Bono Page 3

A Russian politician has accused U2 and Apple of distributing “gay propaganda” to minors and has called for the country’s attorney general to investigate them.

Alexander Starovoitov, a deputy representing the right-wing LDPR party in the Russian Duma (parliament), believes that Apple is guilty of spamming youths with illegal content when it gave away U2’s recent album Songs of Innocence for free back in September 2014 to all of iTunes’ 500 million worldwide users.

In a report by The Guardian, Starovoitov believes that the album’s artwork, which features the group’s drummer Larry Mullen Jr embracing his son Elvis while shirtless, promotes sexual relations between men.

Continue reading: Russian Politician Accuses U2 Of Spreading "Gay Propaganda"

Bono and Ashton Kutcher have become special advisors to a new growth fund that has been started by private equity heavyweight David Bonderman and his investment group TPG Growth.

In a move reported by the New York Post, the U2 frontman has invested in TPG Growth’s new fund having been involved in a number of ventures alongside the firm in the past. For instance, he is believed to have invested $3 million of his own money in Ride, a TPG Growth-owned carpooling business, sources said to the Post.

Ashton Kutcher

Continue reading: Bono And Ashton Kutcher To Advise Private Tech Investment Fund

Chart-topping British rock stars Royal Blood have revealed that they were asked to appear on last year’s Band Aid 30 record for charity, but that they turned the opportunity down when they were told that they couldn’t sing Bono’s line.

The duo were being interviewed by The Telegraph when drummer Ben Thatcher said that the highlight of their meteoric rise was having a lengthy conversation with Bono at the MTV Music Awards. The ceremony took place on November 9th, in the run-up to the recording of the single when the cast was being assembled, and the conversation turned in the direction of Bob Geldof's famous charity song.

Royal Blood in action: Mike Kerr (l) and Ben Thatcher (r)

Continue reading: Royal Blood Turned Down Chance To Perform On 'Band Aid 30' Record

Bono has finally broken his silence after sustaining several severe injuries whilst cycling in New York's Central Park, which required five hours of surgery and caused the band cancel their weeklong residency on Jimmy Fallon's 'Tonight Show.'

Bono suffered several severe injuries when crashing his Bike in Central Park in November

"Recovery has been more difficult than I thought," he wrote in a New Year's note on U2's website. "As I write this, it is not clear that I will ever play guitar again."

Continue reading: Bono May Never Be Able To Play Guitar Again After Bike Crash

Bono has revealed that his bike accident from last year may have lasting effects on his guitar playing ability, as he admits his disappointment in his frequently flippant New Year update on U2's website.

Bono reveals guitar playing worries

In what he insisted was a 'freak accident', Bono was left badly injured following a bicycle ride in November 2014 where he fractured his shoulder, elbow and hand among various other parts of his arm. In a post subtitled 'I for Irish Pride' on the band's website, he revealed the extent of his injuries, which included having a titanium elbow fitted.

Continue reading: Bono Frets Over Future Guitar Playing Ability

Last month U2 frontman Bono sustained several severe injuries whilst cycling in New York's Central Park, which required five hours of surgery and caused the band cancel their weeklong residency on Jimmy Fallon's 'Tonight Show.' So how is the Irish singer doing several weeks later?

Bono broke several bones in his arm and face as a result of the crash

Bono's bandmate The Edge recently spoke with Los Angeles radio station KROQ to provide fans with an update on his condition, saying that "he's doing OK," but compared the injured star's current physical state to the results of a "car crash."

Continue reading: U2's Edge Gives Update On Bono's Condition After Bike Crash: "He Basically Can't Move For The Next Couple Of Months"

We now know that U2 frontman Bono’s cycling accident was much more serious than first reported, after Rolling Stone published a list of the singer's painful sounding injuries. The 54 year old was involved in a "high energy bicycle accident in New York's Central Park on Sunday, after he attempted to avoid another rider, according to the magazine.

Bono in London a day before the accident

In a statement from New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center to Rolling Stone, it is said that Bono was taken to the hospital’s emergency department before undergoing, ”multiple X-rays and CAT scans" followed by five hours of surgery. 

Continue reading: Three Metal Plates, 18 Screws And Five Hours Of Surgery: Turns Out Bono’s Bike Spill Was More Serious Than We Thought

U2 frontman Bono has reportedly injured his arm riding his bicycle around Central Park in New York and is set to undergo surgery for the problem. So says U2’s official website. In a message to their fans, the band (or their PR person, anyway) wrote: "We're sure he'll make a full recovery soon, so we'll be back!"

Bono will have be off playing for a while. 

This puts a spoke in the wheel of their upcoming week-long residency on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. The gigs have been postponed indefinitely.

Continue reading: Bono's Injury Puts The Breaks On U2's "Tonight Show" Residency

Adele allegedly "ignored" Bob Geldof's calls about taking part in the Band Aid 30 charity single.

Adele is not taking part in Band Aid 30.

Read More: One Direction, Bono, Ed Sheeran: See Stars Arrive For Band Aid 30 Recording [Pictures].

Continue reading: Adele Allegedly "Ignored" Bob Geldof's Band Aid 30 Call But Makes Charitable Donation Instead

The Band Aid 30 recording of ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas’ took place in London today, with stars such as One Direction, Ed Sheeran, Bono, Adele and Chris Martin all lining up to take the mic for a new version of the charity Christmas classic. The single will be available for download from Monday, with proceeds going to help fight Ebola in West Africa.

Harry turned up bright and early ahead of his One Direction bandmates

Fans waited outside the recording studio in Notting Hill all morning to catch a glimpse of their favourite artists, with One Direction’s Harry Styles among the first to arrive.

Continue reading: One Direction, Ed Sheeran, Bono: See The Stars Arrive For Band Aid 30 Recording [Pictures]

U2 frontman Bono was involved in a very scary situation at 8,000 feet on Wednesday (Nov 12th) after the back door of his private jet fell off while he was flying with four friends from Dublin to Germany, a journey that takes around 2 hours.

The rear door fell off Bono's private jet while flying to Berlin

According to Daily Mail, Bono was aboard the Learjet 60, about an hour into the flight, when he and the other passengers heard a "big thud" coming from the rear of the plane. Fortunately the pilots landed safely at Berlin's Schoenefeld Airport minutes later.

Continue reading: Door Falls Off Bono's Plane During Mid-Flight

Rock star Bono survived a brush with aircraft danger after his private plane lost its tailgate as it was coming in to land in the German capital airport. The Irish U2 frontman, 54, was travelling with four friends from Dublin to Berlin when the incident happened.

He was making his way to Berlin in his £50 million Learjet 60 to accept an award at the Bambi International Music Awards in the city.

Bono's private jet lost its tailgate on the way to Berlin but he was unhurt

Continue reading: Bono's Private Jet Loses Its Tailgate Mid-Flight

Three weeks ago Bono apologised for the free iTunes giveaway of U2’s album. But now, he’s rescinded on that apology – backtracked on the backtrack, if you will – saying that the rollout of Songs of Innocence is “one of the proudest things for us ever”.

Bono now says that the free Songs of Innocence release made him very proud

In an interview with Billboard, he explained the reason behind the decision: "We always wanted our music to be heard, and the idea that we could have worked for years and years [on] what we think are the most personal songs that we have ever written - and you have to become very raw to write like that - only then for them maybe not to be heard was terrifying.”

Continue reading: Bono Retracts Apology Over 'Songs Of Innocence' Giveaway

In the midst of Metallica being booked to perform for five straight nights on the last week of 'The Late Late Show With Craig Fuerguson,' it seems another late night talk show has caught the music bug as Jimmy Fallon's 'Tonight Show' has acquired U2 to perform with his house band, The Roots, for a full week.

U2 will begin their weeklong residency on the chat show on Monday 17th November

On Monday night's (Nov 3rd) episode of the 'Tonight Show,' Fallon told viewers that "U2 are coming back Monday, November 17, for an entire week." It is worth noting that the Irish rock band and Metallica will be performing on the exact same days for the entire week, luckily Fallon and Ferguson are aired on different time slots.

Continue reading: U2 Set For Weeklong Residency On Jimmy Fallon's 'Tonight Show'

U2 are one of the world's biggest bands for a reason, they manage to stay relevant and change with the times as each decade passes, but one thing that has managed to stay the same for thelast twenty years is frontman Bono's signature sunglasses.

Bono reveals the reason behind his signature sunglasses

Bono has been known to wear tinted shades, mainly coloured red, throughout the majority of his storied career, and when the band recently appeared on The Graham Norton Show, he decided to reveal the real reason behind the eyewear.

Continue reading: Bono Reveals Reason Behind Tinted Signature Sunglasses: "I've Had Glaucoma For The Last 20 Years"

Bono explained why he wears sunglasses seemingly all the time whilst appearing on a British talk show.

Bono spotted in London on Thursday (16th Oct.).

Read More: Bono Apologies Over Unwanted Downloads Of U2's New Album.

Continue reading: Bono Reveals Why He Always Wears Sunglasses: "I Have Glaucoma"

U2 frontman Bono has issued an apology to iTunes users over the release of their recent album Songs of Innocence. Users of the software had a free copy of the new album automatically downloaded to their accounts as part of a marketing stunt in September that tied in with the release of Apple’s new iPhone.

U2's latest album Songs of Innocence was given away free but the marketing stunt backfired

The apology was prompted by a criticism from a Facebook user during a question and answer session. “Oops, I’m sorry about that,” said Bono. “I had this beautiful idea and we kind of got carried away with ourselves. Artists are prone to that kind of thing. Drop of megalomania, touch of generosity, dash of self-promotion and deep fear that these songs that we poured our life into over the last few years mightn’t be heard.”

Continue reading: Bono Apologises Over Unwanted Downloads Of U2's New Album

You might have felt angry last month when Bono gave you his new album without asking if you'd wanted it first. But imagine how Neil Young felt when the U2 frontman offered him some unsolicited songwriting advice?

Neil Young was given songwriting advice by Bono

During an appearance on the Howard Stern Show yesterday (October 14th) the legendary singer recalled the time that Bono gave him advice about how to write a hit song.

Continue reading: Neil Young Recalls The Time Bono Tried To Give Him Song Writing ‘Advice’.

Despite the backlash over their ‘free’ album Songs of Innocence, U2 frontman Bono has confirmed the band plans to embark on a world tour next year.

Generous music makers U2

Speaking to Absolute Radio the 54 year old singer said, “It’s exciting. We’ll be coming your way and these songs are the songs that, I think, will play themselves.” Adding, “only if the songs are great can you bear leaving home. We all have families and mates, so you’re looking for eleven good reasons to leave home and I think we’ve got them.”

Continue reading: Bono Announces U2 Tour Plans For Next Year And Defends ‘Songs Of Innocence’ ITunes Launch

Liam Neeson has revealed that he and Irish musician Bono have been working on a movie idea for six years. The actor and U2 singer who have been friends for many year are developing a story inspired by the Irish show-band phenomenon of the Seventies. 

Liam Neeson in 'A Walk Among Tombstones'

"We chat, or with him [Bono] a lot of the time I just listen," Neeson told the Independent ahead of the release of his new movie A Walk Among Tombstones, "He's a wonderful man. He's got an idea for a script which we've been working on for the past six years."

Continue reading: Liam Neeson And Bono Have Been Working On Movie For Six Years

It was announced today that Irish superband U2’s latest studio album, Songs of Innocence, will be released through Island Records on October 13. However, for U2.com subscribers that simply cannot wait that long, and for Apple iTunes Music Store customers that may or may not be able to wait that long, the album is available today (Wednesday, September 10). For free.

Irish rock band, U2, have completed their newest album since 2009

Featuring 11 new tracks from the rock quartet, Songs of Innocence has been given to subscribers of the band’s website and has been gifted to over half a billion Apple iTunes customers worldwide - free to download if users wish.

Continue reading: U2 Unleashes Its New Album For Free. For Some.

Ok, so the stamp of approval in the headline comes from Bono himself, though take nothing away from U2 and their deal to release Songs of Innocence - their first album in 5 years - in-line with the announcement of the iPhone 6. This album is classic U2.

Bono, of U2

The band performed at Apple's event in California on Tuesday (September 9, 2014), where CEO Tim Cook announced the new iPhone and Apple watch. It was also revealed that U2's new album would be offered for free to the 500 million users of Apple's iTunes service.

Continue reading: U2's 'iPhone' Album 'Songs Of Innocence' Is "Kind Of Mindblowing"

U2 gained maximum visibility at last Sunday's Super Bowl where the rockers debuted new single 'Invisible' to raise money for the charitable Red campaign in association with Bank of America. The track, which appeared on a commercial played during the football game, was launched to encourage viewers to support the charity.

U2 Are Back After A Triumphant Ad Slot At Sunday's Super Bowl.

For 24 hours after the ad aired, fans could download 'Invisible' for free via iTunes with Bank of America pledging to donate $1 (60p) to the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria each time the song is downloaded. During that time window, the bank also agreed to donate up to $2m (£1.2m) even though Fox Sports allegedly charged advertisers around $4m (£2.4) for each 30-second commercial.

Continue reading: U2 Defy "Irrelevance" With 'Invisible' Exposure At Super Bowl

U2 are gearing up to debut new song 'Invisible' at next weekend's Super Bowl, which will lead into the Irish rock band's 13th studio album. The track will appear on a commercial played during the sports match airing in conjunction with the Bank of America and Bono's charitable Red campaign.

U2 Are Preparing To Debut 'Invisible' At Next Weekend's Super Bowl.

After the commercial has aired, fans will have 24 hours to download 'Invisible' for free via iTunes with Bank of America pledging to donate $1 (60p) to the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria each time the song is downloaded. During that time window, the bank have agreed to donate up to $2m (£1.2m) despite Fox Sports allegedly charging advertisers around $4m (£2.4) for each 30-second commercial.

Continue reading: U2 To Launch New Free Track 'Invisible' During Super Bowl Next Weekend

Amy Poehler was awarded the Best Actress in a Television Series (Comedy) award at the 2014 Golden Globe Awards for her role as Leslie Knope in Parks and Recreation this weekend. It was a thoroughly deserved recognition and one that Poehler, who also co-hosted the event with Tina Fey, was overwhelmed with. The win also earned her a congratulator smooch from U2 frontman Bono, an extra that Poehler's boyfriend didn't approve of.

Poehler had a hectic night on Sunday, 12 Jan.

As Poehler got up to the stage to accept her award, she was congratulated by Bono, who has given a passionate kiss from Poehler, with the singer then receiving a light-hearted threat from Poehler's man Nick Kroll. He posted on his Twitter: "Hey Bono, watch your back," in an attempt to scare the singer into submission. So far, we don't think it worked.

Continue reading: Bono Warned To "Watch Your Back" After Amy Poehler Kiss At Golden Globes

Whoever thought doing a Spider-Man musical was a good idea shouldn’t be allowed to write things down, because it wasn’t, and after a huge waste of time, money and effort, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark has officially been removed from Broadway and shipped out to Vegas. The whole thing has been a nightmare, with major injuries and huge, high-profile legal cases blighting the musical’s progress.

The thing cost $75m to create (making it the most expensive musical ever), and while the show has grossed $203m, the high - $1m-per-week! - running costs have rendered it a financial disaster. Producer Jeremiah J Harris thinks a reconfigured version of the show will prosper in a different city, according to The New York Times.

"We could run for probably another three to five years being stuck in the middle. We think it will play Las Vegas with a greater bang than it did in New York,” explained Harris. “Economically we have a greater opportunity in the Las Vegas market," added the producer, who said the show would return in 2015.

Continue reading: After Three Years Of "Meh" 'Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark' Musical Is Off Broadway

We've all had that moment; looking at photos of our favourite celebs and then jumping out of our seats screaming, 'He's HOW old?!' Well, we've been doing a lot of that here at ContactMusic. Some stars seem to have crept up the age ladder pretty sneakily, the odd wrinkle and grey hair barely registering on our radar, while others don't seem to have aged at all! English football player David Beckham was in his twenties when he rose to global popularity and, looking at his recent H&M underwear advert, it seems that his iconic hairstyles and tattoos are our only way of working out the old from the newer pictures of him. However, he is only 37 and has plenty of time to catch up yet. It's the over-50s that have really had our mouths agape in recent times as we've been scouring the net for the most youthful looking middle to old aged stars. 

(Anthony Kiedis, Tom Cruise, Jim Carrey)

Continue reading: Good Genes Or Good Ops: Which Male Celebrities Don't Show Their Age?

U2 at the Q Awards back in 2011

They never could keep out of the limelight for very long. With David Bowie announcing a shock return, Irish rockers U2 have opted to steal some of the returning legend's thunder by revealing to The Sun that they themselves are also back in the studio with a new album on the way. The multi-million selling group haven't been away for nearly as long as the Thin White Duke, or even pop stars Destiny's Child and Justin Timberlake, both who revealed their long-awaited comebacks last week. Their last album was 2009's No Line On The Horizon, whilst the group were touring as recently as 2011.

Continue reading: Another Band Returns! U2 New Album Sessions Started Months Ago

All eyes will be on Bruce Springsteen during Grammy’s week, as the New Jersey rocker will be the recipient of the MusiCares Person of the Year award. To celebrate the honour, a Bruce Springsteen tribute concert will take place in Los Angeles on February 8, 2013, featuring some of the biggest names in rock and pop and hosted by Jon Stewart.

The event, which is already sold out, will feature musical highlights such as Elton John, Kenny Chesney and Mumford And Sons. A whole host of musicians of varying genres and eras have been included in the line-up. Patti Smith, with whom Bruce co-wrote the hit ‘Because The Night’ will be there, as will Faith Hill, Emmylou Harris, as well as Alabama Shakes, Eddie Vedder and Neil Young. Proceeds for the concert will go to MusiCares, an organisation set up to provide support for struggling musicians in financial, medical and personal need.

The annual MusiCares Person of the Year award is attributed to a star whose artistic accomplishments are as worthy of merit as their philanthropic work. Previous winners of the award include Tony Bennett, Aretha Franklin, Paul McCartney and Bono.