ESPN’s 2010 FIFA World Cup Music Presentation: U2 and the Soweto Gospel Choir receive a Sports Emmy Award.
The award was in the Outstanding Music Composition / Direction / Lyrics category at the Annual Sports Emmy Awards presented for the 32nd year by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in New York on Monday night.
ESPN’s unprecedented commitment of resources to an event, for the month-long FIFA World Cup 2010 South Africa, was rewarded with three Sports Emmy Awards, including recognition of the outstanding Soweto Gospel Choir and U2 collaboration. “We are proud to be associated with ESPN and U2 for their magnificent 2010 FIFA World Cup television campaign,” says Beverly Bryer, the Choir’s Executive Producer/Director.
Since Soweto Gospel Choir’s introduction to the world eight years ago, this amazing choir has amassed a growing local and international fan-base and received many local and international awards. “It’s really exciting to add an Emmy to the Choir’s three SAMA Awards, two Grammy Awards, three associated Grammy Awards and an Oscar nomination,” adds Beverly Bryer.
Wherever Soweto Gospel Choir has performed, be it at home in South Africa or Europe, Asia, Australia, the UK and the USA, the Choir has dazzled audiences and received critical acclaim. Created in late 2002, the Choir has achieved an almost unbelievable array of accomplishments: the first South African group to perform at the Academy Awards; two #1 Billboard World Music Chart albums, collaborations with Peter Gabriel, Robert Palmer, Josh Groban, Celine Dion, Akon and U2. The choir is dedicated to sharing the joy of faith through music with audiences around the world. Long may they fly the South African flag.
Bono Demands
Pixies could be set to work on new material after their current ‘Doolittle’ tour comes to an end.
The ongoing Pixies re-union has been the source of some dis-quiet amongst fans. Sure, it’s nice to watch albums such as ‘Doolittle’ being brought to life, but new material would be a welcome surprise.
An infamous interview with The Quietus last year saw Black Francis appear to rule out new material. However since then various band members have hinted at the possibility of heading back into the studio.
Speaking to Spinner, Pixies guitarist Joey Santiago and drummer David Lovering refused to discount the possibility of new material.
“In the back of our minds I think we’re afraid that it might cause friction. Right? Don’t you think? It might, and that ‘might’ is gonna be an ‘Uh oh, what the f—- are we doing now?’” Santiago said.
It’s been almost two decades since Pixies released new material, with their final recordings not featuring bass player Kim Deal. Continuing, Lovering explained that any new tracks would have to fit in with their legacy.
“The thing is, we want to protect the legacy. If we do something, it better be good” the drummer explained. “And as we go along - it’s been seven years now - it gets more difficult to make that decision.”
“That talk about making a record will be in the forefront next because it’ll be time, you know. It’ll be time” he explained. “We’ve definitely gelled as a unit and hopefully when we can all bury the hatchet - and we have - maybe we’ll go in there and hope for the best.”
Bizarrely, it seems that U2 singer Bono is amongst those calling for new material by the group. “He’s like, ‘Please make a record!’ Goddamn, we can’t leave that unturned. That would frustrate me. It would.”
Release Posted by Robin Murray
Is This The End ?
Is this the last big tour for the boys? The question always comes up at the end of a tour. This time fans seem to believe that we may have seen the last of U2. Bono has been telling fans “Don’t forget us” as if they may have already. What has concerned fans most was the comment during last months shows in Brazil where he said.
‘Tonight is our last night in South America and we wanted to remember this,’ said Bono after Until The End of the World. ‘So we’re going out live on radio and online across the whole of your mesmerising continent as an excuse so we can have the record of this show. This show will last for ever.’
To a capacity crowd on the third and final night in Sao Paulo and to fans around the world listening it the comment did not go unnoticed rather most fans just listened as their band played and praying that they will see greatness again.
Sao Paulo was special for so many reasons. Steve Lillywhite came in from NY to hear the tracks he produced and claimed it sounds just as good as it did 30 years ago.
U2 will go down as the greatness band in history not because we believe it, because the facts are clear, they have produced, provided and continue to create music that moves people beyond the space and time that they live in.
Sao Paulo was special, so special that many believe greatness is hard to repeat however Mexico fans await their arrival to push the boys beyond greatness and make their shows the best. North America is right around the corner and the time has come for those fans to finally see Bono and the rest of the band.
Tickets for all shows are still available can be found online
U2's Edge wins housing battle
Remember that little story about Edge’s interest in building a house, well it looks to be all over now. The fight has ended and The Edge has won approval to move ahead -
U2 rocker The Edge has won a major victory in his fight to build five mansions on a plot of land in Malibu, California - a local agency has agreed to drop opposition to the plans.
The Irish musician has been battling since 2006 to win approval for a development project which will see him turn the 156-acre Sweetwater Mesa estate into a community of homes. Local residents have opposed the plans because of the environmental impact the development will allegedly have.
Officials at the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy board previously spoke out against the bid, but have now agreed to drop their opposition after reaching a deal with The Edge which will see him and his business partners help the agency conserve land around the site.
A spokesman for The Edge and his partners tells the Los Angeles Times, “The property owners are proud of what they’ve accomplished with the conservancy, and they look forward to continuing to work with the Malibu community and other stakeholders.”
While a statement from the agency reads, “The conservancy entered into this agreement in order to maximise the benefit for the public if the project is approved.”
'Glastonbury on steroids'
U2 have promised they will play an epic, stadium-like performance at this year’s Glastonbury festival.
Bassist Adam Clayton told Q that the band’s headline performance on the Pyramid Stage on the Friday (June 24) of the Somerset bash will have grand production values.
Clayton said: “It’s very un-Glastonbury to have a big production but we will be sneaking a few things in through the back gate which will hopefully make this experience a little more like Glastonbury on steroids.”
He added: “We’re stretching the level of what can be done. We hope to create a mind blowing experience that reacts well with all the other substances involved.”
North American Premiere of Killing Bono
North American Premiere of Killing Bono has been announced! Killing Bono is in the official selection for the Seattle International Film Festival and will be making it’s North American Premiere on Thursday 2nd of June 2011! With over 400 films spanning three weeks, SIFF is one of the largest and longest running US film festivals featuring a diverse assortment of predominantly independent and foreign films from around the world.
Killing Bono – review
The real-life story of rivalry over teenage bands – one of which turns out to be U2 – makes for an entertaining, fun movie, writes Peter BradshawBased on a true story and written for the screen by Dick Clement and Ian Le Frenais, Killing Bono is a good-natured, boisterous comedy with a Likely Lads feel. Ben Barnes plays Neil McCormick, a rock-mad Dublin teenager who grows up with Paul Hewson, later to be the legendary Bono. Both are in sixth-form bands, but when Hewson tries to get Neil’s talented guitarist brother Ivan (Robert Sheehan) to be in his group, Neil secretly scuppers this plan. Cruel fate takes its course. Hewson’s band become the world-famous U2, but Neil’s group remain failures and losers; Neil is convulsed with envy for his old school friend and guilt at stopping Ivan from getting his ticket to global fame. Martin McCann gives an interesting and sympathetic performance as Bono; Peter Serafinowicz has a funny cameo as a hard-faced promoter and Pete Postlethwaite gives a final, gentle performance as gay landlord Karl.
U2 Tribute Bands We Want U
U2 received worldwide attention in 1987 with their Joshua Tree album. As the boys head back to America this summer we have begun our search for the best U2 tribute band. So far we have heard about lots of meet up events and pre-show parties and after parties as the details come in we are going to be posting the offical pre and post party details as we get them in.
We thought we should expand the search for the best U2 tribute band in the USA.
U2 tribute bands can submit the following to us and we will be creating a voting booth. Submit your entry no later than May 10th 2011
Submissions to include
- Youtube Video
- Facebook Page
- Twitter Link
- Short write up on band -
- Contact Information -( include your booking information)
- Email u2tributebands@u2tourfans.com -
Experience U2 360 as a VIP!
Enter for the chance to win a VIP package for you and a friend to see U2 live on the 360 tour! Package includes access to an exclusive, pre-show dinner reception and (RED) Zone tickets right next to the stage! Don’t miss the chance to attend the most successful tour of all time - enter today.