This Day in History: April 16

April 16, 1985: Adam saves the day (and fans) at concert

Near-disaster as U2 plays the Centrum in Worcester, Massachusetts. During the show, Adam notices that a lighting rig has begun to slip from its location above the audience. He whispers this into Bono's ear and the band stop playing. Bono asks the crowd to move away from underneath the rig while crew climb up to fix it. Twenty minutes later, all is fixed and the show goes on.

April 16, 1997: U2 begins PopMart rehearsals in Las Vegas

U2 begins rehearsing at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas for its upcoming PopMart World Tour, which will begin 9 days later. During 8 days of rehearsals, U2 reportedly writes three new songs.

'From the Mississippi Delta to New Orleans, the Central Gulf has been the spawning ground of contemporary music from Blues to Jazz to Rock'n'Roll...But the music was silenced by the storms as whole lives were destroyed and people uprooted, leaving behind everything...'Thousands of musicians have lost their instruments in New Orleans - Music Rising is attempting to put those instruments back in their hands.' - The Edge
 

Music Rising, the non-profit organization launched by The Edge and Gibson Guitar to provide funds to replace instruments destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, has launched its own website. The new site includes commentary by Edge, the two public service announcements filmed in New Orleans (in Quicktime), a link to donate and a spot for a blog and bulletin board. Under the donate tab, you can also buy the limited edition Music Rising Gibson Guitar (currently on sale for $3334 U.S.) or the Music Rising t-shirt. The group has already received donations and pledges of over $2,000,000.

Check out the Music Rising site HERE. 

Products Turn Red To Augment AIDS Fund

By Steve Stecklow April 13, 2006

When United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan called in 2001 for a new global fund to fight the AIDS pandemic, he described it as a public-private partnership with both governments and corporations pitching in.

It hasn't worked out that way. Since 2001, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, an independent Swiss-based, nonprofit foundation that is supporting disease prevention and treatment programs in 131 countries, has raised more than $4.8 billion from governments, including $1.5 billion from the U.S. Other money has come from nonprofit sources, including $150 million from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. But less than $2 million has come from corporations, and none of that has come from American companies, according to the fund's financial records. By contrast, companies in the U.S. gave $425 million in cash to Southeast Asia tsunami relief, according to the Business Civic Leadership Center in Washington.

This isn't to say that U.S. companies ignore AIDS. Some have given to AIDS relief efforts outside the global fund -- more than $69 million in 2003, the latest year tracked by Funders Concerned About AIDS.

At the global AIDS fund, Executive Director Richard Feachem says the fund "is not an easy sell" to companies' philanthropic programs because it looks for large sums of money over a long period of time -- unlike emergency-relief efforts. The fund also doesn't allow private donors to direct how the money is spent, which doesn't jibe with a lot of corporate-giving programs, fund officials say. The fund's generally low profile is another problem.

Help may be at hand in the form of Project Red, an effort conceived by U2 rock star Bono and the Kennedy clan's Bobby Shriver, who have worked together on African poverty issues. Announced in January, the project is centered on enlisting companies to create special "red" products, a portion of whose profits -- about 40% to 50% -- is given to the global AIDS fund for its work in Africa. "We're trying to make it really easy for people to help," Bono says, referring to consumers.

The first Project Red products were introduced in Britain last month. So far, four companies have signed on, led by American Express Co., which is offering a red-colored credit card that says on the back, "This card is designed to help eliminate AIDS in Africa." At least 1% of the cardholder's spending goes to the fund. The other participants are Gap Inc., which launched a line of T-shirts; Nike Inc., which is selling a special Converse sneaker; and Giorgio Armani SpA, which is marketing sunglasses popularized by Bono. Actress Scarlett Johansson contributed a photo shoot to publicize the initiative.

Bono says the project sprang from a conversation he had with Robert Rubin about the general lack of AIDS awareness in which the former U.S. treasury secretary said, "You need to market this like Nike." Bono says, "It sowed the seeds in my mind about how to go about this."

The project was launched in Britain with the knowledge that consumers there have a history of buying "ethical" products like Fair Trade coffee, which promises to pay peasant growers more than the market rate. Only Armani, which says it plans to sell a whole line of red products, has expanded the project to the U.S. and other countries, although a Gap spokesman says an expanded line of red products will be available in North America this fall.

Officials at American Express, Gap and Armani say it is too soon to judge the project's success, but by some indications, there is a long way to go, at least in the U.K.

Stephan Shakespeare, chief executive of YouGov, a British market-research company, says, "When we look at the impact of Project Red on these so-called superbrands ... the scores are as flat as a pancake and the British public hasn't reacted in the manner that these companies, at least in private, would have hoped for." He suggests a recent spate of other ethical-issue affinity products in the U.K. may have resulted in "consumer apathy towards Project Red, which even Bono can't overcome."

Although publicity for the fund was widespread at its launch, Dr. Feachem says it has since waned. "Most people have never heard of us," he says. Joelle Tanguy, managing director of the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS in New York, says AIDS "will never have the power of the images of the tsunami."

Stephen Lewis, Mr. Annan's special U.N. envoy for AIDS in Africa, says, "The companies are going to benefit a hell of a lot more from Bono's name than the global fund is going to benefit from the companies." Replies Bono, "We don't know that yet. If we fail, that's true."

Mr. Lewis suggests that companies give 0.7% of their after-tax profits to the fund. But Ms. Tanguy of the HIV/AIDS business coalition says, "It's not going to happen," in part because shareholders likely wouldn't agree.

Meanwhile, Bono, Mr. Shriver and fund officials remain optimistic about their approach. Mr. Shriver says it will take 18 months to judge the effectiveness of Project Red, and he notes that the four companies signed five-year contracts. He says it took nearly two years to enlist participants; some companies suggested sponsoring a musical recording involving Bono.

Apple Computer Inc. and Time Warner Inc.'s AOL unit declined to participate, at least at first, according to people familiar with the situation. Spokespeople at Apple and AOL declined to discuss the matter. Project Red officials are hoping soon to announce a major cellular-phone service deal.

Mr. Shriver says all of the companies they approached were "a bit stunned" when they first heard the pitch: "We want you to make money." Although he suspects some companies worried about being accused of AIDS "profiteering," he says he believes it's the best solution to get companies to contribute over the long term. "No private-sector company whose job is to make profits is going to on a sustainable basis give away money," he says.

The fund's Dr. Feachem, who eventually wants to raise about $300 million annually from the private sector, makes no financial projections about Project Red, but says, "The potential ... is very large." And Bono is hopeful the companies' marketing skills will generate more awareness about "the AIDS emergency" in Africa, which is the continent's leading cause of death. "These people are great about getting people's attention," he says.

EBAY U2 PHOTO AUCTION TO BENEFIT AFRICAN WELL FUND

Source: African Well Fund, April 12, 2006

The African Well Fund is excited to announce a benefit photo auction entitled PHOTOS4 // BBW4. Beginning April 17th, U2 fans will have the opportunity to bid on U2 concert photos donated by some very talented U2 fan photographers. The auction runs through April 24th and all proceeds will be donated to the 4th Annual Build a Well for Bono's Birthday fundraising drive.

The participating photographers are well known in the U2 fan community for their outstanding work. Ten photographers have donated over 90 photos for the auction. The prints available include concert shots from ZooTV through Vertigo. The prints range in size from 4 x 6 to 20 x 30. Beginning 9:00 a.m. EST on April 17th all photos available for bid may be viewed on African Well Fund's MissionFish auction page. Visit our website for the direct link. The auction ends on Monday April 24th at 9:00 a.m. EST.

All the participating photographers donated the prints for the auction, enabling 100% of the winning auction bids to go directly to the Bono Birthday Well Fundraising drive. This year marks the 4th time that African Well Fund has asked the U2 fan community to donate in honor of Bono's Birthday. Donations from the previous 3 fundraisers totaled more than $50,000 and were used to fund water projects in Uganda, Ethiopia and Angola. This year the funds raised will be used for a project in Zimbabwe. Donations may be made by visiting our website HERE. 

The African Well Fund is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization that was founded in 2002 by a group of U2 fans. Since that time, AWF has raised more than $145,000, which has been used to fund more than 40 clean water projects in sub-Saharan Africa. All donations to the African Well Fund go directly to Africare, one of the leading private, non-profit, charitable organizations assisting Africa. The African Well Fund was founded to focus on one achievable goal: providing access to clean water to everyone in Africa. The African Well Fund believes that access to water is not merely a basic human need but a basic human right.

Ali Hewson in Vanity Fair

Source: @U2, April 12, 2006

Vanity Fair magazine is launching a "Green Issue," designed to focus on reporting on the pressing environmental issues of the day (and most assuredly the celebrities that are vocal about them). The inaugural issue hit newstands this week, and includes a spread of environmental activists, including a photo and the following description of Ali Hewson: "Ali Hewson, the driving force behind Edun Apparel (which she started last year with her husband, Bono, and New York designer Rogan Gregory), for bridging the worlds of fashion, environmentalism, and human rights by using organic products, paying workers a fair wage, and making sure workers are treated humanely." Pick it up on newsstands today.

Marriage is for U2, Adam - says Susi

Source: Irish Independent, April 10, 2006

It's official. Adam Clayton has found what he's looking for. The U2 bassist has just got engaged to long-term girlfriend Susi Smith.

The dapper musician and the Canadian beauty announced their engagement to friends at a private party recently. My Deep Throat at the soiree told me that everyone was sworn to secrecy on pain of immediate exile. Well, there you go...

Adam and Susi looked more in love than usual when I saw them in January at the launch of a new fragrance by the Missoni fashion label in the Italian ambassador's stately residence in Grosvenor Square, London. I now know why.

The Oxfordshire-born Clayton has been of course the most colourful member of the world's biggest band for years. I love the entertaining but entirely apocryphal story about how at the time of his arrest for possession of marijuana, the guards found him sitting serenely stoned in the boot of his car up in the mountains. Though rock 'n' roll fairytale, it does show that Clayton is widely regarded as the epitome of cool. Cooler still, Adam was engaged to supermodel Naomi Campbell in 1993.

Naturally, Adam is older and wiser and sober-er (he hasn't touched a drink since he missed a U2 show in Australia on November 26, 1993 -- a consequence of his break-up with Naomi, some say.) Indeed Susi and Adam are the ultimate zen couple. They were on holiday in Malaysia when the tragic tsunami hit the countries off the coast of the Indian Ocean.

© Irish Independent, 2006.

With or Without U2

Source: The Honolulu Advertiser, Derek Paiva, Entertainment Writer

April 08, 2006

No, U2 isn't playing Aloha Stadium tonight. Still no word on a rescheduled date for the show, either.

How to endure this Godot-like limbo? Well, between the band's 14 albums, 42 singles, and long list of compilations, it's easy to inject some Bono into your night.

If you're fan enough, you could drop $149 on iTunes' The Complete U2 to collect all that U2's left behind. But that's a pricey option.

Here's another: five U2 CDs you need to own (for starters) and one to avoid, in the name of love and all of the band's old mullets.

 War (1983) U2's third album is its first great one. Raging against the strife in its Northern Ireland backyard, the band arrived at 10 songs that comprise a "best of" album on their own. U2 wouldn't rock as viscerally, confrontationally or completely for another eight years.

Bono to speak at Michigan club's dinner

Source: AP, April 5, 2006

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) Bono, the lead singer of U2, has agreed to speak at the annual dinner of The Economic Club of Grand Rapids, the organization's executive director said.

Lorna Schultz confirmed Wednesday that the Irish rock band's frontman had accepted the club's invitation to the dinner, which will be held May 4 at the DeVos Place convention center.

"We're thrilled that he's accepted our invitation and we look forward to him on May 4," she said. The dinner will be open only to club members and their guests.

Schultz said her organization was still working with Bono's representatives on a topic for his speech.

Bono is among 191 nominees, including politicians and peacemakers, for the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize. The singer was proposed for his fight against world poverty.

Past speakers for the annual dinner include F.W. DeKlerk, former president of South Africa, and John Major, former prime minister of Great Britain.

Rock Star Bono Says Berlusconi 'Exploited' Him in Election Ad

Bloomberg, April 02, 2006

Rock star Bono wrote an open letter to Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi saying he felt "exploited" by his inclusion in an electoral booklet boasting of Italy's aid to poorer countries.

The leader of the band U2, an active campaigner for the cancellation of debt in the world's poorest countries, featured in a book entitled The True Italian story: Behind the scenes of the Berlusconi government, published by Berlusconi's Forza Italia party and distributed to about 10 million households ahead of April 9-10 national elections.

"Mr. Berlusconi, regardless of how flattered I may feel to be included in your brochure, I also feel a bit exploited," Bono wrote in a letter published today on the front-page of Corriere della Sera, Italy's biggest-selling newspaper. "Tragically, in the past years under this government, Italy has become the last among the 22 richest nations in terms of spending toward aid to the Third World."

On page 79 of the 160-page booklet, under the heading "Rock and Politics," there is a picture of Bono on the telephone sporting a cowboy hat accompanied by a caption saying: "The singer is grateful to the premier for the government's actions to promote the poorest countries."

This isn't the first time Bono has expressed skepticism about Berlusconi's commitment to debt cancellation. In a December question-and-answer session with students at a U.S. university, Bono quipped how he had "some difficulty meeting with Berlusconi." Putting on a playful Italian accent, he added, "They don't like me."

© Bloomberg, 2006.

I'm a Beckett Fan, Says Rocker Bono

Source: Press Association, March 29, 2006

U2 frontman Bono has revealed he is a fan of Samuel Beckett, as he kicked off a series of events marking the centenary of the Irish playwright's birth.

At the international launch of the Beckett Centenary Festival in Dublin Castle, Bono said he had read many of the renowned writer's plays.

"I've read most of his works, I'm a fan. I don't know what he's on about half the time but I have enjoyed not knowing," he laughed.

"He blew my mind, that is all I can say. He shrank language, minimalist, all that stuff. It is great that he's Irish."

Bono, who was wearing his trademark shades, revealed that he gave the playwright a copy of U2's album The Unforgettable Fire in 1985.

But he joked that the writer might never have found time to listen to it.

"I gave it to him, I'm not sure he ever listened to it, but that is my connection. I am very proud he had a copy of The Unforgettable Fire," he said.

The singer said the works of the playwright were not as important to people as they should be.

"He was always kept apart as something aloof, something you didn't understand, something you had to take too, too, too seriously," he said. "And in fact Beckett was having a laugh a lot of the time."

Events held as part of the festival will include the staging of Beckett's plays, poetry and prose readings, film screenings, television and radio productions, a touring exhibit in public libraries and visual arts exhibitions.

© Press Association, 2006.