What If Bono Died?

I have asked myself this question before but I've never really written about it. I thought this deserved a look.

With the recent death of Whitney Houston I was struck by what amounts to a truly insane reaction. People who never met her or got to see her perform weeping like their own mother died. You can flame me for this but it annoys me. A lot.

So I started asking myself, as a U2 fan, how would I react if Bono died?

Would I cry? Would I run out and find a vigil to attend? Would I start my own vigil? Would I have to travel to the funeral? Would I have to visit the grave? Would I start an online wailing wall?

No, no, no, NO, NO, NOOOOO.

I'm sorry to those of you who would. I just think it is the most ridiculous thing to weep for a celebrity who you don't know. I am and would be thankful for the music and the outreach work he's done.

The main problem with the fans I call the nutters is that they think they know the man. That the music, the interviews, even the brief conversation if they happen to meet makes them somehow 'close'. It's a fallacy. they have no idea how he is behind closed doors. They know nothing of his temper or temperament. And shit, yeah, maybe he is the super awesome dude you think he is. Or maybe he's just a guy with a voice and knack for writing. Still doesn't mean you really know him.

Be sad the voice is silenced. Be thankful for the words that may have touched you or helped you through a tough time. But don't weep like he's in your inner circle. Surprise! He isn't.

But this all leads to another thought that often comes when considering the death of a celebrity. Does Bono fall into the same category as Elvis, John Lennon, Michael Jackson?

And that is what I call a tough question. The fan in me might automatically think 'sure'!. But the objective observer in me questions that rationale.

Yes, he's part of a band that sold way over 100 million records. They've recently had the biggest tour of all time. He's penned some of the greatest songs of all time.

Unfortunately for me, that makes U2 one of the greatest bands ever. Bono has no solo work to speak of. Lennon may have been a Beatle but his arguably greatest work came after. Elvis and MJ did it on their own.

So my final answer is no, Bono does not rank with those legends. Close, but not quite. Frankly I don't think Kurt Cobain does either. He left before we got the full picture.

Bono, The Edge and Elvis Costello

Bono and The Edge tapped an edition of the Elvis Costello TV show “Spectacle” Elvis and his band begin the show by performing three U2 songs -

• Please
• Dirty Day
• Mysterious Ways

Elivs did interview the boys with a couple of performance breaks to mix it up a bit. Bono and Edge performed

• Stay

Bono sings ‘Two Shots’ with Elvis’ rhythm section. Then the whole ensemble - Bono and Edge plus Elvis and his band - do the final three numbers together.

Tapping was done at Masonic Temple which is owned by MTV

Short Set list

• Stay (Faraway, So Close)
• Two Shots of Happy One Shot of Sad
• Alison
• Stuck In A Moment
• Pump It Up
• Get On Your Boots

News Credit: ATU2,U2TOURS, U2GIGS, Hollywood Reporter, U2TOURFANS,

Bono and the King

A POEM Bono wrote about Elvis in 1995, which he read aloud during an interview two years ago, is going to be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 this week. "So what?" you might say, on the grounds that we've often heard slightly nonsensical garbage coming from his mouth in the past, why not a poem which was described by its initial audience of one as being "effective, but bonkers"?

Elvis: American David is the title of the U2 front man's ode to The King, and aside from its iambic pentameter which, to use a term from classical literary theory, is off the hook, the poem makes several claims that not only rhyme but are also enlightening, even to the most ardent Elvis fan. "Elvis grew sideburns as a protest against Tom Jones' hairy chest," Bono states at one point in the poem, which is all written in lowercase, prompting some suggestion that it may have been composed on a mobile phone.
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