To the continuing chagrin of the newspaper racket, the majority of people here and in the United States get most of their information from TV.

Television moulds their impressions and firms up their views on politics, politicians and any old issue you can name.Tonight at the Democratic National Convention (multiple channels, starting at 7 p.m.; Barack Obama’s speech at 10 p.m.),

Barack Obama sells himself to the vast U.S. audience that needs to know more about him. The polls are indicating there’s a hesitancy about supporting Obama. This is where he starts to close the sale, and he must do it emphatically.

Over the past few days, watching the TV coverage from Denver has been a fascinating experience, especially those long reports that attempt to answer the question, “Who is Barack Obama?”

Each piece includes much coverage of his campaign, and what has struck me is that there’s a distinctive soundtrack. It’s U2. Always U2. Read the rest of this entry »

The rock band U2 has had a phenomenal run since it came together in 1976. It has won a remarkable 22 Grammy awards, more than any band in history. Critics rave over U2’s music and fans worldwide can’t seem to get enough of its songs and concert appearances. All the signs indicate that U2 is at the top of its game and will be going strong for the foreseeable future. Why has U2 been together for more than 30 years when most other bands eventually fall apart? Understanding why U2 has thrived for so long provides insight into the factors that make groups of all types and sizes thrive, including teams and organisations from committees to Fortune 500 companies. Read the rest of this entry »

TORONTO – A new campaign to promote HIV testing is trying to reach young Canadians where they’re at – on the Internet and listening to tunes.

And it’s relying on the talents of rockers U2 and hip-hop sensation Mary J. Blige to get them to pay attention.One Life, an online initiative launched Monday at luvu2.ca, targets sexually active youth ages 18-30 and urges them to practise safe sex and get tested for HIV.

It aims to spread the word through an online video set to U2’s hit song One, recorded with Blige and made available by the artists at no charge.

The campaign is a collaboration of Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada, which makes pharmaceuticals including drugs to treat HIV-AIDS, and Universal Music Canada. Read the rest of this entry »

Bono has reportedly been ordered to lose weight before U2 release their new album and start a proposed world tour next year.

The singer – who has been entertaining celebrity friends including Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie and Robert De Niro on his yacht in France this summer – has been told he needs to lose his excess pounds before the band start their promotional duties again.

A source told the New York Post newspaper: “U2 have an album coming out around January. And then the band is going on another world tour in March and April – so the boys have been told to start exercising all the summer weight off.”

U2 – comprising Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen, Jr. – are rumoured to be calling the new record, their first in four years, ‘No Line On The Horizon’.

Tracks on the LP have been leaked on the internet after a fan recorded the music from the upcoming record that Bono was playing in his French villa. The four leaked songs are believed to be called ‘Moment of Surrender’, ‘For Your Love’, ‘Sexy Boots’ and ‘No Line On The Horizon’.

- azcentral.com

He said: “I think we can safely say it’s one of the great, innovative records from U2. Bono’s in great form, singing fantastic.”

BONO should be more careful about where and when he decides to blare out tracks from his band’s new album.

The U2 rock lord has been stung by a cheeky holidaymaker who overheard the singer indulging his own ego last week.

Most families have a bit of Club Tropicana by WHAM! rattling out of a tinpot stereo on their hols.

But the music idol is quite rightly proud of his abilities and was playing tracks from the Oirish band’s eagerly awaited new release.

The fan couldn’t believe it as he strolled along the beach by Bono’s palatial villa in the South of France when he heard that famous voice thundering out the windows. Read the rest of this entry »

Ronnie Drew, a founding member of the Irish folk group The Dubliners, died yesterday after a long battle with cancer. He was 73.

Drew, born in Dublin in 1934, formed The Dubliners in 1962 with Luke Kelly, Ciaran Bourke and Barney McKenna. Their songs include “The Molly Maguires”, “Dirty Old Town” and “Seven Drunken Nights”. The Dubliners also recorded with The Pogues, and together they had a hit with “The Irish Rover”. Drew also released a string of solo albums. Read the rest of this entry »