Pete The Chop

Irish rockers U2, ‘Poker Face’ star Lady Gaga and chart-toppers Westlife are being hotly tipped to clean up at this year’s Meteor Music Awards.

Voting lines have now closed and Paddy Power are now finished betting on the event but the closing odds suggest the three acts will walk away with major gongs on the night.

U2 finished up 1/4 favourites with Paddy Power to win Best Irish Live Performance, while Lady Gaga, who cleaned up at the Brits, finished at closing odds of 1/2 to win Best International Female.

As for Westlife, the lads are heading for their tenth consecutive Meteor Award for Best Irish Pop Act at odds of 1/10!

In other categories, Today FM’s Ray Foley has been backed off the boards to win Best National DJ at 1/6 while Florence & The Machine could pip Lady Gaga to the post in the Best International Album category following a late gamble at odds of 9/4.

In the Best Irish Male category Paddy Power prematurely suspended betting after seeing one-way traffic for folk legend Christy Moore at 8/13.

Sharon McHugh, spokesperson for Paddy Power said: “Most of the money has been for U2, Lady Gaga and Westlife but the Meteors have thrown up a few surprises over the years so as the saying goes it’s not over ‘til the fat lady sings!”

- Ireland On-Line

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If you dander past Little Donegall Street in Belfast over the next few days and wonder if you have stepped back in time, don’t fret, it’s not the 1980s — despite the obvious reference.

Yesterday passers-by were intrigued by the appearance of a massive poster advertising the release of arguably U2’s greatest album, The Joshua Tree.

The iconic image of a very young, sombre-looking group of lads from Dublin has been mounted across the front of the Frames complex, with two side banners heralding the release of the band’s fifth studio album.

Of course, The Joshua Tree was released in 1987. So why the advertisement? Well, the poster (and Little Donegall Street) is part of a scene from music comedy Killing Bono, being filmed in Belfast.

The movie, which stars Ben Barnes from Chronicles Of Narnia fame and Channel 4 ‘Misfit’ Robert Sheehan, is based on a book written by Neil McCormick, who went to school with U2 frontman Bono.

I Was Bono’s Doppelganger tells the story of McCormick and his brother Ivan’s attempt to forge a career in the music industry during the 1970s. But the pair fail to find success, while Bono and Co went on to achieve superstar status.

The last day of filming is tomorrow. There will be a night shoot from 8pm – 5am outside Frames on Library Street. and if you want to be part of it as an extra just go along in 80’s fashion. Text 07792490926 with your full name to confirm you’re going. Remember its outside so wear sensible clothing.

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Novelist Salman Rushdie was in hiding for fear of his life for many years. Then he showed up onstage with U2. Then he wrote a song with them. In this latest highlight from our archives he recalls how it all came about.

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