*Comes out of lurking*
I just don't get it. "What don't you get...?" you may ask. Well, us U2 fans we know all of the cliches regarding Bono: he's egotistical, a tosser, trying to play Jesus, has a big ego, arrogant, "I love U2 but I just can't stand the lead singer"...yadda yadda yadda.
This is what i don't get: why is he regarded arrogant? Why does everytime his name is spoken, the words "egomaniac" are automatically attached into the conversation? Am I the only person who's puzzled by this? Am I the only one confused about all of these accusations and have wondered in what basis these people pin these accusations on Bono?
To me, Bono is far from being an "egomaniac". I love him because he's not your typical "drug taking/womanising/Pete Doherty-esque rockstar". His humanatarian work far exceeds simple charity. He's not a another celebrity content with merely holding a giant cardboard check while smiling at the camera's: he does all the hard yards by doing the raw research in debt cancellation, meeting with countless bankers, politicians, media barons and world leaders to champion his cause. In his words, it might be more glomarous for a rock star with a hankerchief around his mouth and a molotov cocktail in his hand yelling from the sidelines, but it's something else altogether to put on a suit and tie with with a suitcase fillied with World Bank statistics and venture around the dark backrooms of politics trying to twist the politicians arms in doing something good for Africa. All in the while trying to create beautiful music and putting together the best rock show in town (seeing them for the FIRST TIME on the 18th in Melbourn. Can't wait).
We're in a disgustingly empty and superficial celebrity culture where monstrosities like Paris Hilton and givin the spotlight for...uh...doing what exactly? It's a breath of fresh air for a celebrity like Bono to offer some substance.
I've just realized I'm beeing ranting too long, but my point is, if Bono is really as arrogant and egotistical as people say he is, then how come U2 has lasted for so long with the same four guys and their music still remaining relevent? I just find it strange that people call him an arrogant tosser while at the same time Liam Gallagher admitted point blank that he is the reincarnation of John Lennon in an interview (watch the extras in the DVD footage of the Brit Pop documentary "Live Forever" for that interview).
It just that as a U2 fan, this has been bugging me for a while.
*Goes back into lurking*