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U2 News Aggregator
Dublin shelves plans for U2 Tower
DUBLIN, Ireland (AP) — Plans to build the tallest building in Ireland - with new recording studios for Irish supergroup U2 on top - were suspended Friday because of Dublin’s slumping property market and slide into recession.
The Dublin Docklands Development Authority said it remains committed to building the long-planned U2 Tower, but a souring economy at home and abroad means the project must be shelved. It expressed hope of reopening negotiations with potential developers within 12 months.
“The objective is to see this landmark project completed. However, given the current unfavorable economic environment, more time is needed at this juncture,” the Dublin development agency said in a statement, adding it was “confident that these economic uncertainties are short- to medium-term.”
The project shelving caps a six-year struggle and three rounds of architectural competition to build a U2 Tower. It raises doubts about whether the current lavish design, by world-renowned British architect Norman Foster, will ever get beyond the draftsman’s board.
The projected 200 million euro ($250 million) construction would have dominated the low-rise skyline of Dublin, where conservationists have successfully shot down other skyscraper projects.
But Foster’s U2 Tower presumed the sale of more than 180 apartments at more than 1 million euros (US$1.3 million) each. That might have been easy as recently as a year ago - when Irish investors were still pouring money into luxury apartments and town houses - but seems far-fetched now.
Ireland this year became the first member of the 15-nation euro zone to fall into recession and a decade-old boom in property prices fell swiftly into reverse, bringing sales activity to a standstill. An estimated 20,000 newly built residences lie unsold in this country of 4.2 million.
Foster envisioned a 120-meter (400-foot) triangular tower on the south bank of Dublin’s River Liffey with an egg-shaped pod housing U2’s new recording studios on top. That would give Bono and his bandmates a view at least twice as tall as any other building in Dublin.
The proposed roof also would house wind-generated electrical turbines and solar paneling, while two sides would be metal-paneled to look like fish scales. Riverside traffic would be permitted to flow through the base of the building.
Bono, guitarist The Edge, bassist Adam Clayton and drummer Larry Mullen all would have had a financial stake in the U2 Tower because they are partial owners of a development consortium awarded the construction contract last year. That agreement now has been set aside.
The U2 band members are among Ireland’s wealthiest citizens and have invested together in a wide range of Dublin properties, including a luxury riverside hotel that is earmarked for its own futuristic Foster overhaul.
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Dublin shelves plans for U2 Tower
U2Star: Into the hearth Volume 4
What u2 song do you like most? Why? Do you really know the meaning of the lyrics of that song? Is there any special event related to a song?
This page will host your comments and stories about your favorite song. The best entries will be published in our site and newsletter.
To send your story [...]
Bono on Election: “The Whole World Has a Stake”
By Becky Bohrer, The Huffington Post
NEW ORLEANS - U2 frontman and activist Bono said Wednesday that next week's presidential election provides a great opportunity to "relaunch Brand USA" amid worldwide scrutiny.
"The whole world has a stake in how things turn out," the Ireland native told thousands of Starbucks Corp. employees in New Orleans for a leadership conference. The coffee company and Bono's (RED) label, which helps raise money for the Global Fund that pays for AIDS programs in Africa, also announced a partnership Wednesday.
The singer talked about brands and what they stand for. In Starbucks' case, he said some might see it as a place to hang out and get coffee -- but that brand can also signify social responsibility.
The way the U.S. is perceived -- "Brand USA" -- also means something, he said. And it's never been so closely watched, said Bono, who didn't endorse either candidate for president.
Regardless of who wins, "it's a great chance to relaunch Brand USA," he said.
Bono has been a leading advocate for Africa, drawing attention to issues ranging from poverty and hunger to AIDS.
(RED) aims to partner with private companies to sell products such as coffee drinks, with some proceeds going to the Global Fund. More than $112 million has been raised in the two years since (RED) launched. (RED) helps pay for medication and other services for people in Africa suffering from AIDS and HIV, according to its Web site.
© 2008 The Huffington Post.
Holy (cup of) Joe, Bono!
photo courtesy of (RED) / (c) (RED)
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer is reporting on a special appearance by Bono yesterday at the annual Starbucks managers conference in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Bono was there to support the new partnership between (RED) and Starbucks during the holiday season. The article quotes Starbucks SVP Michelle Gass: “If every single Starbucks customer bought one (RED) Holiday Exclusive (beverage) for a week, we would save 15,000 lives for a year in Africa.”
The (RED) Holiday Exclusive beverages will be the peppermint mocha twist, gingersnap latte and espresso truffle. They do not cost extra, and will be launching on November 27.
The article also states:
Starbucks paid an undisclosed licensing fee to (RED) and will donate directly to the Global Fund. The partnership is a multiyear commitment and could help thousands, depending on sales.
Bono remarked, “I was going to jump out of a cranberry scone, but maybe not.” He then went on to salute Starbucks for giving money to the Global Fund, saying that it was not charity, rather commerce.
This is a post from the @U2 blog.
When Love Comes to Town with BB King
October 27th 2008: Bono & Edge perform When Love Comes to Town with BB King at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood, CA. Originally recored & uploaded by U2Mel
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When Love Comes to Town with BB King
Amazon.com: Now Shipping!
Not long after posting yesterday’s update about Amazon saying they wouldn’t ship U2 - A Diary for another month, I got an email from Beth B., who’s helping to promote the book, letting me know that the book had arrived at the warehouse in New York. That confirmed my suspicion that Amazon wasn’t really going to have to wait a month to ship.
Then I went and traded emails all day today with the very helpful people at Omnibus and learned all kinds of stuff about how book distribution works, and was just about to post an explanation here on the blog, when fellow @U2 staffer Tassoula forwarded me an email from Amazon that showed this:
The Amazon.com sales page still says “Ships in 2-3 weeks,” but I’m guessing that’ll change in the next day or two. The Barnes & Noble page is already updated to show “Usually ships within 2-3 days.”
So, good news all around. If you pre-ordered, you should be getting the book soon. If you haven’t ordered yet, you should be able to get it pretty quickly.
Scattered Thoughts: This Is What Dorks Do
I was in San Francisco last week and for some reason, I felt that spending part of an afternoon visting the scene of Bono’s Rattle and Hum “Rock ‘N’ Roll Stops The Traffic” graffiti incident would be just a totally rad idea. I even took a video. Upon reflection, I realize this was a very dorky thing to do. And so it goes …
Here’s Bono spray painting the Vaillancourt Fountain at Justin Herman Plaza:
Er, here’s me:
Listen: U2Source.com has audio of a 1987 interview in which Bono discusses/defends/regrets the graffiti. (The best part is the very, very end of that interview where Bono mentions what his father thought of the incident.)
-This post brought to you by Scatter O’ Light.
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Scattered Thoughts: This Is What Dorks Do
Another Amazon.com Delay … Don’t Know Why
Several friends emailed me this morning to share the news that Amazon.com is telling people who pre-ordered U2 - A Diary that the book won’t be shipped for another month:
Ouch. Sorry, gang. I have no idea what’s going on. I have an email in to Omnibus to see what they know, but it’s already after-work there, so it’ll be another day (at the earliest) before I have a reply.
Will report more when I know something….
U2 and B.B. King reunite in performance
The Edge, Bono, and B.B. King perform an extended version of "When Love Comes to Town" at the annual Thelonious Monk gala at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday.
Another Kind of U2 Box Set
While indulging in some 80s nostalgia tonight on VH1 Classic, I was prompted to go to the channel’s Web site, which I haven’t visited in at least a year.
When I arrived, it was as if they knew I was coming—parading all sorts of artists’ videos in front of me that I love (Duran Duran, Peter Gabriel, etc.) and then in a flash, I saw it: what they call “Box Set: U2.”
Basically, it’s a treasure trove of videos from one artist (in this case, U2) that you can click and play for free, then rate, comment on, etc.
What’s more—there are also interview clips like this one featuring Bono (with Larry) talking about “Vertigo.”
What a nice surprise!
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Miami Heat looking for a “Beautiful Day
The Miami Heat basketball team always had some “Born To Run” or “The Rising” playing around its facilities thanks to the musical taste of ex coach and current team president Pat Riley. Now the team is searching for a brand new “Beautiful Day.” Based on musical taste alone, the Heat seems to have the right guy to make the transition.
New coach Erik Spoelstra, who will be 38 next week, started attending U2 shows in college 18 years ago.
“Where The Streets Have No Name is absolutely my favorite concert song by any group,” Spoelstra says. “I think even a couple of these guys (on the team), I don’t think they would ever admit it, but even they would get energized.”
It’s appropriate. The first sentence of that song is “I want to run.” Spoelstra does want to play more of a running game this season.
Spoelstra has his own admission: he even dug U2’s kitschy Zooropa phase.
“I am not a groupie,” he insists. “I have seen them six or seven times. It’s not like I’ve seen them 100 times, like Pat with Springsteen.”
Hopefuly this year’s team can “Walk On” to a repeat performance of their 2006 run, where the franchise won its first NBA title.
Post brough to you by: Ethan Skolnick
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Miami Heat looking for a “Beautiful Day
U2: Bono catched with 2 young girls?
What will St Bono’s wife say about him partying with two teenage girls?
His humanitarian campaigning has earnt him the nickname St Bono. Off duty, however, the U2 singer seems to have been tempted into a spot of hell-raising.
Pictures show the 48-year-old with his arm round two bikini-clad girls as they carouse at a beach bar [...]
Bono’s Words for Women
As a female, I felt guilty at the Women’s Conference in Long Beach, Calif., on Wednesday.
The speakers lined up for this day devoted to women’s empowerment, hosted by California first lady Maria Shriver and her Terminator husband, aka California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, were a gal’s powerhouse: Condoleezza Rice, Madeleine Albright, Cherie Blair (wife of Tony), Gloria Steinem, Christiane Amanpour, and Billie Jean King, to name a few.
Some men were there, too, such as Warren Buffett and Michael J. Fox.
Oh, and this guy named Bono.
And he was all I could concentrate on throughout the day. He would be speaking at the end of the conference. I arrived at 7:30 a.m.
It was a long day.
I sort of listened to Rice in conversation with journalist Campbell Brown and Indra Nooyi, CEO of PepsiCo. I tried to take in Shriver’s heartfelt comments about her family and politics. I really wanted to hear Amanpour.
But at the beginning of the day, as soon as I heard “Beautiful Day” over the public-address system, my mind went elsewhere. I thought I’d hang out in the exhibit hall, figuring that free samples of Lean Cuisine and organic makeup would get me in a girlier mood. Nope. Hanging high up on the wall, right next to a huge poster of Steinem, was one of Bono. He hovered over me relentlessly after that.
The ONE and RED campaigns shared a booth space, where a video played with info about the two projects, including some footage of Bono, of course. I have seen every U2 video ever made, but I was still mesmerized.
So by the time 5 p.m. arrived, my Bono meter was buzzing and I had given up on role models of female empowerment.
But as soon as he came on stage, “Pride (In the Name of Love)” playing in the background, I let go of my guiltiness at wishing that tennis champ King, who spoke before him, would hurry up.
I’ve seen Bono speak about his humanitarian efforts a few times now in person; I get the same chills every time. For people who love U2 just for their music, and perhaps applaud but don’t focus much on Bono’s work to end poverty around the world, it’s that same feeling you get when the band comes out at the beginning of a concert. Bono’s words, whether sung or not, are always lyrical.
His speech, as it turned out, was deeply empowering for women, especially when he said the following:
“A continent burns and we smell the smoke. It stings our eyes; it sears our consciousness. But maybe not as much as it should, because we live with it, don’t we?
“On a certain level we’ve come to accept it. Men especially. . . . Most women haven’t.
“I’m not saying this just to flatter you. Because not even this rather indiscreet rock star would have the audacity to use gender stereotypes in the presence of the great Gloria Steinem. I say it because it’s true. Because the emergency hits women where they live more than most men. As hard as it is to ask fans at a rock show to think about the value of a child’s life far away, or to ask Boardroom U.S.A., or political America for that matter, you do not have to explain to the women of America, the mothers of America, the value of a child’s life far away.”
It took a man to hit me over the head with the message that women can fight fires, too.
You can watch a video of Bono’s entire speech on the ONE campaign’s Web site.
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The billion dollar band
U2 will still be rocking and coining it when they approach their 60s, after the fine print of their lucrative new deal was revealed this week.
Recession may be the buzzword of the year, but not in U2’s world. The band’s ability to command top dollar seems to be as strong as it always was.
And this week, while students and pensioners took to the streets to protest over a divisive Budget, details of U2’s most recent deal were coming to light.
It was revealed that Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr had received shares totalling €19m as part of their deal with US entertainment giant Live Nation, which was signed amid much industry gossip in March.
The up-front payment — made public after being reported to US regulator Security and Exchange Commission — is effectively a sweetener for signing up to Live Nation’s new model order, and a telling illustration of how crucial the Dublin four-piece is for the US corporation.
It also showcases the unstinting appeal of the U2 brand. After all, the 12-year deal signed with Live Nation is dependent on them being a going concern right up to their late 50s and being able to stay relevant in shifting music climates.
U2, all in their mid-40s now, are expected to play three hugely lucrative tours during the duration of the dozen-year deal. Based on their live outings to date, the band should comfortably pull in over $1bn from touring alone, as well as hundreds of million dollars more on merchandising. Both the band and Live Nation will share a sizeable chunk of all the money earned.
Unlike Madonna and Jay-Z — who both signed big-money deals with Live Nation this summer — U2 will retain control over their studio recordings. They enjoy an existing deal with Universal — the biggest of the four record company ‘majors’ — and their forthcoming 12th album, tentatively titled No Line On The Horizon, will yield the band a rumoured 28pc royalty for each copy sold.
It’s a royalty rate that’s one of the best in the business and one that the band has enjoyed since the mid-Eighties. When one considers that each studio album shifts in the region of 10 million copies — maintaining their position of, in Bono’s words, “the biggest band in the world” — those 28pcs really add up.
U2’s decision to move part of its financial empire to Holland to minimise the tax they pay on the publishing side of their business continues to be criticised. In 2006, the group began moving some of their business affairs to a Dutch finance house in order to avail of a virtually tax-free status on their handsome royalties.
They are believed to have saved around €15m by transferring the music publishing side of their business empire to Amsterdam — a relatively paltry sum given their estimated joint wealth of €690m.
“The reality is that U2’s business is 90pc conducted around the world,” manager Paul McGuinness said at the time. “Ninety per cent of our tickets and 98pc of our records are sold outside of Ireland. It [Ireland] is where we live and where we work and where we employ a lot of people. But we pay taxes all over the world. And like any other business, we’re perfectly entitled to minimise the tax we pay.”
McGuinness — the band’s manager of over 30 years — is seen as the the primary architect of U2’s enormous wealth. Famously, the band divides all earnings in five equal portions, with McGuinness bagging as much as Bono.
Although he holds no business qualifications, McGuinness has been instrumental in managing their finances from day one.
His first role in rock management was looking after the long-forgotten trad-rock band Spud, but when he happened upon U2 he found something he liked in the then rough-and-ready band.
When he first started managing the group, they were still at school and legend has it that he kept the coins for their bus fares in a glass jar, only doling out the amount they required.
While debut album Boy helped put the band on the map, it was McGuinness who pushed them to tour the US — an often crippling expense for fledgling Irish bands, but one which helped foster a mutual love affair between the group and America.
And it was McGuinness who helped restore confidence in a band racked with insecurity after second album October was generally badly received. They re-grouped and hit the big time with its anthemic follow-up, War.
While the temptation must have existed early on to cash in there and then and sell the rights of the band’s songs to the record company, he held firm. Others, such as Paul McCartney, sold the rights to their entire catalogue only to rue the decision shortly afterwards.
It was this intransigence and unshakable belief in U2’s worth that helped McGuinness to negotiate their high royalty rate with Island Records — one of the most lucrative in music history.
McGuinness also conducted the groundbreaking deal with Apple four years ago, which resulted in the U2 iPod, emblazoned with the key colours of their last album, How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb, as well as helping to make Apple’s iTunes the big success it is today by making 400 of their songs available — a resounding endorsement to the legal download site.
When U2 signed with Live Nation, McGuinness explained the band’s rationale: “There’s a certain convergence taking place in the industry, and it’s obvious that the biggest part of U2’s business now is their live business, even though they’re a major, major record-selling act.”
The band’s relationship with Live Nation has been mutually beneficial. McGuinness says: “For some time now, they’ve been executing, promoting and producing our tours as partners pretty well perfectly. Since they want to consolidate rights and they have an online vision that I believe in, their Ticketmaster deal is expiring, which is going to change their margin, I’m very happy to go into a partnership with them.
And, apart from all the financial stuff, there is a real friendship, a real bond.”
That bond is wholly understandable when one considers that U2’s 18-month Vertigo tour between 2005 and 2007 took in close to €400m, making it the second-highest grossing tour of all time (behind the Rolling Stones).
The length of the deal, which exceeds even Madonna’s 10-year pact, “indeed is a mark of the faith and trust we have in them”, according to McGuinness. “In 12 years’ time, U2 will not even be the age the Rolling Stones are now.”
Unlike Mick Jagger and friends, U2 will be hoping to continue to generate excitement about each new album released rather than rest on a greatest hits routine.
Few bands of their vintage continue to arouse such fascination on the music front and there is building anticipation for No Line On The Horizon, which will be released earlier next year rather than in November as had been originally thought.
After flirting with dance music and electronica in the Nineties, U2 this decade have returned, to some extent, to their roots with a harder, rock-oriented sound. Various members of the ‘U2 family’ have been making encouraging noises of late — including long-term producer Daniel Lanois, who recently described it as “one of the great, innovative records from U2″.
Universal — and Interscope, its subsidiary that U2 now call home — will be hoping that it can follow the successes of the two other albums that the band have released this decade, 2000’s All That You Can’t Leave Behind and 2004’s How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb.
Meanwhile, Bono was in the news this week for reasons closer to home. He and his wife Ali have applied to Dun Laoghaire/ Rathdown Co Council to add an extension to their Killiney mansion to provide them with a massive master bedroom, two ensuite bathrooms, walk-in dressing rooms and a study.
Although none of the members lives the sort of ostentatious lifestyle enjoyed by Elton John, for instance, they are not exactly scrimping it either.
With homes in Killiney (valued at about €10m) and a villa in the south of France, Bono also spends time in his enormous triplex penthouse apartment in Manhattan.
The Edge divides his time between Dalkey, Co Dublin, a waterside mansion in Malibu, California, and a French villa.
Adam Clayton owns a 20-room pile in Rathfarnham, south Dublin, while Larry Mullen Jr has a pair of large houses in Howth on Dublin’s northside.
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