Product Red, the brand co-founded by U2 frontman Bono, has raised $50m (£24m) to fight Aids in Africa since it was launched in January 2006.

Armani, Motorola and Apple are among those to join the scheme, donating part of sales to the Global Fund against Aids, Malaria and Tuberculosis.

While private sector contribution has been boosted by the brand, the number of firms signing up remains limited.

In Africa more than 33 million people are living with HIV/Aids.

Other brands to have joined the partnership include Gap, Converse and Hallmark. American Express has signed up but only in the UK.

Treatment

Up to 50% of profits from the sale of selected goods goes to the fund.

Before Product Red was launched by Bono and Bobby Shriver of Debt AIDS Trade in Africa (DATA), private sector donations to the fund had reached just $6m. The current level of donations marks an eight-fold increase.

“Product Red has brought about a major change in the way the private sector contributes to the Global Fund,” said Michael Kazatchkine, executive director of the Global Fund.

“The contribution of Product Red partners have already enabled thousands to benefit from Aids treatments, prevention and care.”

However the amount donated to date is small when compared with what the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has donated to fight HIV/Aids.

In October the foundation, which had assets in the region of $33bn at the end of 2006, announced it would provide $20m over four years for the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise.

Band dust off rare track for acoustic show

U2’s Bono and The Edge played a surprise gig tonight (November 23) at London’s Union Chapel.

Playing as part of Mencap’s Little Noise Sessions, the duo surprised the audience with a four song set which included rare track ‘Wave Of Sorrow’.

The identity of the ’special guests’ was shrouded in mystery when introduced by host Jo Whiley as “a new band with a lot of potential…Dave the guitarist is very nervous…If he makes a mistake forgive him, he’s new. The singer is very shy.”

The band opened with ‘Zooropa’ track ‘Stay (Faraway, So Close)’ with Bono reading the lyrics off a sheet on a music stand.

The singer changed the lyrics: “You can go anywhere/ Miami, New Orleans, London, Belfast and Berlin” to “ You can go anywhere/ Miami, New Orleans, Belfast and Islington,” which was met by roars of approval from the crowd.

After the track finished The Edge said : “I hope you like our new direction.”

Launching into ‘Desire’, Bono ad libbed parts of INXS‘ ‘Need You Tonight’ into the track. He sang the lyrics “I’ve got to let you know / You’re one of my kind.”

He started clapping before taking out a harmonica to play on the track’s distinctive finish.

Bono introduced ‘Angel Of Harlem’ by saying : “This is our only Christmas song.”

After a false start which saw the singer sing the start of ‘Like A Rolling Stone’ by Bob Dylan over The Edge’s riff, the duo continued.

At one point Bono said : “Merry Christmas Yoko.”

When the song finished the pair shook hands.

Bono then introduced the next track by saying : “So about 20 years ago we started a tune on ‘The Joshua Tree’ and yesterday we just finished it. This song is based on the experiences that my lovely wife Ali had in Ethiopia.

“You forget that this was the land of the Queen Of Sheeba…I was 25 and it was an extraordinary time to be there…It was an overwhelming experience.

“This (song) has never been played before. Just don’t tell Larry (Mullen) and Adam (Clayton) we’re doing it…Oh Adam’s here! This is for you sir.”

They played ‘Wave Of Sorrow’ with The Edge playing the keyboards.

Bono said : “Thanks for being so generous,” and The Edge said : “I hope you didn’t notice there were a few mistakes but I was told that was okay…I felt the love.”

-NME

In Vogue’s holiday issue, actress Penelope Cruz unloads on the paparazzi that fueled the story that she and U2’s Bono were having an affair:

Like when I went on holiday to Bono’s house with his wife and kids… we were holding hands because we’re very good friends, and do you know what the paparazzi did to us? They took photos and cropped out Bono’s wife and children! So they made up a story about us being together, knowing perfectly well that I was there with the whole family.

In fact, her obsessions have been a little more prosaic. Here’s her account of girlish excitement at getting her first call from director Pedro Almodovar:

I became completely obsessed with Pedro. Then he called me when I made my first movie, Jamon Jamon. I remember that day like it was yesterday. I was drying my hair in the bathroom, and somebody said, ‘Almodovar is calling.’ I couldn’t believe what I was hearing–I’d dreamed about that moment for so long… Now, he’s like family to me.

Source: Penelope Cruz: Almodovar’s Like Family, and Bono Was With His Family | The New York Observer

U2 are reportedly planning to play a series of gigs at London’s 02 Arena in 2008.

According to thisislondon, the veteran rockers will be playing 21 nights at the venue.

It is reported that the concerts will follow the completion of the band’s new album at some point next year.

U2 will be following the precedent set by Prince, who played 21 nights at the arena in September.

The Irish rockers are currently working with Brian Eno in the studio on the follow-up to 2004’s How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb.

-DigitalSpy

U2exit.com: U2 are urging fans not to purchase tickets for the concerts – because they have not scheduled any gigs for 2008. A statement from the group reads, “There are no plans for live dates next year – so please don’t buy tickets for any U2 shows you see advertised.”

This is filed under rumors! 

“The Joshua Tree will prove a braver and better record than anything else that’s likely to appear in 1987″ NME

U2’s The Joshua Tree has been meticulously remastered from the original analogue master tapes to mark 20 years since its release.

“There has been continuous demand from U2 fans to have The Joshua Tree properly re-mastered,” says Paul McGuinness. “As always, the band had to make sure it was right, and now it is.”

The album will be available in four formats:
• A standard CD featuring liner notes from Bill Flanagan, lyrics and unseen photographs from long time collaborator Anton Corbijn.
• A double 12″ gatefold vinyl format, with the original album pressed across two 180 gram audiophile discs.
• A deluxe edition including a second CD of b-sides and demos from the original album sessions.
• A limited edition box set containing two CD’s and a DVD featuring The Joshua Tree Tour live from the Hippodrome in Paris and other rare video footage.

The CD track listing is as follows: Where The Streets Have No Name, I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, With Or Without You, Bullet The Blue Sky, Running To Stand Still, Red Hill Mining Town, In God’s Country, Trip Through Your Wires, One Tree Hill, Exit and Mothers Of The Disappeared.

And as a bonus, U2.com has posted the complete Red Hill Mining Town video!!

Live Nation Artists, a subsidiary of the live event production/promotion company Live Nation, has agreed to acquire Signatures Network, a global music merchandise corporation that holds merchandising licenses for some 150 artists, including the Beatles, U2, the Grateful Dead and Bruce Springsteen. Live Nation’s Artist division, which was formed earlier this year, hopes the relationship will continue to bolster their position in the always active area of merchandising and will see Signatures’ CEO, Dell Furano, taking the reins as head of the new enterprise. The acquisition was valued at $79 million, a number that includes cash, stock and repayment of debt that Signatures has outstanding.

- CMJ