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Bono writes that he could charm the birds off the trees. As Bono remembered Mandela in such a way that friends and family often remember love ones that pass on. The deepest respect and love which extends beyond the work his done.
Bono has a deep respect for Mandela’s fight to bring freedom to South Africa's people of color. Bono responded during a time when apartheid spoke loudest in a country that offered no hope or future for African people of color.
In 1985, U2 along with other bands responded to Steve Van Zandt’s call to lend a voice to speak up against apartheid. Sun City was born. Artists in years past performed at the casino earning massive paydays, before the awakening of the people to the issues within South Africa. Most bands stopped performing in South Africa others donated their pay to causes to fight apartheid.
Bono continues to be out spoken on human right issues some might say that a rocker has no place in such matters. Mandela like Bono believes in the human spirit that lives within each of us.
Mandela’s work lives on in each of us. Bono will continue to speak out against those issues that keep the human spirit down. This is not a time of sadness, we shall rejoice that within our life time we have seen that one man can make a difference and maybe that difference can inspire us to achieve that what seems impossible.
Bono / File Photo /
This past Saturday the Sotheby’s (RED) auction held in New York City. Bono and with some help from his friends Jony Ive (Apple) and Marc Newson have reportedly raised close to 13 million and was doubled by none other than Bill Gates. The money will benefit the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in Africa. Bono and The Edge had a jam session performing a cover of Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky with Angelique Kidjo, Nile Rodgers and his band, Chic. We would call it a rehearsal jam session. However during the auction Bono and Chris Martin ( ColdPlay) performed a couple of tunes on the piano that was to be auctioned.
A new song, Ordinary Love, written for the movie Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom, is released on vinyl for Record Store Day on 29 Nov, 2013.
Was released earlier today on the facebook and subscriber site of U2.
The new track comes form the soundtrack of Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom and it's called Ordinary Love. #mandela
Its unique, ringside seat at the rise and rise of U2 in their home city. An exclusive publication, commissioned from the Hot Press team in Ireland, this large-format 274-page book is full of rare and unpublished photos, reviews, interviews and original band pieces from the time.
Over the past six months Hot Press have tracked down many of the original players in the U2 story - schoolfriends, musicians, artists, promoters, DJ's and crew.
Along with their unique archive of original content, North Side Story features dozens of new interviews - from Paul McGuinness and Guggi to Jim Sheridan and Steve Lillywhite - bringing the story of the band right up to date.
The editorial lens is pulled back further with first-time translations of some of the earliest interviews the band gave as they embarked on dates around Europe.
Open up North Side Story and you'll find a beautiful pull-out wall-map, capturing landmark moments in U2's Dublin from the early years to the present day. 'North And South of the River, Wandering In U2's Dublin' has been commissioned from U2's long-time design team.
It's been a remarkable project, says Niall Stokes, Hot Press Editor, whose writers, designers and photographers' have produced the book.
'Watching Feedback play in 1976, no-one could have dreamed of what lay ahead. We've ended up with a roller coaster, blow-by-blow account of the band's earliest days, telling the story of the genesis of U2 in a unique, powerful and, I hope, fantastically captivating and revealing way.
'It's about where Adam, Bono, Edge and Larry came from and the remarkable bond that bound them together, even in the face of adversity. I think fans of the band are going to love it.'
Along with this special annual gift, subscribers access a range of other benefits including exclusive music, editorial content and as usual, access to take part in ticket presales if the band announce a tour.
North Side Story is a limited edition publication by Hot Press for U2.com.
U2 has a new album in the works teaming up with producer Danger Mouse (Brian Burton) U2 has not produced a new project since 2009; No Line On The Horizon (which debuted at No. 1 in 30 countries, including the United States).
Bono does not seem to concerned about the arrival date only saying that the new record could take 10 years, as long as the band got it right.
As fans continue to wait with comments and postings on U2TOURFANS facebook page it seems that we fans might not have to wait that long. The boys have been recording at New York City’s Electric Lady Studios, and it’s finally near completion.
A report coming out that the band is hoping to officially announce the project via a Super Bowl commercial. Secretly shopping for a brand partner to help fund the venture; however no confirmed title for the album, of course we have heard Songs of Ascent and 10 Reasons to Exist have been rumored to be possible choices.
Meantime back at Principle Management talks continue, as Live Nation gets closer to swallowing up the company for a cool 15 million dollars. While the deal is still in negotiation, McGuinness nonetheless released a statement to the Times which put his spin on things:
“It could be seen as slightly poor etiquette for a manager to consider retiring before his artist has split, quit or died, but U2 have never subscribed to the rock and roll code of conduct. As I approach the musically relevant age of 64 I have resolved to take a less hands-on role as the band embark on the next cycle of their extraordinary career."
“I am delighted that Live Nation, who with Arthur Fogel have been our long term touring partners, have joined us in creating this powerful new force in artist management. I have long regarded Guy Oseary as the best manager of his generation and there is no one else I would have considered to take over the day-to-day running of our business.”
However, for fans it is a bit strange to think that the band would be making such moves without issues a statement. The marketing machine must have been shut down for the holidays or some other event. Fans all tend to agree that U2 would have normally issued some kind of release about their long time manager and as some would say the fifth member of the band. Stepping down after 35 years seems to warrant comment. We also find it a bit disturbing that Bono and the boys seem to already be working with Guy Oseary as reported by Billboard. This is the sort of thing that makes you wonder how long has Guy been in the driver seat?
As for Live Nation, what are they really getting with this purchase? Shareholder value; they have a 12 year contract that was put in place around 2008. Now Live Nation will keep the commissions, booking fees and get a bigger part of the touring revenue. Today’s music really starts to make sense when you look at where the dollars come from. It is all about the tour! Downloads, Record sales are just too small today for any label to make the right investments into bands. However, if a band tours and tours big like U2 has done in the past you can expect millions in profits.
As for the fans, well we will have to wait and see what is in store for us. Right now on Facebook fans seem to all think higher ticket prices are on the way in 2014.
The Edge/ Paul/ Bono
Paul McGuinness long time manager of U2 will begin to take a less “hands on” role as Live Nation continues to negotiations to buy Principal Management as well as Madonna’s management company Maverick.
McGuinness would become the chairmen of Principal. Live Nation is expected to pay 22 Million Euros for both firms. Paul has managed U2 from the start of the career. Even joked at times as the 5th member of U2. Paul did make a statement that said “"It could be seen as slightly poor etiquette for a manager to consider retiring before his artist has split, quit or died, but U2 have never subscribed to the rock 'n' roll code of conduct.
"As I approach the musically relevant age of 64 I have resolved to take a less hands-on role as the band embark on the next cycle of their extraordinary career."
Mr McGuinness added: "I have long regarded Guy Oseary as the best manager of his generation, and there is no one else I would have considered to take over the day-to-day running of our business."
Ordinary Love, the song U2 wrote for the new Nelson Mandela biopic, will be released as a 10-inch single for Record Store Day on Nov. 29. It will be backed by a second new song, Breathe.
The band announced the limited-edition release on its website Wednesday.
According to the group's website, the band wrote Ordinary Love at the request of Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom producer Harvey Weinstein. Part of the song is featured in a recently released trailer for the film. Breathe, the single's B-side, also has a Mandela connection, according to the site.
Artwork for the Ordinary Love record sleeve was designed by Irish artist and illustrator Oliver Jeffers, who also has directed a lyric video for Ordinary Love that will be posted in November.
U2 has been in the studio recently working on an album the band hopes to release in 2014.