Latest U2 News & Information

Impostor turns heads in Hub

Bono? Is that you?

An impostor of the U2 singer managed over the weekend to hoodwink several bystanders who could have sworn they saw the superstar singer eating breakfast in East Boston and stopping for a pint at the Beantown Pub on Tremont Street.

Read the rest of this story »

As Fox’s American Idol continues to draw phenomenal ratings, the only show that could prove more troubling to the competition is…more American Idol. And that’s just what Fox has announced.

The network will present a two-night charity special to benefit relief programs helping children in America and Africa. Titled Idol Gives Back, and in partnership with the Charity Projects Entertainment Fund (CPEF), the special will air Tuesday, April 24 from 8-9 p.m, followed by an expanded results show airing Wednesday, April 25 from 8 to 10 p.m.

Read the rest of this story »

Bono is furious at claims his RED campaign to raise money for AIDS sufferers has failed.

It was reported yesterday (08.03.07) the U2 singer’s campaign has raised just 18 per cent of what was spent on promotion, but these claims have been denied.

A RED source said: "First of all, RED didn’t launch its products until mid-October. And they raised $25 million. Before that, the fund had taken in about $5 million over a four-year period. Before that, they had one T-shirt out and a pair of sunglasses."

Advertising Age magazine claimed RED raised just $18 million in a year for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS in Africa, while The Gap, Apple and Motorola spent an estimated $100 million on marketing.

The source added: "Bono’s RED campaign didn’t spend anything on marketing.

"The companies they work with spent a few million each. The Gap spent $7.8 million. The $100 million is a phantom number Ad Age pulled out of thin air. It’s off by tens of millions of dollars."

Now, Motorola has a RED phone, Apple a RED Nano iPod, Converse has RED All Star sneakers, and The Gap has a full line of RED clothing.

Bobby Shriver, director of the RED fund, said: "These companies are talking about the AIDS emergency in their marketing and in their stores. This can only help us all stay focused on the fact that 5,500 Africans are still dying needlessly of AIDS every day."

(C) BANG Media International

Rocker Bono’s charity campaign Red has been criticised for spending more money on marketing than it has raised to fight AIDS in Africa.

The high-profile scheme, which was the brainchild of the U2 rocker, sees companies donate a percentage of their profits from Red-branded products such as iPods, clothing and credit cards to the charity fund.

Red allegedly spent GBP52 million on advertising, making only GBP9 million for AIDS and HIV treatment.

But the company’s CEO Bobby Shriver has defended Red’s spending, saying, "(The amount donated) is five times the amount given to the Global Fund by the private sector in four years."

-WENN 

Seems BBC Radio 6 are having a Joshua Tree Day today to mark the 20th anniversary of its release.

Full details of contents can be found here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/events/joshuatree/

Seem to be some interesting stuff later on this evening (GMT).

The following list - the Definitive 200 - was developed by NARM, the National Association of Recording Merchandisers in celebration of the art form of the record album. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is pleased to recognize this varied collection of some of history’s most influencial and popular albums, many of which are Hall of Fame Inductees.

Read the rest of this story »