Even if you accept that developing countries might have missed out on an infinitesimal percentage of U2′s millions, that’s been more than outweighed by the millions raised by benefit gigs in which the band has been involved, while Bono personally has done much to encourage action by world leaders, even if he’s at times guilty of over-simplifying the issues. He’s also, compared with other celebrity activists, commendably apolitical, having praised George W. Bush for his AIDs prevention initiatives.
Glastonbury being what it is these days, the protest was quickly snuffed out by security staff with an efficiency that would not have looked out of place on the streets of Tehran, Damascus or Beijing. The festival used to be very much a counter-culture affair, a Mecca for activist organizations such as Art Uncut. Now it’s all about corporate tie-ins, wall-to-wall coverage on the BBC and middle-class kids in designer *wellies (it always rains at Glastonbury).
The only problem for Bono is that he got there about 30 years too late, and a couple of hundered million dollars too rich.
*Wellies are Wellington boots — galoshes
PJM FLASHBACK: Dear Bono: Get Your Facts Straight
How many of his crappy friends in the “Arts” live in NY or LA and claim a lower taxed state as their residence? Answer, most of them.
“Pretty good music?” Seriously? Every U2 song I’ve ever heard sounded the same. They are strictly a one-trick pony.
The problem is hypocricy. And I’m not a fan of their music either.
That is hypocrisy, not hypocricy
If you’re going to tell my government how to spend my tax money, pay your own! However, the real trouble with “Bono” and “The Edge” is that they are a couple of full-of-themselves wankers in a so-so band. You’re in your 50′s boys. Grow up Paul and Dave!
Come on. There is no denying U2′s songwriting and performing talent. A Sort of Homecoming’s lyrics read like poetry.
They are being hypoocritical on this issue, though, I agree.
There’s no denying it? Really? I HAVE to like them? Well, I didn’t hate The Joshua Tree but … um … nah. Not exactly The Beatles, The Stones or The Who. The fact that they apparently consider themselves in that elite company is part of what turns me off. Second rate wankers, is still my opinion.
“Wankers”…
how very Brit. No doubt they are poffters as well. 
Of course you don’t have to LIKE them. It is not necessary to like someone in order to acknowledge their talent. They actually are in the company of some of the great rock bands of all time. Some refuse to include them thus, probably because the band came too late to be a part of their nostalgic memories.
Congratulations for such a snarky, subtle snark.
U2 is okay. They’ve had a few good tunes out.
But, their songs aren’t easy to dance to, or
whistle or sing in the shower.
Those qualities are overlooked too often these days.
Cause Larry Mullen Can’t lay down a groove to save his life. He has some chops and knows what he is doing but it would be like the Stones without Charlie Watts. No anchor.
I don’t listen to music that is easy to dance to or whistle. U2′s songs, at least the ones I got to hear, are actually quite catchy and not too challenging musically. They’re not innovative either like the bands Thomas_L mantioned were, though I don’t normally listen to them either (and I don’t like the Stones at all). Their music is just made in the mold of lots of rock music that precedes them, and that’s what makes them just OK and not one of the all time greatest, except in popularity. The greatest are those who helped define a genre. Perhaps they have other advantages, but if a band generally bores me I don’t delve into its music to see if maybe there are some hidden diamonds.
Of course, this is hardly the place for music discussions, but since some people here insist that if you don’t like U2 it’s either because you are an old fart stuck in his/her own past or because you’re a pop music fan who can’t appreciate serious and “complex” music, I wanted to offer an alternative perspective
Hypocricy or hypocrisy whatever – the Bono dude has a bad overtone of arrogance and people being arrogant with my money and then telling me how it should be distributed – it just creates a bad situation!
Bono reminds me of Michael Moore – I have never heard Moore sing (I think he just whines) but they make millions and then berate the public for not giving enough !
Maybe a couple of empty concert halls or mass walkouts from movie theatres would wake them up?
It also reminds me of all the ’60s folksingers who made millions off the blood of the Vietnam War. Joan Baez and Bob Dylan come to mind. Michael Moore is just a lot more disgusting than most, and it’s obvious that he really hates America, like so many of the left.
I think Dylan has been misjudged because the left somehow latched on to him – much to his dismay. He’s seems pretty down to earth and doesn’t believe in their causes. More like a libertarian than anything else.
Non-story. Crazy group protests crazy band. Who cares?
Sanctimonious prick. Lefty socialist jerk all the way through, do as I say not as I do, pay your own way and mine too.
I like what Bono does. I don’t like what he preaches. If he preached what he does, he’d be great.
And seriously talking socialist redistributing of wealth while dodging taxes yourself, is inexcusable. It’s hypocrisy in the umpteenth degree.
Is he related to Al Gore?
At least he’s not that execrable Enya or those abominable River Dancing hords unleashed upon the unsuspecting world by the Irish to kick apart every theater they can worm their way into. Why are the Irish doing this to us?
…. that abominable (jumping up and down and kicking away at the floor) horde unleashed upon the unsuspecting world to kick apart every theater they can worm their way into …. was unleashed by a Chicagoan who but poorly plays an Irishman on TV.
Favorite Bono story evah!
At a concert, Bono started clapping his hands ever so slowly. The rapt audience looked at him silently. Then he said, “Every time I clap, a small child in Africa dies…”
Then someone shouted out, “Then stop clapping, you c**t!”
Nonsense! U2 should be commended!
Any deductions they claim were designed by Congress to foster some worthwhile social goal. As such, Bono and the group should be congratulated for their contribution to these social goals approved by our betters.
Not sure who gets on my nerves more, Bono or Sting. It’s a crapshoot either way.
You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.
You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down.
You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.
You cannot build character and courage by taking away people’s initiative and independence.
You cannot help people permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves.
… Abraham Lincoln
I have more faith from individuals, like me, giving to charitable christian organizations that help the poverty stricken rather than the behemoth wasteful government taking my $$$$.
VIVA LA TEA PARTY!
My sentiments exactly!
Abraham. Thank-you for the historical post!!!
they simply don’t like the idea of people getting rich, whether it’s rock stars or investment bankers.
In other words, what Art Uncut is doing is merely echoing the essence of the Widow’s Mite parable — i.e. the benefits to the poor of Bono’s philanthropy is of less moral import than the pain/loss to Bono himself. As Bono is still well off, obviously then he didn’t sacrifice enough.
“Even though altruism declares that “it is more blessed to give than to receive,” it does not work that way in practice. The givers are never blessed; the more they give, the more is demanded of them; complaints, reproaches and insults are the only response they get for practicing altruism’s virtues (or for their actual virtues). … If the giver is not kept under a torrent of degrading, demeaning accusations, he might take a look around and put an end to the self-sacrificing. Altruists are concerned only with those who suffer—not with those who provide relief from suffering, not even enough to care whether they are able to survive.”
Who the heck Bono think he is, the U.S. Treasury Secretary?
Classic scene where Bono gets told to sit down and shut up:
http://www.zeropaid.com/bbs/showthread.php/48221-Bono-%E2%80%9CEvery-time-I-clap-my-hands-a-child-in-Africa-dies.%E2%80%9D
I’ve visited Glastonbury many times – None of these visits have taken place during the Glastonbury Festival. It’s a lovely little town and the hike up Glastonbury Tor is always rewarded by a fine view of the beautiful Somerset countryside. It’s the perfect spot for a summer picnic. Several good pubs nearby.
Having said that it should also be said that Bono is a sanctimonious little pratt who deserves to be heckled loudly and at length. What did he expect? For years he has ginned up the crowd by portraying corporations that tax-shelter their money as avaricious bloodsuckers. Well U2 is a pretty good-sized corporation itself. I would feel a lot more forgiving toward the overrated Celtic crooners if they put their considerable fortunes into Kinshasa or Brazzaville municipal bonds or some similar investment.
Fine report. Problem is the headline makes it look as though U2 are tax dodgers operating outside the law. That wasn’t reflected in the article, and I’m sure it wasn’t the intent. A little unfair.
U2 would be gone tomorrow if people stopped buying tickets to concerts and their music, if people buy their music, what care is that to anyone else. Frankly this seems a reach, nobody is subsidizing U2.
However we are subsidizing Petroleum companies, pharmaceutical companies, agriculture, and dozens of other industries, not to mention promoting an industrial war machine in which we grant cash trade accounts to many counties to buy US made weaponry, thanks to US trade and technology subsidies.
These companies locate their business and finances offshore, evading taxes and seeking additional grants and tax exclusions…
Why doesn’t someone on PJTV write an article on real tax evasion and Taxpayer abuse..?
I’m cool w/getting rid of subsidies…as long as solar, wind, mercury-filled light bulbs & electric cars are on the top of the list. “Green energy” would die off in a nanosecond if all the scammers didn’t have access to taxPAYER dollars.
It’s illegal in the US to give subsidies to oil companies. It’s a lie and what they want is to raise corporate on a specific industry – one that is heavily taxed at the fed and state level as it is.
What they want – ultimately – is to bankrupt and nationalize them.
I don’t think Bono belongs in the same knee-jerk Leftist camp to which some of you wish to consign him. As the article stated, he was–unlike most of his celebrity compadress–at least fair to Bush, and did meets with Jesse Helms a few times, as I recall. In terms of world view, as near as I can ascertain, Bono, The Edge and Larry Mullen are Christian and I think it’s perhaps out of a belief in Christian social justice, not secular Liberalism per se, that the band (especially Bono) draws its (sometimes annoying) inspiration for certain causes. As a Christian myself, I find that worthwhile (although it would be more impressive if U2 were to write, say, an overtly pro-life song).
As for U2′s musical abilities: of course to some degree talent is in the eyes of the beholder, but it’s hard to argue that a band that’s sold hundresds of millions of albums and won Grammyy is totally lacking in the talent department. I personally think U2 is the third-best band of all-time, behind the Beatles and Led Zeppelin. Some of your guys seem to be stuck in the “doo-wop” generation.
In the immortal words of SGT Hulka, from “Stripes:” “lighten up, Francis.”
3rd rate is what you meant. Yeah, I’m denying their record sales and talent.
There’s lots of popular stuff out there and that don’t make it good or bad for that matter. U2 runs an awful lot on the “cool” factor and political correctness. They project themselves as some kind of rebels while being conformist in their own way to the hilt.
I like lots of song, right up to the present, but I search it out and don’t have to have canned crap fed to me.
There are a thousand artists with as much talent as U2 – U2 is simply famous. To suggest talent and artistry can be measured by record sales is redneck BS.
I love Alcione and Jorge Aragao. I love Beau Jocque and Johnny Adams. I love Bebel Gilberto and Burcu Gunes. I love Cesaria Evora and Ceu. I love Diana Krall and Esperanza Spaulding. I love Fiona Apple and Hector Lavoe. I love The Ipanema Pop Orchestra and Kathleen Edwards. I love Nam Oi and Yildez Tilbe. Who’s to say they’re not as talented?
At least they go their own way instead of pandering to the lowest common denominator. Like your conformist radio noise – don’t tell us what to like.
Cocktail Waitress,
I’m curious as to how you ascertained a “redneck” prism to my analysis? Because you don’t like it?
Cocktail,
Also, I didn’t tell you or anyone else what to like. I simply took issue with the irrational fulminations against U2 and those of us who DO like the group. And your acerbic response only further reinforces my case.
I fully agree with the post, as you can see: http://plbirnamwood.blogspot.com/2011/06/bono-anti-poverty-campaigner-tax-cheat.html
As for successful – I remember a movie from back in 1974 called Phantom of the Paradise, by Paul Williams – a delicious send-up of the rock music industry. You realise as the movie goes on that one of the major characters is the audience, who will cheer for anything that is presented to them. They just love the emperor’s clothes.
Seriously? A story about a group of individuals who efficiently utilize government tax laws? Then the rest of you jump in with “ya pay more than your share and your music sucks”
They ARE paying their taxes! They are not criminals! AND after paying taxes they give away more. They then spend their time campaigning for people to give generously. Paying your taxes means you are fulfilling your duty to the rest of your countrymen that the road lights stay on, the laws are passed, the bus system is subsidized, schools stay open and the officials are paid. Giving directly to an organization bypasses the officials salary.
Which do you see as more efficient way to help the needy? Also listen to Bono’s message … he is campaigning the world to eliminate debt so the people can WORK and SELL what they make… he is not just trying to give the needy a hand out…. he is about teaching them to fish and have the ability to sell the extra.
They spend their time campaigning for governments to spend more money, which they are withholding despite such calls. If Bono & the like are assured that they can spend their own money more wisely for the relief of the world’s indigent (an idea with which I strongly concur, in that legitimate chartities can use the money far more wisely than governemnts or quasi-governments such as the UN), then they should spend their time urging & demonstrating increased personal giving to their cause. But I haven’t seen that.
It’s a conundrum.
Actually, I’m pretty sick of hearing about Bono or any other do-gooders and their efforts in Africa. I don’ know how many old folks I know who’ve been conned out of money so a well can be dug for some village in Africa. With all these wells that whole place should be paradise. The fact that it’s not is the people who live there. Same as the ME.
“praised George W. Bush for his AIDs prevention initiatives.” Ok, so he once said something nice about dubya. Whoop-de-do-da. Know what else he did? He went ‘for the sake of peace’ to ‘negotiate’ in Iraq at the beginning of the current war. Understandable, if misguided. But, after war was declared, he should have kept his nose out. Never mind that he not only ‘negotiated’ with Saddam, but STAYED AT ONE OF HIS PALACES. As soon as I saw in the news Bono was fraternizing with the enemy, so to speak, I dumped my entire U2 collection. I understand he’s Irish, not American, but his influence, such as it is, happens to be worldwide, and therefore his actions and words have worldwide influence, regardless of intent. So, like the ‘Dixie Chicks’ and a few other left-wing apologists who feel they must apologize for their success, I got rid of any and all albums from any of them. It wasn’t hard. One cassette-tape and 2 CDs (I’m not a country fan anyway) and they were all gone. I can’t abide someone sticking their nose into military matters when they are a CIVILIAN, once the gloves come off. I don’t care what charities he supports or what influence he has with governments around the world…once we are at war, stay out of the way!!!
My problem with Bono is that he insists that it’s Americans responsibility to support the rest of the world.
Bono is a bonehead, his music is so so.
Bono’s problem is that he is , like all left wing moonbats a profound HYPOCRITE of the “do as I say not as I” do variety.
I don’t know much about Bono, but it seems preposterous to call him a socialist or a leftist.
Recently he gave a concert and honored Elias Biscet who was a political prisoner for many years in Castro’s prisons. Bono spoke out against the tyrannical government in Cuba and spoke glowingly in favor of a free Cuba.
That in itself recommends Bono to me as a good human being.
Why do people always have to resort to name calling anyway? Every time someone uses an epithet or ad hominem instead of an argument to support his point, he shows himself to be a non thinker.