U2FanPeter said:
What was the direct reference to the Bush administration in 2005 that was in no previous version? I also thought that other countries were involved in torture like the UK?
Remember in the Conan TV interview Bono admitted that even members of U2 were severly pissed off at some of the politians he was seen cavorting beside?
Also keep in mind that all tickets for the Us Vertigo tour were pre-sold before they played a single note. It didn't matter to them if thousands don't show up like in Vegas(bought by hotels as a promotion to guests) What if Bono/U2 made overt anti-torture comments in the 2004 promo tour?
Can you not see the difference between subversive political messages and going the Neil Young route of declaring "Let's Impeach the President"?
u2fp
Of course other countries were involved, it's just that the US got the most flack in the media. Do you think he skipped the routine in, say, UK shows ?
Yes, I imagine he's probably pissed off at some people he meets too. Doesn't mean he still can't work with them for the greater good.
Tickets may be sold pre-show, but in the time of the internet it's not hard to find out what the show is about, or that the War trilogy is featured. I don't think it would matter much if any over comments would happen, he had overt comments in 1987 and that didn't stop them. It's not necessary to scream "Down with Bush!" from stage to get a point across.