NWR: U2
Caught an interview with the four members of U2 last night on BBC Radio 4 arts programme Front Row (http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/arts/frontrow/past_programmes.shtml). As these interviews go, it was a good one. I particularly liked the was the interviewer asked about the way that Larry and Adam (the lower-profile members of the band) felt about Bono travelling round the world meeting presidents, prime ministers and people of power in his campaigns to cancel third world debt and combat AIDS/HIV.
I know that we're all supposed to be cynical about people who try to make a difference, but I'm tremendously impressed by Bono's efforts. I'm also impressed by U2, both musically, and also because they've stuck together for 30 years and haven't done the rock and roll thing of falling out, changing personnel, and crashing and burning at an early age.
The other day I listened to The Joshua Tree again. It has to be their best album? I remember when it came out - it made a huge impact. And listen to the first three songs: I can't think of a stronger opening to an album ever. The Edge's guitar work is economical, innovative and just brilliant. He doesn't use many notes, but listen to the tones he gets, and his clever use of delay (it's this, more than anything, that defines his style).
But one thing puzzles me. What do his friends and family call him? Does he insist on the 'The' being used in conjunction with 'Edge'? And does he let people use nicknames (e.g. 'Edgy mate, what are you drinking?')? When he's being addressed formally, are people supposed to call him 'Mr Edge'?
Labels: music
11 Comments:
The boys in the band call him 'nedge' as in "An Edge", but word has it that his Mum just calls him David.
~ Thomas Kilroy
Our kids went to creche with the Edge's kids and whenever he turned up at any of the parents functions he was simply just David.
Sound bloke, apart from the beanie hats!!
Bono travels the world making his government hosts feel guilty when they don't stump up money for his pet projects.
In 2006 U2 moved one of their companies from Ireland to the Netherlands to minimise their tax bill. This is depriving the Irish government of revenue they could use for social services and development aid to impoverished countries.
A case of do as I say, not as I do.
malcolmwilliamson
"I know that we're all supposed to be cynical about people who try to make a difference, but I'm tremendously impressed by Bono's efforts."
I've never liked this bands music but Bono's fauxlanthropy truly sickens me. The band keeps their money in tax havens then he thrives on telling the world's leaders how to spend the little peoples taxes to help Africa. Worthy cause but a hollow boast from this litle hypocrit.
P.S. love the blog and looking forward to the next lot of Argentinian posts.
WELCOME BACK JAMIE - IT IS TIME FOR A VIDEO BLOG ENTRY ISN'T IT???
For me, The Joshua Tree was where it all went wrong! It's when they disappeared up their own backsides.
Unforgettable Fire is clearly the best album.
Well I loved Joshua Tree and still do.Its in my Top 10 of the Greatest Albums of all time.
And as you state Jamie,they are excellent role models,and Bono continues to do brilliant work for the disadvantaged.
Easy to be cynical of course but he is,in my book,the real deal!!
U2 Complete Discography:
http://www.discoogle.com/wiki/U2_Discography
Nice work!
sorry Jamie but Bono is one of the very few people in the celeb world who makes me want to throw a brick through my TV.
two piece sof trivia about the Edge that I quite like are
- he's actually Welsh
- he's incredibly handy in a fight, apparently...
October is their best album. As much as I love Brian Eno, I hate what he did on Joshua Tree, and it has taken them some years to get back to that early musicality.
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