News: April 2001 Archives

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April 30, 2001

Bono On Oprah?

4.30.01 - dotmusic

Bono is set to appear on the Oprah Winfrey show with Nelson Mandela, as he continues his crusade to wipe-out Third World debt.

The U2 frontman has upped the ante in his mission to cut debts owed by the world's poorest nations, as the Irish rock superstars continue their American tour.

Speaking during a press conference in California, Bono said he felt the Jubilee 2000 campaign had so far been a failure.

Despite playing a key role in the axing of debts from 22 out of 41 targeted countries, he insists there is plenty more work to do: "We're going to get to the heartland in some way on this," he explained.

"There is a scandal in that one of the widest movements for any issue like this since the anti-Apartheid movement feels let down they feel after all their campaigning they haven't achieved the results they're looking for."

During the conference, Bono said he had a "feeling" that new US President George W. Bush would be supportive of the campaign.

Posted by Jonathan at 03:32 AM | Comments (0)

April 19, 2001

U2 Pays Tribute To Joey Ramone

4.19.01 - Launch

(4/19/01, 3 p.m. ET) -- U2 frontman Bono may have been the last artist to speak to Joey Ramone, as the singer called him at New York Presbyterian Hospital on Good Friday (April 13). Two days later when Ramone passed away, U2's "In A Little While" was playing. As the song ended, so did his life.

Bono was very moved by Ramone, and he said in a statement, "In Dublin in 1977 when I saw Joey singing I knew nothing else mattered to him. Pretty soon nothing else mattered to me. The Ramones stopped the music world long enough for U2 and the other garage bands to get on. They invented something...the idea that your limitations were what made you...your street, your neighborhood, the clothes on your back, your record collection was the size of your universe."

Upon hearing that Ramone died, Bono sung a rendition of "Amazing Grace" in honor of the Ramones frontman in Portland, Oregon on Sunday (April 15). In San Diego on April 17, he dedicated the song "In A Little While" to Ramone, and prefaced it with his remembrances of the singer. Later in the show he dedicated the Ramones song "I Remember You" to the late singer (U2 also performed the song earlier in the year at New York City's Irving Plaza). In San Diego, Bono also dedicated "Walk On" to Ramone.

-- Darren Davis, New York

Posted by Jonathan at 03:34 AM | Comments (0)

April 09, 2001

U2 Join Forces With Lara Croft

4.9.01 - dotmusic

U2 have just made a state-of-the-art video for their single 'Elevation', which combines an evil depiction of the band with an appearance from actress Angelina Jolie.

Pop director Joseph Kahn is behind the promo, which was largely shot in Los Angeles at the weekend, and has made others for the likes of Britney Spears and the Backstreet Boys.

The track will feature on the forthcoming 'Tomb Raider' movie soundtrack in which Jolie plays a real-life version of the computer game heroine Lara Croft.

During the video the good version of the Irish band enlist Lara's help to rescue The Edge from the clutches of their wicked look-alikes.

After the guitarist returns safe and sound, the rival U2's set about competing against each other in a virtual street jam.

The promo's director explained: "The U2 as you know them want to save the world, but the evil U2 want to destroy the world."

Kahn came up with the treatment for the video himself but has spent a lot of time on the road with the group members to get their input.

Although most of it has already been made, Jolie is set to shoot her scenes separately in Seattle at some point this week.

Posted by Jonathan at 03:35 AM | Comments (0)

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