U2 Magnificent on Late Late Show

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Details from U2gigs.com:

U2 play Magnificent on Late Late Show

Hot on the heels of their surprise appearance yesterday in London, U2 appeared on RTE TV in Ireland tonight. The Irish Independent reports that the band were to appear on the Late Late Show some weeks ago as part of No Line On The Horizon's promotion, but agreed to postpone the appearance to this episode on the 29th of May, to celebrate the last show of longtime presenter Pat Kenny.

The band gifted Kenny an electric guitar and a pair of shades, sat down for a lengthy chat with him - and indeed played some music. Quite specifically, the song performed was the latest NLOTH single, Magnificent. This appearance marks U2's first live performance in their home country since NLOTH's release on the 27th of February.

U2 are no strangers to the Late Late Show. Their first appearance was all the way back on 15 January 1980, when they played Stories For Boys. Their most recent appearance prior to this one was on 22 February 2008 for a special tribute to Irish musician Ronnie Drew.


Posted on Saturday, May 30, 2009 @ 00:32:53 CEST by Axver

U2 surprise performance!

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From Female First:

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U2 Shock Fans

U2 stunned world music fans in London on Thursday night when they took the stage during a Baaba Maal gig.

Bono and his bandmates joined the African artist for his O2 Academy Shepherds Bush concert as part of London's 50th anniversary celebration of Island Records.

The group, who are also Island artists, joined Maal for an encore of their One hit and then remained onstage for a rendition of Vertigo and Bob Marley's Feel Alright.

Wow, talk about getting your money’s worth!

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Bono in US Weekly - Just Like Us!

Tweet In the "They're just like us" section of US Weekly, you might have seen this:





Wow! I know, right? Bono is a human too!

LOL. Sorry. It amuses me

Surprise Island 50 Appearance

Tweet From U2.com:

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U2 joined Senegalese artist Baaba Maal on stage tonight as part of London's celebrations for Island 50.

Baaba and Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens) were sharing the bill at Shepherd's Bush Empire. The band joined Baaba Maal for a version of U2's 0ne to the surprise of the sold out crowd.

Introducing U2 Baaba said, "I have a friend a brother who really takes care of everything. We share the respect of Nelson Mandela's vision. We need people to understand. We didn't make it yet but we are on the way. As we continue fighting poverty especially on the continent of Africa".

As Bono. The Edge, Larry and Adam joined onstage.

The room was a glow with phones in the air as the crowd took pictures of this crazy moment. And then they started with a rousing chorus of One Love by Bob Marley.

Baaba Maal left the stage before U2 continued with a semi acoustic version of Vertigo. Chris Blackwell is in the room looking happy with the preceedings and gets a shout out from Bono.

Chris once said to me "all of this can be yours, all of this can be yours... Just give me what I want and no one gets hurt."

They throw in a few lyrics of peace train for good measure... And then its half time

Bono later appeared on stage to introduce and welcome Yusuf Islam

In introducing Cat Stevens, Bono came on stage for a few words of introduction.

A seeker
A troubador
A pilgrim
A Poet
A Guitar picker
A natty dresser
A Family man
A Popstar
An icon
An iconoclast
A singer and writer of some of the best songs ever written
A serious Cat

U2 - Setlist for U2360?

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Image via Wikipedia

From Rolling Stone:

U2

Openers On Select Dates: Snow Patrol, Muse, Black Eyed Peas

Tickets $30-$253

WHAT TO EXPECT:
Other artists may be scaling down for the recession, but not U2: Their first U.S. stadium tour since 1997's PopMart will be dominated by the largest set ever built for a rock concert, a monstrous stage nicknamed the Claw that will allow them to play in the round. "The crowd will be all around us," says the Edge, on a break from tour planning. "That energy will just make the performances fly." The band is selling some seats for as cheap as $30, as a nod to tough times and to make the shows accessible to young fans.

"We're talking about resurrecting songs we haven't played in a long time," Edge says. "I have a list of every U2 song — some I can't remember anymore — even some of the B sides that we've never played live. We were thinking how much fun it would be to play something like [Joshua Tree outtake] 'Luminous Times.' Certain songs from the last couple of tours, we may not play again. We want to find songs that feel fresh and valid."

U2's 3rd night in Dublin not sold out

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Image via Wikipedia

From The Evening Herald:

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It's hard to believe, but tickets for U2's third Croke Park gig are still available.

Given that tickets for the U2 360 tour sold out in just 40 minutes last March, it seemed natural that their final gig on July 27 would go the same way.

But fans of the chart-topping superstars should note that there's still a chance to see the fab foursome in action when they take to the stage at the monster stadium this summer as they tour their No Line on the Horizon album.

The release is currently enjoying a mixed reaction from fans around the world.

Although their new single, Magnificent, stormed in at number five in the Irish charts, it has failed to set the British charts alight and peaked at only 79 in America's Billboard Hot 100.

Nonetheless, the band still sold some 484,000 copies of their new album in the first week Stateside.

U2 will kickstart their ambitious 100-date world tour on June 30 in Barcelona and will perform a string of dates around Europe.

Then they will be starting their American tour on September 12 at Soldier Field in Chicago.

Rumor: U2 live on Pat Kenny's last show?

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From independent .i.e

Click above to read the very interesting rumor on its original site, or read below, where I've pasted it, with a few additional links of my own:

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By Richie Taylor

Thursday May 28 2009

Broadcaster Pat Kenny could end up with a 'Magnificent' send-off when he ends his run as 'the Late Late Show' presenter -- with U2 performing their new single on the show.

RTE insiders are remaining tightlipped on this week's line-up, but sources say the rock group and actor Gabriel Byrne will star as Kenny ends his 10-year run fronting the show.

A spokesperson for the group said that there was "nothing confirmed", but insiders say that U2 will be appearing on the show -- which will also feature a barbecue in the grounds outside the studios.

U2 were due to appear on 'the Late Late Show' some few weeks ago to promote 'Magnificent', which is the latest single to be taken form their 'No Line on The Horizon' album. But it's understood they agreed to postpone that appearance to feature in Kenny's grand exit.

When Gay Byrne retired from the show 10 years ago, Bono and Larry Mullen turned up in the studios and presented him with a Harley Davidson motorcycle. But there is no indication, so far, as to whether the band is preparing a major gift for Kenny.

Others set to appear on the last show before Ryan Tubridy takes over will be comedian Pat Shortt, singer Imelda May and pop manager Louis Walsh, along with Westlife members.

Organisers have managed to keep a lid on the identities of other celebrity guests, with a couple of Hollywood stars tipped to be on the list.

Kenny (61) has promised a spectacular show for viewers, with plenty of surprise guests. And the National Lottery has also jumped on board -- with €10,000 in prize cash to be won by five lucky contestants.

Another feature of the final show will be a farmer's market in the grounds of Montrose in connection with the Bloom 'garden life' event in the Phoenix Park this weekend.

- Richie Taylor

Beautiful Day Video for MS

Tweet From Youtube:


This film is a joint project of the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation (MSIF) and the Hertie Foundation launched on the first ever World Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Day, 27 May 2009. It aims to capture the attention of people worldwide, motivate them to learn more about MS and become involved in the global MS movement. Show your support today! Register at www.worldmsday.org

Apple Vs. Palm

Tweet Found this on Cnn Money:

Click Me to read about the battle between Apple and Palm, which includes Bono's Elevation.

U2.com: Let's Do It For Real...

Tweet Found this on U2.com:

U2.com News: Let's Do It For Real...

Posted using ShareThis

More on The Claw

Tweet Sal U2 posted some of the Claw pics I found online, along with many more, and they included AllU2's post as well!

Thanks for sharing the blog with other U2 fans! There is no greater band, and no greater fan than a U2 fan!

Click here to see the post!

The Claw Changes Werchter's skyline

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In six weeks' time, The Claw will begin to change the landscape of the world's stadiums as U2360 kickstarts the summer tour in Nou Camp, Barcelona. If you are going to be at any of the shows on the tour, please feel free to share your experiences with AllU2!

How well do you know U2?

Tweet How well do you know the music of your favorite band? Check this link out and let's see!

Click Me

Thanks for checking out the blog today!


Update: I got 126 of 137 before time ran out....I was hoping to be faster, but I'm a bit tired having a newborn in the house...lol

How did you do?

Being Born

Tweet It's amazing to me how U2 lyrics sometimes just fit the moment. My wife just gave birth to our second baby, a beautiful boy, and I've been catching myself humming lyrics from songs like:

Fez Being Born:

"Lights flash past like memories. A speeding head, a speeding heart. I’m being born, a bleeding start. The engines roar, blood-curdling wail. Head first, then foot, then heart sets sail"

Get On Your Boots:

"You don't know how beautiful you are..."


Magnificent:

"I was born, I was born to be with you, in this place and time."

"My first cry, it was a joyful noise."

"Only love, Only love can leave such a mark. But only love, only love unites our hearts"


Beautiful Day:

"It's a beautiful day, don't let it get away..."


Miracle Drug:

"Freedom has a scent, like the top of a newborn baby's head."

Original of The Species (whole song).

MLK changes to a night-time prayer as I watch my little boy sleep.

Can Bono save Mexico City?

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(Thanks for your patience with the lack of posts recently. My second son was just born and it's been a bit busy....lol)

From reuters:

Click above to see the article on Reuters, or read below. I've pasted it here.

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MEXICO CITY (Reuters Life!) - Mexico City's mayor wants to deploy pop stars Bono and Shakira to help put the Mexican capital back on the map as a tourist destination after the H1N1 flu outbreak scared away visitors.

Marcelo Ebrard, a leftist with presidential aspirations, said he has written to the U2 frontman, the Colombian singer and billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates to ask them to endorse a publicity campaign to restore the city's image.

The swine flu epidemic emptied Mexico City's normally chaotic streets for days on end, and the city is still haunted by images of face masks and shuttered bars and restaurants.

"We are facing the worst economic emergency in the recent history of Mexico City. Its results may be tragic for thousands of families whose incomes, jobs and investments are at risk," Ebrard said in the letters.

The celebrities, all known for their efforts to combat poverty and disease around the world, are being asked to put their face behind Ebrard's campaign with a visit to Mexico City.

The new flu, which has killed 74 people in Mexico and sparked fears of a pandemic, prompted authorities to shut chunks of the economy for five days and close schools for two weeks to curb contagion, in a huge blow to businesses.

Mexico City receives 12 million tourists every year, 25 percent of them foreigners loaded up with foreign currency.

Ebrard, who has made his mark with popular leisure schemes such as bicycle lanes, city water parks and an end-year ice rink, has already launched a television campaign to lure back Mexican tourists to the capital, featuring good-looking actors shopping and riding double-decker city tour buses.

Update

Tweet Sorry for the lack of posting. My wife gave birth to our 2nd child on Tuesday. Gonna be a slow week on the blog! LOL

...covers U2 (Part 1)

Tweet The recent debate over whether or not Adam Lambert's version of U2's One on American idol was any good, has caused me to post a few other bands/artists who've covered U2 songs. I am very picky when it comes to the band, as you know. To sing a U2 song, it must come from within, from the soul.

What do you think of these covers? I'm holding off my full thoughts until I have a chance to listen without distraction here at the station. Upon first listen, I really like Live's version of RTSS. Now, there is soul.

Live - Running To Stand Still:




Elvis Costello - Please:




Daughtry - Sunday Bloody Sunday:




Girl on youtube - The Ground Beneath Her Feet:




Howie Day - One:

Is this better than Adam Lambert?

Tweet Michael Johns. This was sent to me on twitter. Thanks to @janine_j9!

Louis Vitton buys stake of Bono

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From the irishtimes.com

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LVMH buys stake in Bono's clothing company

LVMH MOET Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the world’s largest maker of luxury goods, has bought a minority stake in fair-trade clothing brand Edun from U2 singer Bono and his wife Ali Hewson for an undisclosed amount.

“We are going to take a stake in Edun, an ecological and ethical brand,” LVMH chief executive Bernard Arnault told shareholders at LVMH’s annual shareholders’ meeting in Paris.

“Edun demonstrates that it’s possible to promote fair trade in the fashion industry,” the Paris-based company said yesterday in an e-mailed statement.

No financial details of the transaction were disclosed but a report in the Wall Street Journal yesterday said LVMH was negotiating a stake of just under 50 per cent.

Established in 2005, Edun makes ready-to-wear fashion for men and women with suppliers from developing countries, such as India, Peru, Uganda, Kenya and Lesotho. The company says on its website it aims to encourage sustainable employment in developing regions, particularly Africa.

The acquisition is part of LVMH’s commitment to sustainable development, the company said in the statement.

“Edun is a start-up that could make a splash,” Bono said in the statement.

“With LVMH we can accelerate its development.”

Edun would sit alongside LVMH’s other fashion brands such as Celine, Kenzo, Marc Jacobs and Louis Vuitton.

As he announced the Edun deal, Mr Arnault said trading in April was broadly in line with the level seen during the first quarter, with a slight improvement in wines and spirits.

Jean-Jacques Guiony, LVMH finance director, later said there had been a slight improvement in wines and spirits particularly in Cognac sales, which made up about half of the unit’s sales.

Moet Hennessy, LVMH’s wines and spirit unit, saw revenues drop 22 per cent in the first quarter on a like-for-like basis. Hennessy volumes alone were down 21 per cent. – (Bloomberg/Reuters)

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times

Bono Playing Dominoes today

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Image by Erica_Marshall via Flickr

Found this on looktothestars.org:

Click the link above to read on looktothestars.org, or read below.

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May 15, 2009 by Tim Saunders

U2 singer Bono is to co-host a charity event with a difference at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival on May 18.

Bono will join Penelope Cruz and director Pedro Almodovar at the Hollywood Domino tables to benefit The Global Fund, which raises cash to further AIDS research. Along with Charlize Theron, Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore, the stars will take part in a game that has taken Hollywood by storm.

Hollywood Domino is a new take on a very old game originally invented in China over 400 years ago. The new version was developed after two young entrepreneurs – Inge Theron and Daya Fernandez – met in LA during the Oscars. It was not long before a select group of celebrity friends including Salma Hayek, Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher caught onto the trend and began to meet regularly to play.

“Beating the credit crunch has never been so much fun,“ said Inge Theron. “Staying in has definitely become the new going out. ‘Hollywood Domino’ is a fun and exciting parlour game that you cannot help being absorbed by. It is strategic and highly addictive, and brings the glamour of the Hollywood Hills into your living room.”

The game is available for purchase from Amazon.com, Wal-Mart, Toys R Us, and other selected retailers.

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God's Phone Number on U2's album cover?

Tweet Found this on getupwithgod.com:

Click here to read the article on its original site, or read below:

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God’s Phone Number

After discussing rock band U2’s rather stirring interpretation of Psalm 40 last week, we asked this question:

What secret Bible message did U2 include on the cover of their album All That You Can’t Leave Behind (and what does it mean)?

Here’s the answer: On that album cover, the band was photographed standing in the Charles de Gaulle International Airport in Paris. Above the band in the photograph is a departure gate sign. It originally read “F21-36.” At the last minute, U2’s lead singer Bono had the album artist airbrush it to read “J33-3.”

Why? “It was done like a piece of graffiti,” said Bono. “It’s known as God’s telephone number.” J33-3 refers to Jeremiah 33:3, which reads: “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”

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I found both album covers online. Take a look below:

U2 Tribute Band Giving Back

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Image by ERTZETIK via Flickr

From Radiojackie.com:

Yeah, it's not U2, but anyone affiliated with them, who invokes the spirit of charity deserves a mention today:



Thursday, 14 May 2009

U2 tribute band give a helping hand to Leatherhead Theatre

Europe’s leading U2 tribute band has announced it will be donating a percentage of ticket sales to the Leatherhead Theatre.

ZU2 are playing a gig at the troubled playhouse on May 30th.

They’ve decided to give some of the money raised to the campaign Save The Theatre –

which is fronted by actor Sir Michael Caine.

Lead singer Russ – AKA Bono – says theatres such as Leatherhead have an important role to play in the community.

Radio Jackie has also got behind the campaign by giving away tickets every evening this week.

Bono Makes Amends

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Image via Wikipedia

From The Mirror:

Bono certainly made amends when he missed fellow Irish rockers the Script perform in New York.

According to the New York Post, the U2 frontman made sure the group were well lubricated for the gig.

Having double-booked himself, Bono ensured there was a case of Guinness and a case of champagne waiting for them backstage.

But the gig at Roseland Ballroom was not without the odd celebrity dotted among the crowd.

Actresses Rosie Perez and Jane Krakowski were among those present, according to the Post.

Bono Reads his Elvis Poem on BBC Radio

Tweet Bono read his Elvis Poem on BBC Radio, and they posted it online here.

UPDATE..at last check, it seems to not be working. If you find a new link, please let me know.

UPDATE 2: :30 clip can be found here. WARNING: it contains language that may be offensive to some.

U2 on Top Of The Pops Retrospective?

Tweet From C21media.com

Click here to read the article on C21media, or read on below:

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BBCWW Music taps The Smiths, U2

BBC Worldwide Music (BBCWWM) has developed a Top of the Pops retrospective series for a Japanese client, and C21 understands that U2 and The Smiths will be among the acts to feature in upcoming projects from the unit.

The Top of the Pops series (12x60') was commissioned by Japanese channel group Imagica, BBCWWM commercial affairs head Salim Mukaddam told C21. The series falls under the BBC Retrospective banner, which currently comprises five shows, and will enter BBCWWM's international sales catalogue

Mukaddam said that bespoke programming would be an important ingredient in BBCWWM's mission to double its 60-hour content portfolio by March 2010. "One of our great strengths is our ability to create bespoke content because of our access to the BBC archive," he told C21. "Along with genre-based shows like the Top of the Pops one, we also have a new proactive strategy involving sourcing acts for artist-based series."

He added that one way in which the acts would be sourced would be by trawling the schedules of BBC Radio shows, while content for new shows would hopefully come via rights deals for any live music recorded by the BBC. "Anything that gets created by the BBC, we want to go in and get the rights," he said.

C21 understands that bands such as The Smiths and U2 - who recently appeared on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge and performed a surprise gig atop BBC Broadcasting House to promote their new album - are among the acts that will be covered in upcoming series, although Mukaddam refused to confirm this.

The other way in which the unit plans to grow its catalogue is by acquiring more and further series of BBC-produced shows. In something of a coup, BBCWWM wrestled rights to long-running series Later� With Jools Holland back from 3DD, and it also represents BBC events such as the Electric Proms.

BBCWWM has made a decision to focus on the BBC's rock and pop output and archive, Mukaddam added. "BBCWW has a long history in music television distribution, but its scope has largely been limited to Top of the Pops and classical music," he said. "The BBC creates some of the most compelling music programming produced anywhere in the world and we are finally making a large proportion of these fabulous programmes available to the rest of the world."

He told C21 that he was confident of reaching the 120-hour target by March 2010. "We'll even get more if possible," he said.

Emily Brookes
13 May 2009
© C21 Media 2009


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Dear Adam Lambert

Tweet This is how it's done:

Can A U2 Song Become An Official State Song?

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Image by Tiger Pixel via Flickr

From The Washington Post. U2's mention comes at the end of the interesting article.

Adam Lambert sings One

Tweet For a brief moment in the beginning of the song, I thought I might have been wrong about yesterday's post of concern about Adam Lambert's performance of U2's One.

Then the music kicked in, and things went terribly wrong. In my very-biased opinion it was not very good at all. I was hoping for a new take on the song; to be blown away by a new rendition of the song. Instead, he sounded like something I'd make fun of at a karaoke bar.

Yes, the judges loved it, but they, nor you, have to agree with me. I've embedded the video below. Watch and tell me what you think.

One Song, Many Singers

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Image via Wikipedia

Being a U2 fan does no good for other bands who try to cover them or sound like them. At least in my world, that is. I tend to be dismissive and frustrated. Why listen to them when I can get what they are trying to give me, from U2? The Real Thing.

Needless to say, I will always give the artist a chance to make an impression on me. Johnny Cash did that with his wonderful version of One. Then came Mary J. Blige. Perhaps I am biased because of how she treated me and our radio station when she visited a few years back (was a total b*&$h), but I found her version of the song to be dreadful...with forced efforts at having soul. It lacked what U2 gives to the song: heart and soul.

I also remember seeing a couple Idol contestants from last season perform "One" on Ellen, and it, too, was terrible. A U2 song without U2 needs to come from deep within for it to work for me.

Tonight, there is a rumor that Idol Contestant, Adam Lambert, might sing"One" tonight. My first reaction: Uh-oh.

I will give the guy a chance, and I hope he proves me wrong, if he does do the song. But, for it to work, Mr. Lambert, you'll need to find the song inside you first, then let it resonate in your voice.

My Band

Tweet It could be a lyric, or a particular sound or rhythm of a song.

It could be that U2's music was around during every moment in my life (since 1983), and that I remember those songs from those moments.

Quiet honestly, I am not exactly sure of one specific reason that I am so into this band.

I can tell you that U2, to me, is like the air I breathe. I know nothing else. I can't imagine a world without U2 music in it. Their music brings me home, if you will. Sometimes it reminds me of childhood, other times it reminds me of those specific moments in my life that just seemed to harmonize perfectly with a lyric or mood. I've cried to their music, and I've been lifted by their music. I've run the spectrum of emotions through Bono's words and Edge's sounds. That's why a U2 live show is a journey in and of itself for me. Like a well-written movie or book, I find myself running through a variety of emotions and moods in a very natural-feeling way.

Perhaps part of it is because I discovered U2 in 1983, when I was twelve. Like old toys or games, or TV shows from childhood that you stumble upon today and cause you to reminisce, U2 reminds me of who I was and where I was back then, and who I am and where I am now.

Somewhere along the 26 year journey, a connection was made. I'm guessing it was instant, and I just didn't understand it yet. Over the years the connection has reached deeper into my growing self, and has established itself in the very fabric of my being. U2 is a part of me like the air I breathe. I know nothing different, and can not imagine a world without U2 music in it. It's not even a choice for me...

Because it's U2.

And they are my band.


Thank you for reading my blog.

Bono wants to expand

Tweet From The Herald:

Click Here to read the article in its original location, or read below, (I've added a few links to the article)

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By Jane Last

Monday May 11 2009

Bono's ambitious plans to extend his Killiney mansion are before the council again.

The U2 rocker was given the green light to proceed with the extension to his family's Killiney home last January.

However, Bono and his wife Ali have published a notice stating their intention to apply for permission for further development at their Temple Hill mansion.

The couple, who used the names Mr & Mrs Paul Hewson in their planning notice published last week, said the development will consist of modifications to their previously approved plans.

These plans were approved by Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Council in November -- despite an objection by An Taisce which would have entitled the organisation to appeal the decision to An Bord Pleanala.

However, An Taisce never filed notice to appeal by the closing date, in January, and Bono was allowed to proceed.

The couple's latest plans are for a below-ground plant room to the west of the main house.

Last November, Bono and Ali were given permission to add a new second floor to their home.

The couple have also been given the green light to add a lower ground-floor conservatory.

Dun Laoghaire planners attached nine conditions, including that a brochure showing a colour sample of the proposed roof be submitted. The new second floor is to take the place of the existing pitched roof.

In its objection, An Taisce said that the extension would "distract" from singer Enya's Ayesha Castle and Killiney Hill Obelisk.

They also contended that Bono's house, Temple Hill, is within a conservation area. It added that "a more sympathetic extension [to Temple Hill] with a similar design and finish to the original house should be considered".

The application revealed Bono rejected the idea of demolishing his home when deciding on plans for a revamp.

The rock star reviewed a proposal to tear down his mansion and construct a new house. However, he and Ali decided demolition was inappropriate and were "keen to retain the existing building".

jlast@herald.ie

- Jane Last

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The Ultimate Guide to U2

Tweet Found this on U2.com:



Billed as 'The Ultimate Music Guide to U2', a bumper magazine special from the makers of 'Uncut' has just hit the streets.

' Over 148 pages the magazine's unrivaled team of expert writers provide a comprehensive survey of U2's work, from their first stirrings in Dublin to the globe-straddling force who have just released their 12th blockbusting album.'

As well as analysis of every album, the guide also discusses rare released, live sets and DVD's and reprints some long lost interviews from the archives of the NME and Melody Maker.

State of the Music Industry

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Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Citing a 42% drop off in sales for U2's No Line On The Horizon, this article, which appeared in the Irish Times Print edition, digs into the current state of the music industry, and how it has become affected by file-sharing and download sites like iTunes.

Click here to read it on the Irish Times, or read below.

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MUSIC INDUSTRY: Once upon a time, the record industry was about hits. Michael Jackson’s Thriller , Bruce Springsteen’s Born In The USA and the Backstreet Boys’ Millennium were multi-million selling releases that allowed the industry to live high on the hog throughout the 1980s and 1990s, writes JIM CARROLL

Back then, music fans spent a small fortune during the format switch to CD and these windfall profits meant major label bosses could sit back, strike up another cigar and believe the good times would never end.

Fast-forward to 2009 and you have an industry in the depths of despair. CD sales are on a permanent downward slide – look at the remarkable 42 per cent drop in first-week US sales for U2’s current album, compared to the previous release, for example – and digital revenue is never going to be enough to match physical sale losses.

All the action is now happening in the live music business and the labels are trying unsuccessfully to elbow their way into that trough.

Remarkably, most of these woes are self-inflicted. In Steve Knopper’s book Appetite for Self-Destruction: The Spectacular Crash of the Record Industry in the Digital Age , he points out again and again that the labels ignored how changes in technology and consumer habits would impact on their business. Even when dot-com companies were begging labels to sell music online in the mid-1990s, they resisted. As Knopper notes in the book: “They were making big money, they had the Spice Girls, they had all the time in the world. Why change?”

And there’s nothing new about the industry-wide reluctance to embrace change.

"It is rather striking how those in the record industry have resisted technology over the decades," says Knopper. "They resisted recorded music, radio, MTV, pretty much any new idea that threatened the profits they were already making.

"On the one hand, it's understandable - the guys who traditionally ran record labels were old-school. Their idea was to find talent, record that talent and distribute the music to record stores. That's all they knew how to do, so any new idea was a threat to them. You're not dealing with the most forward-thinking people here.

"What really struck me was by the time Napster came along, every single label had hired people to deal with the internet, but those at the top weren't listening to the advice they were getting. They had been burned on technology before, they remembered things like quadrophonic sound and eight-track tapes, and didn't want to spend a lot of money releasing the new Coke of the record industry and lose again.

"When you want your business to continue doing well, you have to look at these inflection points as they arise. You have to deal with them properly or your business will be destroyed, and that is what is happening now."

Knopper is a seasoned music business analyst and his book, the result of 18 months of research and over 230 interviews, focuses on the industry-wide ignorance, arrogance and hubris as the labels threw their business away.

He points to the lawsuits that followed file-sharing pioneer Napster as a big turning point. "I don't think when Napster happened initially that they thought they would lose the business. I think that occurred after two or three run-throughs of legal action.

"First, they sued Napster out of existence. Then, they reacted to Limewire and Kazaa and Grokster and all the other file-sharers by suing them.

"Then, they started suing their customers. And then they got that hugely favourable Supreme Court decision in 2005.

"But none of this stopped file-sharing. The number of users continued to grow by the millions worldwide. It was at that point that I think they knew legal action was not going to work, long after everyone else had figured that out. They didn't have the moral or legal high ground and they were screwed. Even iTunes wasn't stopping file-sharing."

Knopper feels things would be much different today for the industry if they had done a deal with Napster's Shaun Fanning.

"Napster was more than just Spotify and Lala rolled into one, it was also Facebook and MySpace. It anticipated social networking by several years, it was built on music and had 27 million users at its peak.

"Sure, if they had done a deal, they would have lost some of those 27 million people who just wanted to pirate music and there are a lot of them out there. But it would have got a lot of other people who would have went 'wow, this is a great service' and would have been prepared to pay 15, 20, 50 bucks a month for it."

Instead, they did a deal with Apple's Steve Jobs, which worked out well - for the computer company.

"When the labels look back now, they remember that Jobs was just going to do this iTunes music store thing for the Macs," says Knopper.

"But not long after that, he extended iTunes to the PC and they felt bruised by that. You could argue that Steve Jobs was just being a savvy businessman, but Roger Ames [ of Warner Music] and Doug Morris [ of Universal Music] were savvy businessmen too. These were the top guys, incredibly sharp guys who knew their way around a business deal, and they shouldn't have let Steve Jobs get away with it.

"I think the problem was the labels had no real leverage at that point. In 2002, the only way a consumer could download music on the web was illegally, and that had been going on for three or four years. During that period from 1998 to 2002, from the beginning of Napster to the beginning of iTunes, the only way to get music online was to pirate it.

"The labels were very desperate at that point and were ready to do a deal with whoever came along. They felt they were lucky it was Steve Jobs and not Shaun Fanning's uncle they were dealing with. But they weren't so lucky because they ended up making much the same deal as they did with MTV, when they gave away all their videos for free and have regretted it ever since."

Knopper believes a lot of the current inertia can be put down to those at the top. "The deals the labels are doing with Q-Trax and Spotify and Google in China are really interesting, but the people who are running the labels now are the same people who were running the labels during the Napster era.

"You have to wonder if these guys like [ Warner Music's] Edgar Bronfman, and Doug Morris are the ones who are going to usher in the technology solutions at the labels. A lot of people at tech companies have been waiting a long time for the real tech guys to come in and take power at the labels. That change is what it is going to take for new ideas to really gain credibility."

Knopper outlines two potential futures for the labels. "What I wish it would look like in 10 years' time is something like this: for a start, you'd have the high-tech people in charge. These tech people are smart and are not just relying on unit sales to make all their money. They know that revenue is made up of ad revenue from streaming, ring tones, licensing rights from Guitar Hero .

"The new companies should be smaller, more nimble and not have huge overheads in the form of gigantic executive salaries. They can react quickly to change and go in the direction the artist wants to go and that's different for each artist," he says.

And the other option? "What I worry about is that Live Nation are going to merge with Ticketmaster, they will buy Warner and it will be the same deal that you've always had. Record sales will be the minor part of the equation and ticket sales the major part.

"They'll figure out how to make money from the ticket scalpers out there and then you've got a couple of companies with large revenues trying to hold onto it. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss."

(This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times)

Banker Harrassed In Boston Because of U2

Tweet From the Boston Herald. Click here to read it on the Herald's page, or read on below:

Photo by Stuart Cahill

‘SHELL-SHOCKED’: Joseph Carreiro, 49, is accused of threatening William Tauro, publisher of The Somerville News, for tickets to a U2 concert in March.

Harrassed in the name of love (for U2)

By Laurel J. Sweet

A banker’s bid to score his Bono-besotted bride a ticket to U2’s Somerville Theatre concert backfired badly, and now he’s facing a criminal complaint that he threatened a customer who couldn’t hook him up.

Joseph Carreiro, 49, a financial relationship specialist at a Sovereign Bank branch in Somerville, said alleged victim William “Billy” Tauro’s accusations are “unfounded.”

“The allegation is that he threatened to do Mr. Tauro bodily harm - an allegation we strongly contest,” attorney Will Korman told the Herald yesterday.

(Carreiro), he said, “is a gentleman who has had no involvement with the criminal justice system whatsoever. He is absolutely embarrassed, mortified and shell-shocked that this is happening to him.”

Korman said Carreiro is especially sorry Sovereign’s name “is being dragged into the middle of a dispute that’s been blown way out of proportion.”

Tauro, 48, is a Somerville businessman whose pursuits include being one of the publishers of The Somerville News.

Last week, a district court assistant clerk-magistrate found probable cause to issue a criminal complaint against Carreiro after a hearing. He has not been arrested. Of his status with Sovereign, bank spokesman Andrew P. Gully said, “I’m not going to discuss that because it’s a matter before the court.”

Tauro’s attorney, Anne Vigorito, confirmed Tauro is a Sovereign customer, but stressed he “really didn’t know” Carreiro and there was “no banking relationship” between the two men because Tauro conducts his transactions at a different branch.

“From what I understand, (Carreiro’s) wife is a huge (U2) fan. That was the basis of this. But it went to extremes,” she said. “(Tauro) definitely was nervous.”

Tauro claims in an affidavit Carreiro “stocked (sic)” him for three days, called him repeatedly, impersonated a detective “to intimidate me” and threatened to expose his personal banking information.

Korman said Carreiro denies the “outlandish” accusations and said he was actually grateful Tauro, who he knew from childhood, even heard him out regarding his U2 dream.

Vigorito said Tauro was inundated with requests for the invitation-only tickets to the intimate March 11 performance by one of the world’s biggest rock bands when Internet rumors falsely spread he was one of the show’s organizers.

“You would have thought it was the Second Coming,” Vigorito said. “He had no access to tickets, but people believe what they want. Would they do this for the Jonas Brothers?”

Tauro, a married father of teens, attended the concert with a press pass, but as for his own fan fervor, Vigorito said, “Billy’s more of a Frank Sinatra guy.”

Bono at the Costume Institute Gala

Tweet Clikc Me to see the site with info about Bono's appearance....

New Song From Bono

Tweet Found this on the Jewish Daily Forward:

Click here to read it in the Forward.com page, or read below:

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Bono and Broza Play for Peace

By Nathan Burstein

Published May 06, 2009, issue of May 08, 2009.

It’s Bono’s voice and Broza’s strings.

Israeli musician David Broza has joined the elite group of artists that can claim to have backed up U2 frontman Bono, which the Israeli performer does on “Songs Around the World,” a CD released April 28 by the American-based peace organization Playing for Change. Along with musicians from Ghana, India, Ireland and Congo, Bono and Broza perform a cover of Bob Marley’s “War/No More Trouble” on the album, and appear separately in the song’s music video, which is posted on YouTube. Broza filmed his section of the video in Tel Aviv, playing a brief solo on the guitar before scenes featuring his fellow artists. Other contributors lending their talents to the song include violinist Radwin Nizar of Israel’s Arab/Jewish Orchestra and darbuka drum player Ramzi Bishara of Nazareth.

A staple performer at peace concerts in Israel, Broza is best known for his song “Yihyeh Tov” (“It Will Be Good”). A singer as well as a guitarist, he also performed in January at bomb shelters in southern Israel during the country’s 22-day military action in Gaza.

U23D Coming to Sudbery

Tweet From Northern Life. Click here to read the article on its original site, or read below:

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U2 IMAX experience coming to Science North

Date Published | May 6, 2009

Posted by Sudbury Northern Life

On May 24, U2 makes a larger than life performance the big screen at Science North.

Bono and company's brand new performance experience U2 3D features digital 3D imagery of shows from Mexico City, Sao Paulo, Santiago and Buenos Aires.

The setlist consists of U2 classics such as Pride (In the Name of Love), New Years Day, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Where the Streets Have No Name, With Or Without You, One and Vertigo.

For more information about U2 3D, and show times, visit www.sciencenorth.ca/imax or phone 522-3701 ext. 276

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For those of you who haven't seen U23D, and are big U2 fans, you will not be disappointed by it. Though it's been out for a while now, it's an amazing experience that one viewing may not be enough for.

But that's just my opinion....you know I have a little addiction to this band. ;)

Magnificent Day

Tweet

Image by Tiger Pixel via Flickr

U2.com is offering subscribers the full video for Magnificent. Below, is a youtube video showing a behind-the-scenes look at the shoot in Fez, and also the full video.

Get On Your Drums

Tweet Not sure what to make of this....

Coldplay accused of more plagiarism

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Cat Stevens (via last.fm)

Coldplay has often been referred to as U2 Wanna-Be's, or copycats. Many U2 fans will argue on both sides of that. Regardless of the band's intentions, they have been under the spotlight lately. Today, I found an article on People.com about Coldplay's newest controversy. Cat Stevens is accusing them of plagiarism.

Here is the article. You can also click here to read it on People.com.

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By Pete Norman

British rocker Chris Martin is under fire again, this time over claims that his band Coldplay has plagiarized another musician's work.

Yusuf Islam, better known as '70s' rocker Cat Stevens, claims his song "Foreigner Suite" is behind the band's recent hit, "Viva La Vida," reports Britain's Sun.

"There's been this argument about Coldplay stealing this melody from Joe Satriani, but, if you listen to it, it's mine!" says Stevens, 60, who now goes by his Muslim name. "It's the 'Foreigner Suite.' "

This is the third similar claim made against the band. Guitarist Satriani initiated legal action against Coldplay after claiming the group pilfered chords from his 2004 song "If I Could Fly." And last June, the New York act Creaky Boards alleged the song was close to their tune "The Songs I Didn't Write."

No Comment

Contacted by PEOPLE about the various accusations of plagiarism, a rep for Coldplay would only say: "We have not commented previously about the claims, and there will be no comment about this one."

Online, fans of Coldplay and Satriani have battled over the songs. After researching possible similarities, Creative Guitar Studio was forced to delete strongly worded viewer comments from a YouTube video comparison.

Meanwhile, another YouTube user has uploaded a morphed remix juxtaposing Coldplay's song onto Satriani's early work, as well as listing quotes from Martin admitting to borrowing from other artists.

The Sun, too, notes that Martin, 32, has previously made comments on plagiarizing.

"We're definitely good, but I don't think you can say we're that original," he also told Rolling Stone. "I regard us as being incredibly good plagiarists."

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The Edge creates a website for building in Malibu!

Tweet Edge is fighting back with a new website about his project for building in Malibu! Check this site out: Leavesinthewind.com

Here is an article about the site...Click Me

Bono - Clooney: The Full Interview

Tweet From CNN.com

Bono writes about Elvis

Tweet Considering he's working on a new character called "Jessie", named after Elvis's brother, I think this is an interesting find this morning.

Click Me to read the post from The Times Online.

Click this to get info about the show on BBC....

Bono writes about Clooney

Tweet Click Me to see the page on One.org.

Edge vs. Malibu

Tweet One of many internet articles about Edge's desire to build in Malibu. Click Me to read the article.

What Bono Says and What Bono Does

Tweet Very opinionated article about U2 and their moving of business operations to The Netherlands.

Click Here to read it, then click back and let me know your thoughts!

U2 vs. Radiohead

Tweet IGN.com has launched a battle of the bands, and its first battle...U2 vs. Radiohead

Battle of The Bands....check this out and cast your vote for the Greatest Rock Band In The World!


Click Me

U2 (via last.fm)

Image via Wikipedia