U2 are reportedly facing losses of up to £100 million ($148 million) as a result of the cancellation of their world tour this year, brought about by Bono undergoing emergency back surgery.
U2’s mammoth 2010 world tour was put on hold, and a headlining slot at Glastonbury was cancelled, after Bono was admitted to hospital last month. The effects on their bank balance look set to be severe.
The band’s manager Paul McGuinness told The Sun, “If we play or not, touring still costs us £500,000 ($741,000) a day.”
A band insider is also quoted as saying, “Bono and the band are covered by insurance but the costs of overheads and missed revenue could easily reach £100 million by the time he’s fit enough to tour again.”
News of U2’s tour deficit comes days after it emerged that bass player Adam Clayton is to sue the band’s financial controller for alleged negligence.
Meanwhile, the band are set to announce their rearranged tour dates this week. The Edge has previously stated that live dates would resume in August.
Faith Follows Fans, Bono Follows the World
Right now news from around the tour maybe a bit slow, nothing really new to report. Great time to catch up on other stories,become fan, follow the litle bird and await for the return. We have been reading some interesting books about U2, Bono and Faith it seems that everyone wants to place a label on the band and yet know one really has an idea of where to place it.
To call them a Christian band may cause a shift in the world reglion. Yet many churchs will tell you allowing U2 music to play within the church has returned some people to God.
The title track from the band’s latest album, No Line on the Horizon — an album as steeped in spirituality as any since U2’s earliest years — seems to speak to that. There’s the image itself, the absence of a line, a final destination. A character in the song also says two things worth noting: “Infinity is a great place to start,” and “Time is irrelevant, it’s not linear.”
Razim sees it as similar to the parting of the Red Sea. “To me, it’s about God making a way when there seems to be no way.”
It’s a vast vision of the cosmos and the beyond that doesn’t exactly jive with the idea of heaven as a victorious endgame.
So it is that Bono told Christianity Today, “I generally think religion gets in the way of God.”
Or in 2002, the Edge told Hot Press, “I still have a spiritual life, but I’m not really a fan of religion per se.”
Christianity Today referred to Bono’s tour of American churches on behalf of African aid as “an arm’s-length experience of churches (that) leaves Bono with a paper-thin ecclesiology that measures the church’s mission [or its “relevance”] almost exclusively in geopolitical terms.”
But Garrett sees progress in Bono’s nonmusical works. “I think we’re seeing more people believe in that sense of the church needing to be more responsive to the needs of the world and less fixated in individual salvation. Especially among younger Christians. I think they were on the front end of that.”
The band’s music has found its way into American churches in the form of U2charists, which have been taking place over the past five or six years.
Razim has overseen two of them at Palmer, New Year’s Eve 2008 and Juneteenth 2009, both of which filled the church to capacity. A third is planned for the coming New Year’s Eve. U2 music is sung and money is raised for the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals, a stipulation by the band in exchange for allowing its music to be sung without royalties.
She says the U2charist is “true to who we are” and in keeping with the church’s outreach.
And despite a somewhat strained relationship between U2 and any particular organized religion, Razim, like Garrett, sees kinship in the band’s spirituality. “It’s about searching and seeking,” she says. “The first time I heard a U2 song I detected it. It’s a journey, with faith developing and asking hard questions.
“I think their music is affirming and empowering, and it’s a true expression of who we are in this place and time.”
U2’S SPIRITUAL PLAYLIST
Sometimes U2’s songs are fairly obvious in their religious reference points. 40 is just a modified version of Psalm 40. Then there’s Mysterious Ways, which could just as easily be about a woman as it could about some other spirit. Some songs are questioning (most of Pop),others reverent (much of Boy). Here are just a few of the band’s spiritual songs that represent just some of the breadth of U2’s spiritual journey. As to which spirit they’re summoning, that’s in the ear of the behearer.
• Twilight (from Boy, 1980)
• I Will Follow (from Boy, 1980)
• Gloria (from October, 1981)
• Rejoice (from October, 1981)
• The Unforgettable Fire (from The Unforgettable Fire, 1984)
• I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For (from The Joshua Tree, 1987)
• Bullet the Blue Sky (from The Joshua Tree, 1987)
• Mysterious Ways (from Achtung Baby, 1991)
• The Wanderer (from Zooropa, 1992)
• Wake Up Dead Man (from Pop, 1997)
• Grace (from All That You Can’t Leave Behind, 2000)
• Elevation (from All That You Can’t Leave Behind, 2000)
• Peace on Earth (from All That You Can’t Leave Behind, 2000)
• Love and Peace or Else(fromHow to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, 2004)
• Sometimes You Can’t Make It on Your Own (fromHow to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb • , 2004)
Bloody Sunday killings unjustified !
Reporting from London —Nearly 40 years after British soldiers shocked the world by shooting to death 14 protesters in Northern Ireland, an official investigation concluded Tuesday that the demonstrators posed no threat and that the killings were completely unjustified.
The massacre on the streets of Londonderry on Jan. 30, 1972, was seared in the British and Irish consciousness as Bloody Sunday and marked one of the most important turning points in the conflict in the British province of Northern Ireland. The incident radicalized Roman Catholic republican activists and ratcheted up the level of sectarian violence in “the Troubles,” which ultimately claimed more than 3,000 lives.
Tuesday’s long-awaited report overturned a government inquiry conducted immediately after the shootings, which acknowledged that the security forces’ actions might have “bordered on the reckless” but alleged that the victims had been armed with guns and homemade bombs.
Sunday Bloody Sunday” is the opening track from U2’s 1983 album, War. The song was released as the album’s third single on 11 March 1983 in Germany and The Netherlands.”Sunday Bloody Sunday” is noted for its militaristic drumbeat, harsh guitar, and melodic harmonies. One of U2’s most overtly political songs, its lyrics describe the horror felt by an observer of The Troubles in Northern Ireland, mainly focusing on the Bloody Sunday incident in Derry where British troops shot and killed civil rights marchers. Along with “New Year’s Day”, the song helped U2 reach a wider listening audience. It was generally well-received by critics on the album’s release.
The priest, Edward Daly, who is now retired, told the BBC in Londonderry on Tuesday that the new report has given him “a sense of enormous relief that this burden has been lifted from my shoulders and off the shoulders of the people of this city. It’s wonderful when the truth emerges.”
Get On Your Boots for the US vs. England
U2 has licensed their song “Get on Your Boots” for the World Cup Games. The FIFA World Cup 2010 England vs. the US ties 1/1. In the Pre-Match ads they showed a commercial featuring U2 and the Soweto Gospel Choir performing a mash-up for the World Cup Games.
“Get On Your Boots” is from U2’s 2009 “No Line on the Horizon” album and we love how it’s been re-purposed here. Not only is it a recognizable pop tune but it’s been redone with some craft. The boots now represent the shoes of the athletes.It takes a song that at times seems politically charged and makes it an anthem for the games. It may take away the punch of the song but we like this new light hearted version. We miss the “Sexy Boots” line which has been taken out. This is a much more subdued version, not lacking in the same energy just transforming it into a cheer for the games.The new ad instills some pride
Adam Clayton sues band's accountant
Adam Clayton is suing the band’s accountant Gaby Smyth for alleged negligence.
Smyth controls all of U2 group companies and is thought to have been behind the decision to move U2’s publishing operation to Holland in order to avoid Irish taxes. Given the band’s anti-poverty stance, this decision was highly controversial.
Clayton is bringing the negligence claim against Smyth and two accountants in Gaby Smyth & Co., Jill Percival and Pat Cleary. The Bank of Ireland Private Finance is a fourth defendant in the case.
The claim concerns investments made on Clayton’s behalf and professional advice offered by Smyth’s company. The details of the claim are not yet known. Clayton has until July 4 to issue formal summons.
This is the second High Court action from Clayton in the past six months. In January, the court froze the assets of Carol Hawkins, Clayton’s former housekeeper, after claims that she defrauded him of up to $2.18 million.
Clayton had two accountants review his financial arrangement and personal accounts in preparation for the case against his housekeeper, but it is not clear if his claim against Smyth stems from this review.
Clayton’s move adds to the band’s already mounting troubles as Bono suffered a back injury that brought thier 360 tour to a halt.
U2 360° at the Rose Bowl Giveaway
Live concert film of the U2360° At The Rose Bowl in 2009, U2’s biggest ever US show, with a live audience in excess of 97,000. Shot entirely in HD, the concert was filmed with 27 cameras and directed by Tom Krueger who previously worked on U23D, the first live action 3D concert movie taken from U2’s Vertigo Tour.
The U2TOURFANS giveaway -
Release Date: June 22nd, 2010
To enter:
- Find the U2 360° DVD logo on one of the U2TOURFANS pages, Clue we have at least three of them ( not in the ads. It looks like the photo above)
- Find the four little tour city stop name on one of the U2TOURFANS pages. Example “TAMPA” The city will be in quotes and bold.
- Name one track from the U2 album, No Line on the Horizon
- Log on to the Facebook Fan Page become a fan find the email address for your entry
Prizes courtesy of U2TOURFANS
To purchase your own copy of U2 360 Live at the Rose Bowl, visit AMAZON.
Featuring the live concert (tracklisting below) plus:
- 32 page hardback book
- Limited edition 2-disc DVD of U2360° At The Rose Bowl plus 2 hours of bonus material;
- 1 blue-ray of U2360° At The Rose Bowl plus 2 hours of bonus material
- 1 vinyl 7inch
- 3 U2360° guitar picks
- Tour Programme
- Limited edition numbered drawing of final stage design
- 5 art prints in an embossed wallet
- Squaring The Circle: Creating U2360 Documentary
- U2360° Tour Clips
- Bonus Track ‘Breathe’ (Live At The Rose Bowl)
- Berlin Timelapse Video
Videos:
- Get On Your Boots
- Magnificent
- I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight (Animated)
- I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight (Live At Barcelona)
- The Making Of ‘Get On Your Boots’ Video
- The Making Of ‘Magnificent’ Video
Tracklisting:
1. Get On Your Boots
2. Magnificent
3. Mysterious Ways
4. Beautiful Day
5. I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
6. Stuck In A Moment You Can’tGet Out Of
7. No Line On The Horizon
8. Elevation
9. In A Little While
10. Unknown Caller
11. Until the End of the World
12. The Unforgettable Fire
13. City of Blinding Lights
14. Vertigo
15. I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight
16. Sunday Bloody Sunday
17. MLK
18. Walk On
19. One
20. Where The Streets Have No Name
21. Ultra Violet (Light My Way)
22. With Or Without You
23. Moment Of Surrender
Nathanial We Have Your Back !
Editor Comment: Not sure when the first time I got an invite to support this Facebook page however this story was amazing. We did not cover the story. This story was written by David Guarino on his blog over at technorati.com. This 8 year kid created a postive message to show Bono that we all care.
Now notice his age 8 years old. Thats great to see that fans come from all age groups.
Nathanial, we are going to ask our followers to show some love to you and support your hard work ! Good Job - U2TOURFANS has your back too.
Facebook Page Link - Followers lets reward the positive work he has done by following - Let him know that we sent you over to him !
Orginal Story by David Gurino
Not many people pray for rock stars – especially admitted rock star megalomaniacs who strut as comfortably before 100,000 screaming fans as they do in front needy Africans, supermodels, presidents and the Pope.
By now you know I mean to say, not many people pray for Bono.
But the 50-year-old lead singer of U2 has hit a bit of a rough patch and an 8-year-old boy in Western Canada has his back.
When Nathanial Crossley of Alberta learned Bono had badly injured his back, required emergency surgery and postponement of the band’s planned summer North American tour, he did what any right-minded, red-blooded, child of the digital age would do: He created a Facebook group.
Nathanial’s aptly-named group, “Bono: I Got Your Back,” had humble beginnings, with family and friends joining to support the 8-year-old. But word got to the U2 world, it hit some U2 fan blogs, got a “thank you” on U2.com and then took off.
As of today, there are 1,244 fans throughout North America, from Portugal to Croatia, up through Scandinavia and down to Chile. The site has landed Nathanial on a local rock radio station and allegedly became part of a motivation and emotion lecture by a psychology professor at Chapman University in California.
Nathanial, and his parents, Blake and Candice Crossley, said in interviews that they can’t believe the people drawn to the simple call to action.
“It’s awesome to see how global this has become,” said Blake, a 35-year-old network administrator at Keyano College, who has been a U2 fan for more than 20 years and who proudly notes Nathanial didn’t “see” U2 until last year but heard them when his 3-months pregnant Mom caught a 2001 show.
Nathanial said he was disappointed when he learned the singer had been hurt, saying he was “sad that (Bono) hurt his back while he was rehearsing. I hoped that he was ok and would get better but he was hurt pretty bad.”
Nathanial, told that the tour had been cancelled over breakfast one morning, said he wanted to do something. He wrote Bono a ‘get well’ card, including his own school picture to the pop star,
ut also wanted to show Bono he had support out there. Blake remembered saying, “Oh, like you have his back.” One conversation led to another, and they decided on the Facebook page.“It’s pretty amazing what can happen over a bowl of Cheerios,” Blake Crossley said.
Asked why he did it, Nathanial says simply, “So Bono would feel better and see that someone is supporting him. I also wanted other people to support him.”
Nathanial’s Dad embraces the metaphysics of whether prayers – even the Facebook kind – can help a rock star on the mend, and, of course, quotes a U2 song.
“I think the spirit of people transmitting positive energy and vibes to someone we all love and care about makes a person feel loved,” Blake Crossley said. “I’d ask Bono a simple question and take it from the album ‘Pop,’ ‘Do You Feel Loved?’ You should because you got an army of supporters behind you.”
As Nathanial would say, if you need it, Bono, they got your back.
Bono and Lance Chillin in France
A few weeks after undergoing emergency surgery, which put the North American leg of the U2 tour on hold, Bono is recovering in his luxury villa in the French Riviera – with a little help from friends.
After meeting pals for lunch in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat earlier this week (he drove himself), he has also spent time with Lance Armstrong, who is in the country for a bike race.
“Lunch with an old friend,” Lance tweeted on Thursday, posting a photo of himself with the Irish rocker in front of a very scenic backdrop.
Bono, looking quite tired, is holding a wine glass and has his arm around Lance’s pregnant girlfriend, Anna Hansen, while Lance holds their son, Max.
The rock star, who was released from a Munich hospital on May 25, has to spend at least eight weeks doing physical rehabilitation, which put the kibosh on the North American leg of U2’s 360° world tour. The dates will be rescheduled for 2011.
In 2009, U2’s tour grossed just shy of $110 million, making it the year’s most profitable show. hoto by