U2 in the News
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This page is for news reports about U2. Please add newer news reports above earlier news reports.
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[edit] 23 Dec. 2006
- Bono to Receive Honorary Knighthood
Source: Associated Press; Statement on official U2 Website.
"Irish rocker and humanitarian Bono will become a knight of the British empire - but the U2 frontman won't be called 'Sir.'
Britain confirmed Saturday Bono will receive his honorary knighthood from the British ambassador to Ireland, David Reddaway, in a Dublin ceremony shortly after New Year's Day.
The Dubliner, whose real name is Paul Hewson, won't be entitled to use the title "Sir" because he is not a national of Britain or the Commonwealth of former British colonies.
A spokesman said the 46-year-old singer was flattered by the honor and hoped it will help him open diplomatic doors in his campaign for more Western aid to Africa.
In a letter to Bono released Saturday, British Prime Minister Tony Blair said the singer's lobbying had forced wealthy nations to focus on increasing aid to Africa.
"I know from talking to you how much these causes matter to you," Blair wrote. "I know as well how knowledgeable you are about the problems we face and how determined you are to do all you can to help overcome them. You have tirelessly used your voice to speak up for Africa."
Blair said he hoped to keep working with Bono "to work together to maintain momentum on Africa, and ensure leaders around the world meet the promises they have made."
The British Embassy in Dublin said the Irish government approved granting Bono the title. The issue is diplomatically sensitive, because Irish officials are legally barred from receiving British royal honors and other Irish nationals have refused nominations on political grounds. Ireland withdrew from the Commonwealth in 1949."
[edit] 17 Oct, 2006
- U2 defends move to avoid Irish tax raise
Source: International Herald-Tribune/Bloomberg
"Bono, the rock star and campaigner against third-world debt, is asking the Irish government to contribute more to Africa. At the same time, he is reducing tax payments that could help finance that aid. After Ireland said it would scrap a break that lets musicians and artists avoid paying taxes on royalties, Bono and his fellow U2 band members this year moved their music publishing company to the Netherlands. The group, which Forbes estimates earned $110 million in 2005, will pay about a 5 percent tax on their royalties in the Netherlands, less than half the Irish rate.
"Among the wealthiest people, I suppose it's the norm," said Jill Cassidy, who was walking on South King Street near a plaque marking the site of the Dandelion market, where U2 played some of its earliest concerts. "In U2's position, it does come across as quite hypocritical."
The tax move has tainted the image in Ireland of Bono and U2. Now promoting a new DVD, book and album, the band is fighting back. David Evans, the guitarist known as The Edge, this month defended the publishing company's move as a sensible decision for a group that makes 90 percent of its money outside Ireland.
[edit] 3 July, 2006
- Bono: Rich nations get mixed report card on Africa aid
Source: CNN.com
"The world's richest countries are falling short on pledges made to Africa a year ago on providing life-saving AIDS drugs, expanding trade and boosting aid, said activist rock star Bono. Bono and fellow Irish rocker Bob Geldof have used their fame to fuel a global campaign for more aid to Africa, organizing Live 8 concerts around the world last year to press Group of Eight industrial leaders meeting in Gleneagles, Scotland, to wipe out poverty. 'They started to climb an Everest but over the past year they got lost at base camp," Bono said after the release of a progress report by his lobby group Debt, AIDS, Trade, Africa group, or DATA.'"
[edit] 10 June, 2006
- Apple Releases New Edition of it's U2 iPod
Source: T3, by way of Scentia.co.uk
"Apple has updated its special edition U2 iPod, decking out the slimline fifth generation player in sexy black stainless steel, and has kept that blood red scroll wheel too. The new edition comes in 30-gig capacity, holding up to 7,500 songs, 25,000 photos or 75 hours of video. As with the previous U2 iPod, the new version has the band members’ signatures etched into its rear, but this time you’ll get 30 minutes of exclusive U2 video content from the iTunes Music Store when you first use it." (Note: The new iPod costs 20 UK Pounds more than the normal iPod.)
[edit] 16 May, 2006
- Bono Turns Newspaper Editor for the Day
Source: Scotsman Newspaper/Reuters
"Rock star and Third World campaigner Bono turned guest newspaper editor on Tuesday with the Independent agreeing to give half its revenues for the day to fight AIDS in Africa. Bono got to interview Prime Minister Tony Blair and Chancellor Gordon Brown while U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice offered her 10 favourite pieces of music. In a celebrity-laden one-off edition, the front page illustrated by British artist Damien Hirst proclaimed in a banner headline that there was "No News Today" - except for the deaths of 6,500 Africans from HIV/AIDS."
[edit] 27 April, 2006
- Lost U2 footage resurfaces in Denver
Source: The Earvolution Website
"One of U2's somewhat early triumphs was their now "show of lore" at Red Rocks Amphitheatre just outside of Denver in 1983. The Live CD "Under a Blood Red Sky" showcases many of the bands early hits and is a good primer for younger fans on the band's early material.
It seems some valuable footage from the show disappeared about five years ago and now has turned up in the hands of the Denver City Council. U2 reportedely is seeking to get the footage returned, but the City Council says it paid $3,000 for the footage. Footage from that show is quite likely worth much more than that, so there is some question as to whether the seller had the legal right to do so."
[edit] 26 April, 2006
- U2 Song lyric named all-time favourite in UK
Source: BREATHEcast.com
"Internationally renowned pop/rockers U2 have given the UK their favorite song lyric of all-time, according to a survey released last week. The "Nation’s Favourite Lyric" poll conducted by VH1, in which more than 13,000 participated, revealed the line, “One life, with each other, sisters, brothers” from the 1992 song “One” to be Great Britain’s most memorable, with lines from The Smiths, Nirvana, Bob Marley and Coldplay filling out the top five. U2 had two other songs in the top one hundred with “Where the Streets Have No Name” coming in at No. 11 and “Pride (In the Name of Love)” inching into the top 40 at No. 39."
