he just took his mask off, dropped the persona and just confirms that, as suspected, he IS actually The Second Coming.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Legend.

 

Couldn't agree more with you!! Easy to have a go at Bono but at least he's doing something about what's going on in the world. I find it odd that more people would probably like him if he didn't campaign so much.

 

It's funny how the generation of bands after U2 just don't give a damn about what's going on in the world as I really struggle to think of an overtly political song that has been a big hit the last ten years or so. Before U2 you had Springsteen, Bob Marley, The Clash, John Lennon/Beatles.

 

I also find it very odd that a band like Oasis can admire John Lennon so much and rip off a lot of his music but just not be interested in making any political statements, how can you divorce John Lennon's music from politics?

 

Maybe it's not the fault of bands but more of a mirror on society that people just don't care too much these days.

 

Aye, he clicks his fingers every 5 or 3 seconds. Second coming, jesus christ. What is legendary about this man? Is Bob Geldof a legend then?

[GM]

It's high time he just took his mask off, dropped the persona and just confirms that, as suspected, he IS actually The Second Coming.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Legend.

 

Couldn't agree more with you!! Easy to have a go at Bono but at least he's doing something about what's going on in the world. I find it odd that more people would probably like him if he didn't campaign so much.

 

It's funny how the generation of bands after U2 just don't give a damn about what's going on in the world as I really struggle to think of an overtly political song that has been a big hit the last ten years or so. Before U2 you had Springsteen, Bob Marley, The Clash, John Lennon/Beatles.

 

I also find it very odd that a band like Oasis can admire John Lennon so much and rip off a lot of his music but just not be interested in making any political statements, how can you divorce John Lennon's music from politics?

 

Maybe it's not the fault of bands but more of a mirror on society that people just don't care too much these days.

 

Aye, he clicks his fingers every 5 or 3 seconds. Second coming, jesus christ. What is legendary about this man? Is Bob Geldof a legend then?

 

Maybe it's the same stuff that makes Rafael Nadal a legend in your eyes??

 

I mean, I'll admit Bono has his knockers...but then again, so do you, tbf.

 

It's just that his are more noticeable.

[TêteDeMaure]

It's high time he just took his mask off, dropped the persona and just confirms that, as suspected, he IS actually The Second Coming.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Legend.

 

Couldn't agree more with you!! Easy to have a go at Bono but at least he's doing something about what's going on in the world. I find it odd that more people would probably like him if he didn't campaign so much.

 

It's funny how the generation of bands after U2 just don't give a damn about what's going on in the world as I really struggle to think of an overtly political song that has been a big hit the last ten years or so. Before U2 you had Springsteen, Bob Marley, The Clash, John Lennon/Beatles.

 

I also find it very odd that a band like Oasis can admire John Lennon so much and rip off a lot of his music but just not be interested in making any political statements, how can you divorce John Lennon's music from politics?

 

Maybe it's not the fault of bands but more of a mirror on society that people just don't care too much these days.

 

Aye, he clicks his fingers every 5 or 3 seconds. Second coming, jesus christ. What is legendary about this man? Is Bob Geldof a legend then?

 

Maybe it's the same stuff that makes Rafael Nadal a legend in your eyes??

 

I mean, I'll admit Bono has his knockers...but then again, so do you, tbf.

 

It's just that his are more noticeable.

 

He's not a legend yet, Nadal, but he is awesome. What is Bono legendary for? His sunglasses? You can't tell me it's his music, the most mundane shit i've ever had the displeasure of polluting my ears and many others. Saying that, i don't really like Oasis either, however i do understand why people think of their early music as legendary as you like.

 

1980's Bono done the glasses thing as a pisstake, 2000's Bono takes himself far too seriously. U2 and he got shit when they were involved in politics. I wonder if he ever looks back to when they were alright and thinks,  what the fuck have i done? I don't even know what kind of band they are, it's certainly not rock. The Ipod endorsement to tap the younger generation, just looked like old dads trying to be cool. I've never heard anything positive about them, the most people can muster is ''Oh the joshua tree was alright, liked some of their 80's early 90's stuff''.

 

He slams illegal downloads, then claims it's to protect poorer musicians and not his own riches. Come off it. Maybe if he paid his taxes instead of hiding it in numerous countries, people would be able to bloody afford to buy his CD. (Not just him, but his ilk of course)

 

Can you imagine Gordon Brown popping into the white house to meet Obama with dark sunglasses on? There's probably a few african nations can't get a bloody audience with various world leaders, why the hell should this unimportant cockend be able to? If you like Bono for his philanthropy, surely you must like Bob Geldof? People like Jaz Coleman are propper philanthropists, yet you never see it mentioned, why? That's because he doesn't whore himself.

 

If you click your fingers every 3 minutes, maybe Bono might donate some of his own vast wealth to Africa instead of preaching  for ordinary people to donate in the middle of a recession.

 

 

[GM]

It's high time he just took his mask off, dropped the persona and just confirms that, as suspected, he IS actually The Second Coming.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Legend.

 

Couldn't agree more with you!! Easy to have a go at Bono but at least he's doing something about what's going on in the world. I find it odd that more people would probably like him if he didn't campaign so much.

 

It's funny how the generation of bands after U2 just don't give a damn about what's going on in the world as I really struggle to think of an overtly political song that has been a big hit the last ten years or so. Before U2 you had Springsteen, Bob Marley, The Clash, John Lennon/Beatles.

 

I also find it very odd that a band like Oasis can admire John Lennon so much and rip off a lot of his music but just not be interested in making any political statements, how can you divorce John Lennon's music from politics?

 

Maybe it's not the fault of bands but more of a mirror on society that people just don't care too much these days.

 

Aye, he clicks his fingers every 5 or 3 seconds. Second coming, jesus christ. What is legendary about this man? Is Bob Geldof a legend then?

 

Maybe it's the same stuff that makes Rafael Nadal a legend in your eyes??

 

I mean, I'll admit Bono has his knockers...but then again, so do you, tbf.

 

It's just that his are more noticeable.

 

He's not a legend yet, Nadal, but he is awesome. What is Bono legendary for? His sunglasses? You can't tell me it's his music, the most mundane shit i've ever had the displeasure of polluting my ears and many others. Saying that, i don't really like Oasis either, however i do understand why people think of their early music as legendary as you like.

 

1980's Bono done the glasses thing as a pisstake, 2000's Bono takes himself far too seriously. U2 and he got shit when they were involved in politics. I wonder if he ever looks back to when they were alright and thinks,  what the fuck have i done? I don't even know what kind of band they are, it's certainly not rock. The Ipod endorsement to tap the younger generation, just looked like old dads trying to be cool. I've never heard anything positive about them, the most people can muster is ''Oh the joshua tree was alright, liked some of their 80's early 90's stuff''.

 

He slams illegal downloads, then claims it's to protect poorer musicians and not his own riches. Come off it. Maybe if he paid his taxes instead of hiding it in numerous countries, people would be able to bloody afford to buy his CD. (Not just him, but his ilk of course)

 

Can you imagine Gordon Brown popping into the white house to meet Obama with dark sunglasses on? There's probably a few african nations can't get a bloody audience with various world leaders, why the hell should this unimportant cockend be able to? If you like Bono for his philanthropy, surely you must like Bob Geldof? People like Jaz Coleman are propper philanthropists, yet you never see it mentioned, why? That's because he doesn't whore himself.

 

If you click your fingers every 3 minutes, maybe Bono might donate some of his own vast wealth to Africa instead of preaching  for ordinary people to donate in the middle of a recession.

 

 

 

I love "feisty".

 

Spank me! 

[Luc]

Bruce Springsteen does something for the world but he doesn't keep raving about it every show. Bono does.

[TêteDeMaure]

There really should be a Bono bashing thread. However.

 

Although U2 has preached about world hunger and environmental issues, the band has ignited harsh criticism over the sizeable cost of their recent world tour.

 

The three steel structures that make up the custom-built stage cost between £15 and £20 million each, becoming the most ambitious endeavor of any world tour, including the intricate stages of Madonna and The Rolling Stones.

 

"We're spending the money on our fans, I don't think there's a better thing you could spend it on," said guitarist The Edge.

 

The green and orange "claw" stage allowed an estimated 88,000 fans an unobstructed of the band at England's Wembley Stadium this past weekend.

 

Talking Heads singer David Byrne was one of many that offered his thoughts, "$40 million to build the stage and, having done the math, we estimate 200 semi trucks crisscrossing Europe for the duration. It could be professional envy speaking here, but it sure looks like, well, overkill, and just a wee bit out of balance given all the starving people in Africa and all."

 

But, the band feels that this is part of the touring process!

 

"I think anybody that's touring is going to have a carbon footprint. I think it's probably unfair to single out rock 'n' roll," continued The Edge. There's many other things that are in the same category but as it happens we have a programme to offset whatever carbon footprint we have. We'd love to have some alternative to big trucks bringing the stuff around but there just isn't one"

 

Click click click your fingers you twat.

[Mr. Snrub]

My 2 cents..

 

Bono is a cunt of the highest order.  U2 are fucking shite.

[Neil]

I don't mind U2 generally. I do mind Bono. A lot.

[macphisto]

Saw them on Friday and Saturday just gone and they were brilliant, by far the best live band I've ever seen! People can bash Bono as much as they want but at least he highlights important issues which not a lot of bands seem to do these days!

[Neil]

Saw them on Friday and Saturday just gone and they were brilliant, by far the best live band I've ever seen! People can bash Bono as much as they want but at least he highlights important issues which not a lot of bands seem to do these days!

 

With any luck, 'these bands these days' will be concentrating on making music.

 

[macphisto]

Saw them on Friday and Saturday just gone and they were brilliant, by far the best live band I've ever seen! People can bash Bono as much as they want but at least he highlights important issues which not a lot of bands seem to do these days!

 

With any luck, 'these bands these days' will be concentrating on making music.

 

 

Fair enough if that's what you want from a band but I'd rather go for artists like Beatles, Bob Marley, Bob Dylan, The Clash and Springsteen who like U2 also found it possible to make music and higlight important issues.

[Guest Alan Shearer 9]

Bono is a charlatan. U2 are fakers. Achey fakey cake makers. They cite bands like the Velvet Underground as influences but have about as much integrity as Liberacé comparitavely. The music is horrendously dull, they have made a few passable pop records though in fairness.

 

As for the 'issues' Bono champions, he is not serious. He has reduced Africa's troubles to, 'people are hungry, let's feed them and throw money at them!' Hasn't bloody worked like. If he had any integrity he would plow far more of his many millions into furthering these causes. He's a bandwagon jumper and his rhetoric is cringeworthy.