Bono interview on RTE radio today

[follower]

In case you haven?t checked his interview there is a real audio here:

http://www.rte.ie/audio/pkenny2.ra

The radio show is called "Today with Vincent Browne" and the interview lasts for more than 1 hour.

I?m so glad he mentioned my country as a good example on dealing with AIDS treatment and prevention (it starts at 10.44). He said:

"In Brazil they discovered that maybe 75% of the cost of getting AIDS drugs, the anti-retrovirals, to their people could be saved...they could save on the hospitals, on the health bill...cause they have a health infra-structure in Brazil."

A summary from atu2 mailing list: he talks about his trip to Africa in May, other debt relief issues, immigration in Ireland, fans visiting Ireland, U2's future (he said "I don't think so" when asked if U2 will still be doing this in their 60s), plans for new music and tours, coping with the death of his Dad, and more.

 

[verte76]

Unfortunately, the sound quality for some fans trying to listen to this interview was pretty crummy. Does anyone know if they are going to release a transcript? If so, does anyone know where the transcript will be? Thanks in advance.

 

[follower]

Not a full transcript verte76, but some more details...same source:

Bono talks about U2's short- and long-term plans on Irish radio
@U2, July 17, 2002
By Matt McGee

In a wide-ranging interview today on Irish radio, Bono talked about U2's
short- and long-term plans, and dropped a hint that it might be a while
before U2 goes on tour again.

Bono was a guest on RTE Radio 1's "Today with Vincent Browne" program and
spent more than an hour in conversation with Browne and Brenda Fricker.
Perhaps the most intriguing comment he made about the band's future plans
was after a discussion about last year's concerts at Slane Castle when the
host asked if U2 would be playing any more concerts in Ireland soon. Bono
seemed to drop a hint that U2 may not tour after their next studio album.

"I don't know," Bono said. "I don't know when we'll next play a gig. It's
really important for us now to make a couple of good albums."

Bono did confirm that the band are busy in their Hanover Quay studios
working on new material for a couple different projects.

"We are in the studio at the moment. We've got some extraordinary songs," he
said. "There's a single that's gonna come out in September. I think it's
gonna be part of a compilation, but they'll be a few new tracks. There's
also a song for the Martin Scorsese film, Gangs of New York, which is about
the Irish gangs in the 1860s in New York, who were really rough. The story
of the origin of New York City is a fascinating one, and one that most
people don't know, so I think people will go and see this film just to find
out what it was like in New York back then."

Gangs of New York is scheduled for a Christmas release in theaters.
Soundtrack information has yet to be released. Despite Bono's suggestion
that a new single will be out in September, most other reports have pegged
the date as October 21st.

Bono admitted that his efforts on behalf of Third World nations, and
especially the African continent, were a strain on the band during the
recording of their last album, All That You Can't Leave Behind. But he says
now the band is getting along in the studio just fine without him.

"It does disturb me a little bit that the less time I spend in the studio,
the better we seem to be getting. Cause I'm doing all this extracurricular
stuff - I thought the band would collapse, but sadly they've gone from
strength to strength!"

He also revealed that he still misses his father, Bob, who died last August
while U2 was in the middle of the Elevation world tour.

"I think about him all the time," Bono said. "I never held on to the songs
so tightly as I did in that period."

As for the band's long-term plans, Bono told Browne that he thinks U2 is
"doing our best work now", but he wasn't ready to commit to sticking around
until the band is in its 60s.

"I don't think so. I don't know how long we have left. I can't imagine still
loving Larry Mullen's bass drum kicking me up the arse on a nightly basis.
It's a very fearful place to stand in front of that drum kit when he's
beating the crap out of it."


? @U2, 2002

 

[follower]

And here, his comments on Ireland immigration policy...or what it should be in his opinion. From youtwo.net.

July 17, 2002
From RTE:

Bono calls for generosity on immigration

July 17, 2002

U2 singer Bono has urged Ireland to be very careful about its immigration policy. Speaking on
Today with Vincent Browne, Bono said that Irish people should keep in mind the Diaspora all
over the world who had made other countries their homes when Ireland?s economy was less
than prosperous.

He said that Irish karma would turn very quickly if this country were to deny a safe haven to
those who need it, adding that Ireland should be very, very generous.

Asked about the upcoming Nice referendum, he urged voters to accept the Treaty, saying the
experience last time had baffled EU politicians.

 

[The Arms of America]

So the new single will not be The Hands that.....
I wonder what it will be. I can't wait.

Thanks for the info

 

[verte76]

Thanks for the info. I guess the single is the "Mystery Single" right now. Gosh, how exciting! A new U2 song!

 

[lazyboy]

Haha thanks Follower Funny that it was on the radio here and I get the info from a Brazilian My mom was listening to the show and actually tried to wake me up but I was well out for the count
A bit peeved he didn't answer the "when ya playin a gig here next?" Q with "next week vinny"

 

[verte76]

Haha thanks Follower Funny that it was on the radio here and I get the info from a Brazilian My mom was listening to the show and actually tried to wake me up but I was well out for the count
A bit peeved he didn't answer the "when ya playin a gig here next?" Q with "next week vinny"

I'll bet he doesn't know.

 

[Bono's shades]

No tour to support the next album? I hope THAT one isn't true.