Classic or Dud: U2

I think Bono's views are skewed because he's an establishment guy who dodges taxes through Maltese holding companies and takes a what me worry/some of my best friends are corporations when he was exposed in the Panama Papers.

In his book he gives a paragraph to the controversy over U2's tax affairs. He says something like 'we may have gone too far'.

He said something similar, more strongly, about the time that they gave away their music to people via Apple. The puzzling thing about that story is - presumably only people with some kind of Apple music buying account received the music. (I didn't ... and I would have liked to! I bought the CD, very very cheap, a couple of years later.) So while it was described as 'U2 give everyone their unwanted music', it must really have been a minority of people.

it showed up for anyone who had an itunes account, so anyone with an iphone and anyone who'd ever used the most popular way to buy music at the time

Happy birthday, Bono!

xp I recall it was effectively undeletable too, at least until they released a software update or two.

I had iTunes on my computer, with thousands of songs on it. But I didn't receive the U2 LP. So I assume this is a difference between using iTunes and having some kind of commercial account with Apple.

I am not sure that this was a majority of pop music fans. Maybe a vocal plurality.

However, I agree with the view that people should not be given something they wouldn't want. And if it can't be deleted that's worse still.

I am near the end of the book and the one LP that Bono has not commented on is NO LINE ON THE HORIZON. The only thing he's said is 'Had we gone too far from our punk roots with that album?'. If he's serious about this he should have a chapter explaining it. U2 naturally made a big deal about that LP at the time; it shouldn't be erased from history. In fact I think it's probably better than their later records FWIW.

The 'punk roots' stuff is mostly nonsense, as eg: the LP representing their supposed return to said roots was SONGS OF INNOCENCE, which is not punk at all.

Bono: (excitedly) Gentlemen, it's an honor to have both of you here today. What brings us together?

Putin: (smirking) Bono, your charisma always intrigues me. I suppose we're here to discuss global issues and find common ground.

Blair: Indeed, Bono. We live in a complex world, and it's crucial for leaders to collaborate for the greater good. Let's get down to business.

Bono: I appreciate your perspectives, gentlemen. How about we establish a joint task force that addresses poverty, stability, and security? We can pool our expertise and engage other influential figures to drive real change.

That's rather accurate !!

apologies, chatgpt was just giving me some lols. I'm tired and giddy and finding dumb stuff very amusing today.

Calzino + AI -- a dangerous combination for satire.

Can't wait to see you produce some about KS!

people should not be given something they wouldn't want

Isn't that a Sinéad O'Connor album?

I suppose if an amalgam of The Wonder Stuff and weak Blondie callbacks are your thing...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVqWb0JKBdw

Vegas show looks like a cross between real US, virtual ABBA and an IMAX movie

The inside of the Las Vegas Sphere looks stunning and U2 has always been good with visuals.

But this must be so disorienting. Just give me Bono running laps around a stage while singing “One”.pic.twitter.com/tBJFPmZxyO

— Trung Phan (@TrungTPhan) September 30, 2023

gaudy as fuck, a perfect match of city, venue, and artists, this will make Bono an additional billion dollars

I saw that place on CBS Saturday Morning. Venue looks Blade Runner crazy as he11, but it's just another rich man's pleasure palace.

The one drawback is you have to listen to U2. The Channel 4 News feature on this was one of the most nauseating pieces of television I've had the misfortune to watch this year.

My wife’s boss is a huge fan and was at last night’s show (he has tickets for two of them). He sent some pre-show pics of the dome.

Said that fans had been camped out since Wednesday in the GA ticket line, heard the band rehearsals, and were posting spoilers on the U2 messageboard (I guess they play Achtung Baby followed by random songs?). Just to give you a taste of that U2 fan lyfe…

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/u2/2023/sphere-at-the-venetian-resort-las-vegas-nv-63a3fadb.html

Photos look crazy. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/sep/30/u2-review-an-utterly-astonishing-admirably-raw-vegas-extravaganza

I was offered a couple tix to see this on Oct 7, and while i do love this band and the visual experience looks amazing, I don't like dealing with Vegas. Driving there, being there, driving back...plus it's only 3/4ths of the dudes.

^ I read that url as “raw vegan extravaganza” and thought it was about a U2 themed restaurant

Where The Sides Have No Name

Unforgettable Fire-Roasted Tomatoes

not gonna lie i would love to see this

Xp All I Want Is Tofu

as would i.
i once went to a 360 degree video thing at a planetarium where folks showed these films that they had made especially for the format.
dj food had prepared a full film that accompanied his 'search engine' album.
to say it was a massive headf^ck/dizzying experience would be an understatement.
and the pics that i have seen of this basically looks like that experience but expanded to the power of XXXX.

xpost

yeah I'd just love to see U2 full-stop really.

Sundae Non-Dairy Sundae

The tours they've done in my adult life I haven't been able to see for one reason or another.

Shake it shake it shake it vegan salami

tfw the venue is more interesting than the band

That looks sick as hell and I say that as someone who's gone to laser Floyd

lol I posted "real US" instead of "real U2," still works

Two Artichoke Hearts Eat As One

lime dill pine nut ground onion shaoxing slaw

i have never seen them live
had tix to see the 360 tour in Oakland then the tour was cancelled bc bono had to get back surgery & havent had a chance or financial wherewithal to see them since ;_;

“raw vegan extravaganza”

Even Better Than the Real Thing

Seen them a bunch, not for a while, might consider this if it were cheap and down the street.

i've seen them seven times, probably the best overall experience was the 360 Rose Bowl show, but Zoo TV was a truly iconic show. actually all the shows were really great, though Popmart wasn't a great experience as far as seeing the band, being so close to the back row at Soldier Field in Chicago. but the spectacle was fun. they always brought it live ime.

I've seen ... Joshua Tree tour in '87 (my first concert), Zoo TV in whenever that was ('92?), Popmart, two or three shows on the Elevation tour (which were the best), Vertigo tour and ... I think that was it. Started to get too hard to get tix, too expensive, didn't like the new albums, etc.

at the last minute i got tix for their massive roundhay park/leeds gig as part of the zoo tv tour.
at the time my wife and i were not fans at all.
but we decided to go along for the experience.
yeah, that was a good day.

That looks sick as hell and I say that as someone who's gone to laser Floyd

otm

All I can say is, imagine how annoying the average boomer+ fan is at an arena show, now make that arena a Vegas extravaganza that is actually in Las Vegas. This is going to be like being trapped in a Vegas casino elevator at 1am with drunk convention goers.

imo the experience of seeing them in that setting outweighs all that shit for me

otherwise you’d never go anywhere!

and almost every show i go to is a boomer show now #old

Are “boomer+” fans really more annoying than other fans?

^ this

Depends what you mean by annoying, but if you mean "more likely to just go to a show because they can afford it, and spend the time talking and going for beer," then in my experience, yeah, probably a little more likely to be annoying. Or at least annoying in a distracting way.