Bloated egos, bloated wallets: U2

[Hannah Bell]

The Belfast Telegraph reported that, according to the environmental monitoring group carbonfootprint.com, the 18-month, 100-gig tour will involve the band traveling 70,000 miles in their private jet, the 390-tonne set following on cargo planes...This odyssey of environmental obliteration...follows Bono's dreamy pronouncement last year that: "My prayer is that we become better in looking after our planet."

We should be used by now to the clanging contradictions of U2. It's been noted here before that Bono's castigation of the Irish government for directing too small a proportion of its tax receipts to aid for the developing world was swiftly followed by the band transferring its business operation to the Netherlands to avoid paying tax to the Irish government.

Now U2 drummer Larry Mullen has noticed "a new resentment of rich people in this country...We have experienced where coming in and out of the country at certain times is made more difficult than it should be--not only for us, but for a lot of wealthy people...The better-off (are) being sort of humiliated....If this is what (the rich) experience, how can I fly the Irish flag and tell people 'come to Ireland because it's great?'...All those rich guys with all those balls , all those women that you see organizing this and organizing that, without them we'd be in a very, very different state."

Perhaps Larry was angry that peasants arriving on no-frills airlines hadn't formed a human carpet on the tarmac for people like himself and Dermot Desmond to walk over.

http://socialistworker.org/2009/07/22/bloated-egos-bloated-wallets

[MADem]

1. That Bono guy never appealed to me--I thought he was a phony.

What really chapped me was his SUPERBOWL performance, which took place at half time of the first SUPERBOWL after Nahn Wun Wun.

He's up there on a stage on the field in a fucking leather jacket, singing away, and at his feet are all these screaming, oohing and ahhing and cheering fan - IDIOTS. IDIOTS. They're cheering and hollering and whooping up a storm and doing the "Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show" routine.

Behind Bono, on a giant fucking screen, they're scrolling....the names of the dead. While he's singing. And the idiots are screaming and whooping it up and partying like mad.

I just couldn't believe it.

Then, at the end of the "show," he opens up his 'fucking leather jacket' and it's lined with....an American flag.

The whole display was vomitous. Now, I'm not one of these people who objects to valid protest using the flag (I do think it's stupid, childish and petty, but if people want to do it, they can go right ahead) but outside of the "protest venue," I believe that an educated person practices flag etiquette. You don't line your jacket with it so it can catch your "armpit stink."

I don't like Bono.

[mix]

2. never liked those blokes n/t

[Mugweed]

3. U2 is mediocre at best

Those guys would still be playing pubs for the take at the door if it weren't for Brian Eno. Every time one of them speaks they should start with "I want to thank Brian Eno for making me who I am today. Without him I would be just another douchebag making videos to post on You Tube."

[mitchum]

10. Absolutely...Eno gave them both a sonic context AND legitimacy

otherwise
they would be A Flock of Seagulls

[DeltaLitProf]

45. If that's true . . .

. . . why can't I get through a Brian Eno album without falling asleep?

[maxsolomon]

46. because you're not listening to Here Come the Warm Jets

or (to a lesser degree) Taking Tiger Mountain by Strategy.

the rest are INTENDED to be relaxing and allow differing levels of attention.

[maxsolomon]

47. The Ditty Bops did a bicycle tour of Murka

http://www.momentumplanet.com/arts-culture/ditty-bops-tour-america-bike

but stadiums and super hottie indie folk duos are different animals.

haters: if you were U2, you'd be an egoiste too.

[Orwellian_Ghost]

4. If only he would

take off the sunglasses.

Bono has become a top-notch wanker and with ease glides through the world hanging out with top-notch criminals.

[mix]

22. Bono strikes me as extremely naive, politically...

...and as a creature of the establishment.

[TheWatcher]

43. If only he were.

He has EMBRACED the Establishment and taken up their agenda.

He's lost.

He isn't the man he was.

That guy is dead.

[Bluenorthwest]

5. An old joke I like

So this dude dies, and goes to heaven, where the intake angel shows him around. He meets many of his heros from life, Jimi Hendrix plays a welcoming song, the Mahatma washes his feet, RFK waves from a heavenly sail boat...but as time goes by, our dude notices one person he has yet to meet.
He asks his angel friend " Where is Jesus, of all people in Heaven."
The angel rolls his eyes " Look over there, the guy in the Sunglasses and Hat. That's Jesus. So full of himself he thinks he's Bono."

[reflection]

52. A friend of mine got backstage passes to one of his shows

and asked for an autograph. He said (according to her, and she was pretty upset when she recounted the story to me):

"Little girls don't get one. Big girls have to earn one. Which one are you?"

I've never liked him since.

[KharmaTrain]

6. Just Shut Up And Play...

I separate the music U2 does from Bono's 25 plus year ego trip. He's stood for many good causes and has brought some very serious issues to the highest levels of power, but when you boil it down, he's still just a singer in a rock 'n roll band...a poor kid from the Belfast slums.

[robdogbucky]

17. Jealous posters

bloated egos, can't wait to see their own words in print.

If you're going to try and smear someone at least get your facts straight.

Bono Hewson and the band are all from Dublin, numbnuts, or did that escape your brilliant analysis in preparation for this profound opinion piece.

You have done exactly what for the oppressed around the globe? Compared to these entertainers that don't have to share or give a god damned thing to anyone anywhere, but do anyway.

Whats the matter, run out of MJ insults?

Cripes, I used to admire DU.

This place is like the National Enquirer for post-Clinton adolescents.

[redqueen]

21. They don't care to share with their fellow Irish citizens.

They moved their business to see to that.

[walldude]

41. They just donated 7 million euros for a national music program for Ireland

I guess that's small change?

[redqueen]

44. I guess it's less than they would have paid had they not moved, yeah.

But throwing money at charities is a time-honored PR tactic of those poor, put-upon wealthy elites.

[Name removed]

26. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[robdogbucky]

28. I may have been

around here longer than you. Too bad you seem to be able to dish it but cannot take it. Do you even know the difference between Northern Ireland and the Republic? Or like most Americans, probably could not find find the UK on a map.

I always like to hear from both sides on an issue don't you?

By Conor O'Clery - GlobalPost
Published: March 3, 2009 23:44 ET
Updated: March 4, 2009 00:33 ET

DUBLIN — The Irish seem to take a wicked pleasure in tearing down those among them who reach the heights of fame. It’s called begrudgery. Bono is getting a taste of it. The U2 lead singer has been getting a lot of hits — not of the musical kind — from fellow citizens of late over taxes. And they have hurt. The singer admitted last week to being “stung” by accusations of hypocrisy for moving part of U2’s business out of Ireland to take advantage of lower tax rates, while urging first-world governments, including Ireland, to increase aid to combat poverty. Bono has arguably done more than any individual this century to prick the conscience of world leaders, including George W. Bush, about debt and poverty in Africa.



U2 is only one of some 12,000 companies known as Special Financial Institutions that route cash flows through the Netherlands for tax reasons.

These include IKEA, Volkswagen, Gucci and Prada, according to the Dutch watchdog organization SOMO, which maintains that important tax revenues could otherwise be used to combat poverty and stimulate development. Bono sees irony in the criticism he has received, because Ireland has been doing the same as the Netherlands by lowering its corporate tax rates to lure international investment in financial services. The Irish government has created, as he described it, a “financial architecture” that brings billions of dollars every year directly to the exchequer.

“What’s actually hypocritical is the idea that then you couldn’t use a financial services centre in Holland,” he told The Irish Times. “We pay millions and millions of dollars in tax. The thing that stung us was the accusation of hypocrisy for my work as an activist.”


Just my dos centavos

robdogbucky

[robdogbucky]

32. The tax avoidance industry

has been around as long as taxes have been around.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzLry3ABpV0&feature=related


Wonder what Mick ate for breakfast this morning, don't you?


rdb

[chatnoir]

33. It's actually Paul Hewson

But I guess you knew that already since you know so much more than anyone else here. :eyes:

[QC]

7. They haven't had a good album in more than twenty years.

What keeps them going?

[mitchum]

9. They benefit from the myth that rock music is still a relevant force...

although it's not.
They make all the right noises both musically and verbally (despites those noises being tedious and played out)
they are willing to be all Son of Nuremberg in their presentation- "Because that's what rock and roll is about, man!"
they were in the right place when the "rock is relevant" partisans realized that the honor "had" to be bestowed upon someone in order to keep the myth alive.

[QC]

11. That's as good an explanation as I have heard.

I used to be a big fan, but The Joshua Tree was the last album that seemed real to me--ever since then they have been parodies of themselves.

[mitchum]

12. I borrowed the basic "U2 has to be great because rock must still be relevant" theory...

from Chuck Klosterman and somewhat expanded upon why U2 was positioned to be chosen as the anointed ones.

I generally don't care for Klosterman's "insights", but he is dead right about this one.

[Taverner]

19. This is true - rock hasn't been socially relevant since the invention of the "skip" button

[walldude]

30. Klosterman is full of shit as usual and for some strange reason

I get the feeling you are long past your teen years. While you and Chuck may be to old to think Rock music is no longer "relevant" there are millions of teenagers who would disagree with you. Of course it all depends on your definition of relevant is. Yours probably relates to money, fame, popularity and album sales. But the kid who thinks that no one understands him, that can't find a group of people who they fit in with, the kid who thinks the world is all fucked up and can't find someone to relate to, to that kid rock music isn't just "relevant" it's a lifeline for him and others like him. That kid hears a song that speaks to him and his condition and realizes he's not alone. That makes it as relevant as it was for me when I was that kid.

[mitchum]

36. I agree with you that rock music still has personal relevance for many...

but so does...I dunno... bluegrass and bebop. And just as with those genres today, current rock relies on mannerisms, not innovation. But that can't be helped...things become exhausted. And like those genres, rock also occupies a much smaller piece of the popular culture pie. All that being said, rock had a nice long run. Be grateful for that.
The definition of "relevance" used by Klosterman and myself is a relevance that speaks to the mass culture, reflects that mass culture, and is embraced by that mass culture. Rock music is no longer the pop music that does those things.
The pop music that does occupy that position? That modern Nashville country pop whatever it is and hip-hop derived music.
Am I thrilled by this? No.
But neither am I in denial.

Rock on,
mitchum

[marmar]

27. I liked "Achtung Baby"

nt

[NashVegas]

50. Most People Who Know Better Agree 'Achtung Baby' Was a 90s Masterpiece

[NashVegas]

8. Simple, Burning, Resentment

We fire up our web browsers and read about people like Bernie Madoff and other exploiters who found a loophole and got rich, or who got brought into the country club for reasons having nothing to do with talent and/or hard work, or won the genetic lottery and got born into it, and we perceive the game is totally, completely rigged and nice guys finish last.

We hear so much about climate change, and talk about the coming die-offs, and we know damn well that most of us are not going to be offered a spot in the life boat.

But it doesn't even have to be that.

We turn on our TVs and see shows like Wife Swap where average income earners - when they are visible in mass media - are treated like a fucking joke while young, rich, plastic-surgery enhanced bodies are worshipped and fawned over.

Yeah, you could say there's some resentment.

As for the criticism of U2, I think most of it's pretty stupid. They were fortunate enough to be found in an era where you could still rise to int'l stardom on talent and hard work. I don't blame anyone, especially not anyone who's pissed that their own age-peers' contributions to music and culture go ignored by the mass media, for resenting them; I just think it's wrong-headed.

[Deja Q]

20. [phone] - yours deserves to be an OP

[NashVegas]

24. Thanks

Though it would kind of be a non-sequiter.

[RubyDuby in GA]

13. Didn't take them long to forget where they came from.

Arseholes.

[Deja Q]

14. Note to Bono and pop band:

Egalitarianism goes both ways.

[Initech]

15. They should do what Iron Maiden did.

Maiden custom-configured a 757 (which was also piloted by Bruce Dickinson himself), took only the bare minimum essentials (a 10-ton set, not 390), and was able to transport the band, crew, and equipment in one flight per segment, not the 3 that U2 is planning.

[redqueen]

16. Good to hear... U2 should take a lesson.

I can't stand U2... the OP is just more fuel for the fire.

[Initech]

18. I cant either.

There's a reason that the guys from South Park made an episode where Stan's dad tries to out-crap Bono. :rofl:

Oh and you know what? Iron Maiden still sold out every fuckin' show on that tour! :headbang:

[walldude]

29. Well they could if they were as small as Maiden

The U2 tour is huge. And it's keeping a ton of my fellow roadies in gigs for the next couple years. All this bullshit is just that. Bullshit. U2 is employing an army, and paying well. THey are keeping families in food and people in jobs. Bash them all you want. It's not going to change reality.

[Initech]

37. I'm just using that as an example.

Maiden sold out every single show on that tour - and they played a lot of the same places that U2 are going to play. I'm just saying that Bono and crew could do things on a much smaller scale and still reap the benefits for the band and their crew - and if they're going to be hailed as environmental champions, wouldn't that make sense?

[redqueen]

38. So it's kinda like the woodcutters vs. the spotted owl...

only with roadies and non-hypocrisy on environmental issues as the variables.

[walldude]

40. Yeah I guess it is... time to look for the happy medium

and I think U2's millions in donations are a good start to making up for some of what they take. If you didn't see my other post they are up to 16 million euros in charitable donations in the last 2 months.
Don't really like their music but I have a much better perspective on touring than most people and I won't fault them for being pompous and overblown. Where I come from that adds up to more roadies working and more families being fed.

[NashVegas]

57. I Caught the 3D Movie Last Year

And was reminded of why I was ever a fan in the first place. Most of the people who bash U2 have never taken and never will take the risk of falling flat on their faces, the way U2 continues to.

[mitchum]

59. There we go...$$$$$$ is the reason that they MUST be culturally relevant

It lines the pockets of quite a few from the Dublin Caterwauler to Jann Wenner down to "a ton of my fellow roadies"
Nothing wrong with that, but a little hone$ty is always appreciated

[mzmolly]

23. I guess I missed the point of the article.

;)

[Jennicut]

25. At least they are talented unlike a lot of the crappy music that comes out now.

I actually couldn't stand them back when they first came out (I was a metalhead then) but they are okay.

[readmoreoften]

31. Oh the "humiliated rich" and their sufferings. Funny stuff.

Funny stuff indeed.

[walldude]

34. So you posted an opinion piece with no verifiable facts

from the socialist worker and used it as a fact based article to bash U2. 3 Weeks ago U2 coughed up 7 million euros for national music programs in Ireland. 2 weeks before that they announced that they were donating 9 million euros to fight malaria and TB. Now those are the two donations I found for the last 2 months and it took me all of 2 minutes.

Yeah keep bashing them, after all they only donated what, 25 million dollars these last 2 months.


You know I don't like U2's music much. But damn, what is with DU lately? Two days ago it was John Lennon is an asshole now it's U2. Thanks but I'll opt out of your little victory bash. Usually you have to go to republican sites to see people so happy to hate others.

[NuttyFluffers]

35. the perfect is the enemy of the good.

i do not expect perfection in people who attempt to do good things. it is a fruitless exercise; it attempts to snuff out good and gives license to more bad.

however, there is always room for improvement. ;)

[redqueen]

39. Who's asking for perfection?

A simple cessation of outrageous hypocrisy would suffice.

[NuttyFluffers]

63. or instead of labeling it outrageous hypocrisy, you could call for room for improvement.

you, nor i, know the clauses involved in their contracts. sometimes things between a band, their agent, their label, and other sponsors can get quite complicated and beyond micromanagement control. U2 probably has a lot more discretion in these matters than other bands, but it's not a given that they have nigh-dictatorial power in these contractual matters. that would be an assumption on our parts, and thus unfair.

good seeing you again, redqueen!
:hi:

[TheWatcher]

42. The Most Disappointing, Blatant, Establishment Sellout of all-time.

I lamented a few months ago that I was watching one of their fist Videos, Celebration, on YouTube, and the US Festival, Red Rocks, and LiveAid stuff as well.

They MEANT something once. They were Real. The believed in something, they actually STOOD for something.

You simply cannot dismiss that something very wrong and very dark has changed with these boys. You can see it in their eyes, their expressions, their actions, and their words.

They have become the VERY OPPOSITE of what they set out to be, and what they used to rail against.

There was a time when Mr. Vox was a very good, very decent, very angry, very driven person.

That person is dead.

And what we have in place is a twisted, contradictory, Pod Person.

He's like the Darth Vader of Rock And Roll.

I was a fan for 25 years.

I am no longer.

These guys are dead to me.

Because the people they were, the message they had, is Dead.

Their Last Album was Joshua tree.

There was no U2 after that.

[juno jones]

48. Yep.

I heard their stuff from the beginning and I remember the electric feeling I had when I heard it.

I guess I'm so angry at them because I feel a palpable sense of betrayal.

And I don't care haw many euros Bono gives away. Number one, he does it for publicity, Two, he does it for taxes. Perhaps he feels good about it but he is quite public about it and seems to use it to inflate his ego further. He is part-owner of Forbes magazine so I don't really have it in me to see him as one of the 'good' guys. The band's recent sniveling about how badly they're treated because they're rich is just...well, rich.

[NashVegas]

51. Oh Jebus, What a Load

Sorry, but when you say The Joshua Tree was their last album, or even their last great album, no one with operational knowledge of modern music from 1950-2009 can take you seriously.

[TheWatcher]

53. That Statement in ITSELF is a load. What an arrogant twit YOU are.

And I would almost guarantee I have forgotten more about Modern Music than you have yet to learn, little lamb.

As a follower of their Music since 1979, and having actually MET the band a few times and engaging in thoughtful conversation with them, as well as having many contacts with insiders IN the Music Industry and actually having a working knowledge and association with it that most assuredly exceeds yours, I'd say your pap is a BIT off base.

Take your childish little insult, go fuck yourself, and welcome to my ignore list.

I simply don't have time for asshats like you.

Run along.

On Edit: If you expect people to take YOU seriously, I'd probably think twice about holding up U2 95-2009 as somehow as good or BETTER than 1979-1988.

You must have rode in and hopped the bandwagon after Rattle And Hum.

[NashVegas]

54. Thanks

For making my day. Really.

[TheWatcher]

56. Wow, "Ignored" responded but I can't seem to see what he said.

Don't talk to yourself in Public, Asshat.

People might get the wrong idea. :rofl:

[NashVegas]

62. Oh, I'm Sure

Rational people will understand exactly what's going on :hi:

[redqueen]

64. This is my favorite...

talking to people you put on ignore.

*roffle*... now I have that poem in my head. I wonder if there's a melody for it. :rofl:

[mitchum]

58. Yes, I certainly remember how U2 used to rail against the bloated dinosaur bands

In retrospect, Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin seem modest and unassuming in comparison to this ridiculous and self-congratulatory enterprise.
Fuck Hewson and Co and their caterwauling bullshit.

[TheWatcher]

61. Sadly, I must agree with you.

They have come to stand for everything they wanted NOT to be.

Floyd and Zeppelin?

Immortal. As they deserve to be.

Don't Forget The Who as well.

[redqueen]

65. Succinctly put.

:thumbsup:

[juno jones]

49. This article also is in Counterpunch.

http://www.counterpunch.org/mccann07142009.html.

I am aghast at the bloat of their latest tour. A poster above was citing their donations to malaria and other tropical disease prevention. Well, we're gonna all need that soon if U2 keeps adding the equivalent of an entire nation's carbon output into the atmosphere.

[fujiyama]

55. .

[earth mom]

60. I'm so fucking sick of the rich hypocrites on this planet!

:puke:

Used to like U2-but they can suck it now!