News: January 2007 Archives

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January 30, 2007

"U2-charist": Bono moves in mysterious ways

LONDON (Reuters) - For Anglicans who still haven't found what they're looking for, the Church of England is staging its first "U2-charist" communion service -- replacing hymns with hit songs by the Irish supergroup.

"Rock music can be a vehicle of immense spirituality," said Bishop of Grantham Timothy Ellis, announcing plans for the unique service in the central English town of Lincoln in May.

A live band is to play U2 classics like "Beautiful Day" and "Mysterious Ways" with special singalong lyrics displayed on a giant screen. Seating for the 500-strong congregation is to be re-arranged so everyone can dance and wave their hands.

The service is to focus on the Millennium development goals -- U2's lead singer Bono is a leading promoter of the targets to alleviate world poverty.

Posted by Brenda at 11:24 AM | Comments (0)

January 29, 2007

Bono makes the scene at Sundance

The U2 frontman expresses his support for a new Joe Strummer documentary.

By Chris Lee, Times Staff Writer

Park City, Utah - WEARING his signature blue-tinted wraparounds and dressed in black leather against northern Utah's paralyzing chill, Bono made a surprise appearance at the Sundance Film Festival last week, expressly to support British director Julien Temple's new rock 'n' roll documentary, "Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten."

In conversation directly after a screening, the U2 frontman lavished praise on Strummer, the charismatic, deeply humanistic yet personally conflicted singer-songwriter for the Clash. The Irish rock humanitarian credited Strummer, who died in 2002, with awakening his rock 'n' roll ambitions when he saw the Clash play in Dublin at age 17.

"They can't play, but they play better than anybody you ever heard," Bono said. "At the same time, there's this shambolic genius going on. There's just ideas being whispered into your head, mad ideas: that music can mean something, that it can be a reason to get out of bed in the morning.

"So can rock 'n' roll change the world? It certainly changed my world."

Moreover, Bono took the opportunity to point out the commonality of the do-it-yourself ethos in punk and indie moviemaking that was on display in Sundance.

"Here we are at Sundance," Bono said, "people are complaining, 'This is an independent festival. It's been taken over by market forces, etc. etc.' It's the same with punk rock! I personally find that interesting."

He added: "I will say, right smack in the middle of a contradiction isn't always a bad place to be."

Posted by Jonathan at 12:10 AM | Comments (0)

January 23, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Bono to Receive NAACP Chairman's Award

Joint Press Release from Fox and the Lippin Group

Musician and activist Bono will receive the NAACP Chairmans Award which will be presented to him during the March 2, 2007 live broadcast of the 38th NAACP Image Awards on FOX (8p.m. ET/PT), it was announced today by Vicangelo Bulluck, executive producer of the telecast.

The Chairmans Award, chosen by NAACP Board Chairman Julian Bond, is bestowed in recognition of special achievement and distinguished public service.

Bono has been an inspiration to many people around the world through his music and humanitarian efforts, said Bond. We are delighted to honor him with this award in recognition of the difference he has made and to acknowledge his ongoing campaigning to actively engage Americans from all walks of life in the fight against extreme poverty and the global AIDS pandemic.

The Chairmans Award is one of three special NAACP Image Awards that will be presented this year, stated NAACP Image Awards Chairman Clayola Brown. The other previously announced honors include the Hall of Fame Award to be presented to Bill Cosby and the Presidents Award being given to Soledad OBrien. I think our honorees this year are diverse and inspiring. It should make for a very exciting and culturally informative show.

Posted by Brenda at 02:20 PM | Comments (0)

January 20, 2007

"That young Paul, he was a menace.".

My Mis-Adventures in Dublin, Ireland

by Brenda Clemons, U2 Station Staff Writer

Starting this week on the U2 Station, I will be writing about my (mostly) humorous but true accounts of my two trips to Dublin, Ireland. Of course, all the stories will have a U2 twist to them. I hope you all enjoy my (mis)adventures.

Every U2 fan is required to go to Dublin, Ireland at least once in their lifetime. It's like a sacred vow we all take. Muslims go to Mecca. U2 fans go to Dublin. My first trip to Ireland was during the making of the Pop album. (Of course, at the time I don't think anyone knew it was going to be called Pop.)

My husband and I had just separated. Of course I was angry and a whole bunch of other emotions. Getting even was definitely on my mind. It was part of the separation papers that our house was to be sold with the money being shared equally between the two of us. I knew what I was going to do with my half. There was the question of what to do with the diamond ring that I no longer wore. Sentimentality told me to keep it and give it to our son when he became an adult. Then I realized the truth of the situation -- he would probably give it to his first love interest; who would, in turn, probably throw it out a car window during their first real fight. Well, I'll not have a perfectly good diamond go to waste like that. So, I took it to the local pawn shop and got enough money for a down payment on a trip to Ireland. Since, I was mad at my ex; I knew that nothing would make him angrier than my "blowing" my half of the money on something like a vacation.

And blow the whole amount I did. I planned my trip through a top rated travel agent. I brought one of the most expensive packages they had -- eight nights and seven days at a 4 star hotel. (No, it wasn't the Clarence.) My package included just about everything you could want -- theater tickets, tickets to Dublin Castle, tickets to see the book of Kells, a one day bus trip to kiss the Blarney Stone; and a week of unlimited rides on DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transit system). I really didn't do any of these things; I didn't catch the theater, I didn't kiss the blarney stone. I spent most of my days sleeping and my nights intoxicated (hey, I had a lot of steam to blow off).

If you haven't been to Ireland and are maybe planning a trip -- one thing you should know is that there is absolutely NOTHING to do there on Sundays. Yes, my plane landed down on a Sunday morning. My taxi went past the power plant that is at the beginning of the "Pride" video. Only a true U2 fan would get excited about seeing a dirty power plant first thing after getting off a 6 hour plane flight. Upon arriving at my hotel; I fell asleep for 5 hours.

Since there was nothing to do on a Sunday, I decided to talk to some of the "locals'. One of the first people I met was the woman who worked in the hotel gift shop. A white haired woman, heavy set and obviously Catholic (judging by the way she liked to talk about the Saints -- St. Malachi being her favorite). Her claim to fame is that she has lived her entire adult life on the street where Bono grew up. "I remember Bob and Iris, and those two boys they had. Yes, I remember Paul when he was just a wee tot being pushed around in his trolley". Okay, I'm having a hard time dealing with anyone with the nerve to call Bono by his birth name. I'm having an even harder time imagining him as a "wee tot being pushed around in his trolley". The white haired woman continued, "It must have been true love. They had it tough those two. Bob being Catholic and his Iris being Protestant. I would see them every Sunday, Bob going one way to church and his misses and the two young tots going the other street to her church. And that young Paul, he was a menace. The whole street would hear Bob yellin, his misses cryin', and that Paul runnin' round causing trouble an' laughin' all the same time. 'Tis was a tragedy when me's Iris died. Things never were the same round there after that. I never did see Bob with another woman......."

She had somehow switched topics and was now going on about St. Malachi and the sinfulness of Ireland. I really didn't pay attention to what she was saying. Her story about the young Paul "running round causing trouble" gave me the hope I needed to carry on in my quest. I decided that the thing to do was to go out and find Windmill Lane studios -- right then and there. Again, if you have never been to Dublin, it's a very bad idea to go roaming around the docks at night -- which is exactly where Windmill Lane is located. The docks in 1990's Dublin would be the equivalent of, well -- the ghetto. And no one with half a brain would go stomping through the ghetto of a strange city at night. Unless, of course, you are a U2 fan going to Mecca.

I never saw any of the members of U2 outside of Windmill Lane. I did see some really great, beautiful artwork created by fans. And I met some great U2 fans. The only day that I really did go sight seeing was when I went to see the Book of Kells with a group of U2 fans from Spain. And I met Bridget from East Berlin. It was with Bridget that I would have my most fun (mis)adventures.

But first, I had to discover Dockers.

Next installment of my mis-adventures in Dublin: U2 Buy Me a Pint in Dockers Pub.

Posted by Brenda at 11:32 PM | Comments (0)

January 16, 2007

Developer joins U2 stars in EU150m Clarence project

Frank McDonald, Irish Times

Dublin's Clarence Hotel, owned by U2's Bono and the Edge, in partnership with property developer Paddy McKillen, is to be redeveloped at a cost of EU150 million as "one of the most spectacular city hotels in Europe".

The scheme, designed by international architects Foster and Partners, is to be submitted shortly to Dublin City Council. It would incorporate the former Dollard printing works and four Georgian buildings on Wellington Quay.

Only the quayside facades of the existing hotel and adjoining buildings - all of which are protected structures - would be retained, although the oak panelling from the Clarence's Octagon Bar is to be salvaged for re-use.

The rear elevations of the hotel and adjoining buildings on East Essex Street would be demolished in their entirety and replaced by a undulating glazed facade, with shops and cafes at street level and bedrooms above.

The existing hotel, which has only 34 bedrooms, has lost up to EU12 million since its refurbishment 10 years' ago. Bono (Paul Hewson) and the Edge (David Evans) were advised to sell, but decided to bring Mr McKillen on board.

They set up the Clarence Partnership, which is split 50-50 between the two U2 band members on the one hand and Mr McKillen on the other. His largest project in Dublin to date has been the Jervis Centre on Mary Street.

A hotel for the past 140 years, the new Clarence will have 114 bedrooms and 28 suites, if planning permission is granted for the project. It will also have a 1,360sq m (14,640sq ft) spa - the first on this scale in central Dublin.

Andy Bow, a senior partner in Norman Foster's practice, said the new hotel would be organised around a "skycatcher" atrium - shaped like an elongated hourglass - rising from a 25-metre swimming pool in the basement to the roof.

An elliptical canopy with a reflective surface - a "white hovering halo", as Mr Bow described it - would cover the structure, uniting its different elements, and this would be topped by a fully-glazed "skyroom" with panoramic views.

The development will incorporate a number of sustainability strategies, including natural light and ventilation, to ensure that it will function as an energy-efficient and environmentally sensitive mixed-use hotel, spa and conference facility.

Mr Bow said the city council's planners were "hugely supportive" of the scheme, while conservationists were also positive. "There's a sense that people think it would be great to have a 21st century hotel like this in Dublin."

Norman Foster described it as "an ambitious project - architecturally and structurally [ that] presents an exciting opportunity to regenerate Temple Bar's river frontage, while also creating a bold new addition to Dublin's skyline."

Posted by Brenda at 11:59 AM | Comments (0)

January 10, 2007

VOTE FOR U2 STATION

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Posted by Brenda at 12:40 PM | Comments (0)

January 09, 2007

Bono Seen Around Tourn

According to the Boston Herald, Bono and family were spotted all around Boston and it's suburbs over the weekend. The first spotting was in a museum. The second spotting was outside Boston in Plymouth, Mass. Is one of his children writing a school report on the Witch Trials? If Bono wants to visit historic places I suggest he come down to Richmond, Virginia. He can visit the spot where the famous "Give me liberty or give me death" speech was given. Of course, it's now a parking lot. But there's a really nice plaque and mural on a brick wall.........................

Posted by Brenda at 12:30 PM | Comments (0)

January 08, 2007

Sir Bono, Cool or Not Cool?

As we shake off the final hangover of 2006 and kick off 2007 anew we are left with the resounding debate which was the center of most New Year's Eve conversations in Dublin bars... Should Bono accept a Knighthood from the Queen of England?

On Tony Blair's recent recommendation, Bono is set to follow in Bob Geldof's footsteps and become an honorary knight of the British empire. But as a citizen of Ireland and not Britain he will be deprived of the title "Sir Bono" (more accurately, Sir Paul Hewson), although that won't stop the media to referring to him thusly...

But as the U2 frontman gets on in years and his wealth, fame and political influence grow so far beyond what any of us could ever imagine - perhaps he's losing touch with the common man, U2 fans and even the Irish people?

Maybe years of hobnobbing with Tony Blair, George Bush, The Pope, Bill Gates and their like have given the Northside Dubliner a taste for titles, honours and awards? He has stated that such things are in recognition of his charity work and help breakdown barriers but we can't help feeling that vanity and an overactive ego are at work here... Surely charity is a selfless act?

We read in a paper yesterday that Bono said the British knighthood was no different in principal from the Legion D'Honneur he received from the French. We beg to differ. The relationship between the Irish people and the British Monarchy can hardy be compared with our relationship with the French, a totally different ballpark

We're not going to get into a debate here about Anglo-Irish relations but the fact still remains that the Irish struggled for emancipation from British rule for over 900 years and the scourge of bloodthirsty tyrants such as Oliver Cromwell who saw the indigenous Irish as no better than the beast in the field. Is it right that perhaps the greatest living Irishman should now bow down in front of the Queen and be knighted?

We caught up with Bono and The Edge over Christmas as they celebrated the end of their World tour with a well deserved knees-up in Lillies Bordello's VVIP bar Jersey Lils. We dare not ask Bono about his soon to be bestowed sword on shoulder ceremony as the timing just didn't seem right...

But irregardless of whether it is morally, politically, personally or otherwise right or wrong for a former Punk Rocker to accept this title we at ShowBiz Ireland feel it's just not cool! After a quick straw-pole most people we asked seemed to be of the opinion that knighthoods are wrinkly rockers well past their best and certainly not our Bono... Another talented Irish / Englishman Morrissey recently said that he would never be offered a knighthood because of his song 'The Queen is Dead' and we're somehow reminded of the Groucho Marx quip: "I don't want to belong to any club that would have me as a member!"

Happy New Year 2007 to Bono, The Edge & even The Queen.

ShowBiz Ireland is an equal opportunities Web Site Begorrah!!!

Posted by Brenda at 11:46 AM | Comments (0)

January 06, 2007

U2 May Change Musical Direction on Next Album

NEW YORK (Billboard) - With its monster-selling Vertigo world tour complete, U2 may be ready to rock less, according to frontman Bono

"Our band has certainly reached the end of where we've been at for the last couple of albums," the newly dubbed honorary knight said during a BBC Radio interview earlier this week. "I want to see what else we can do with it, take it to the next level; I think that's what we've got to do."

Asked if that might mean a move away from rock 'n' roll, Bono replied, "We're gonna continue to be a band, but maybe the rock will have to go; maybe the rock has to get a lot harder. But whatever it is, it's not gonna stay where it is."

He said he's like U2 to explore compositions featuring just voice and acoustic guitar. "I would like to do a couple of tunes in that direction, with just a lot of space around the voice," he said. "I'd like to strip things down; that's something I'd be very interested in at the moment."

U2 is expected to get busy in the studio after the New Year, with an eye on releasing a new album before the end of 2007. Bono said casual fans were the target for the recently released compilation "U218 Singles," which includes two new songs.

"We've never been much of a singles band," he said. "But we did it because we have a very young audience coming through, and we wanted to, you know, just be very available for people who want to check us out, you know? We wanted to have something they could check us out very easy on."

Posted by Brenda at 10:25 PM | Comments (0)

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