last unicorn
Blue Crack Addict
Well, my "seances" are always quite humorous.
Did Bono really say this to a fan?
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The John Tree
War Child
I think both sides of this argument need to take a look in the mirror. Stop being a "fan" and look at it objectively.
There are a lot of people on here who get hyper sarcastic and defensive of the band at all times. Any criticism of the band or one of its members is not tolerated on this board, and that's just a fact.
That said, others on this board would like to believe that Bono is, in fact, Jesus himself (though if that were true, it would make the verse Edge wrote in Wake Up Dead Man much more humorous).
The fact of the matter is, it doesn't matter if it was the "heart of darkness" or what he does for Africa, or what a great guy he is: Bono acted like an ass in this clip. If it was just the "put your fucking cell phone down" thing, I could have passed it off as an artist in the moment of the song. But once he TAUNTS the fan with the "hi, mom" bit, he turns into a fussy 9 year old. It's unprofessional and no, it shouldn't be excused just because he's Bono.
However...
...he apologized. And yes, he is human and humans make mistakes. So this should be taken for what it is: An error. He recognized that he was wrong and apologized, and that should be that.
By the way, on a slightly unrelated note, this is one very mild incident in a series of rock star temper tantrums. Check out Queens of the Stone Age's Josh Homme flipping out on a fan on youtube. Now THAT'S an asshole.
In my opinion, the only rock star I've ever seen who truly handled himself well when dealing with a bad crowd was Metallica's James Hetfield. At a 2004 show in Florida, Hetfield was hit by a bottle. He stopped the show, pointed out the culprit, said "bye bye asshole", and then proceeded to get the crowd pumped up by reassuring them that this band would not let one bad egg ruin the whole bunch.
There are a lot of people on here who get hyper sarcastic and defensive of the band at all times. Any criticism of the band or one of its members is not tolerated on this board, and that's just a fact.
That said, others on this board would like to believe that Bono is, in fact, Jesus himself (though if that were true, it would make the verse Edge wrote in Wake Up Dead Man much more humorous).
The fact of the matter is, it doesn't matter if it was the "heart of darkness" or what he does for Africa, or what a great guy he is: Bono acted like an ass in this clip. If it was just the "put your fucking cell phone down" thing, I could have passed it off as an artist in the moment of the song. But once he TAUNTS the fan with the "hi, mom" bit, he turns into a fussy 9 year old. It's unprofessional and no, it shouldn't be excused just because he's Bono.
However...
...he apologized. And yes, he is human and humans make mistakes. So this should be taken for what it is: An error. He recognized that he was wrong and apologized, and that should be that.
By the way, on a slightly unrelated note, this is one very mild incident in a series of rock star temper tantrums. Check out Queens of the Stone Age's Josh Homme flipping out on a fan on youtube. Now THAT'S an asshole.
In my opinion, the only rock star I've ever seen who truly handled himself well when dealing with a bad crowd was Metallica's James Hetfield. At a 2004 show in Florida, Hetfield was hit by a bottle. He stopped the show, pointed out the culprit, said "bye bye asshole", and then proceeded to get the crowd pumped up by reassuring them that this band would not let one bad egg ruin the whole bunch.
Addicted To Bad
Refugee
I´ll never change my respect for Bono because he is one of the best person in the world ... (we really need more people like him for many reasons) 
. AND FOR THIS SPECIFIC REASON I felt very disappointed watching this video because it was the first time in my whole life as a U2 fan that I saw him talking so hardly with a fan who was only taking a f*.... picture...no matter how bad was his moment,
OK...bad mood... bad moment...he´s a human being... not a saint...like us!
BUT I thought the respect with fans was one of his most valuable capacity as a leader singer of the best rock band in the world. (sorry, I was wrong...)
Well, I hope NOT see more videos like that next tour... and if I were there I´ll NOT take my camera anymore. I don´t want to look like a fool and being punished among thousands of people in case B-man is in a bad mood...
___________________________
LOVE AND LOGIC KEEP US CLEAR
. AND FOR THIS SPECIFIC REASON I felt very disappointed watching this video because it was the first time in my whole life as a U2 fan that I saw him talking so hardly with a fan who was only taking a f*.... picture...no matter how bad was his moment,OK...bad mood... bad moment...he´s a human being... not a saint...like us!
BUT I thought the respect with fans was one of his most valuable capacity as a leader singer of the best rock band in the world. (sorry, I was wrong...)
Well, I hope NOT see more videos like that next tour... and if I were there I´ll NOT take my camera anymore. I don´t want to look like a fool and being punished among thousands of people in case B-man is in a bad mood...
___________________________
LOVE AND LOGIC KEEP US CLEAR
last unicorn
Blue Crack Addict
Your lack of humour sense just ruins this thread.
I think it takes a little more to "ruin" a thread like this. Especially in this forum.
And now back to being REALLY serious about this topic.
BVS
Blue Crack Supplier
So this one incident, ONE in 30 years, makes you think he has no "respect with fans...his most valuable capacity as a lead singer"(whatever that means)?
It's comments like this that make me
indra
ONE love, blood, life
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He had a golden moment there and missed it!
It would have been sooooo much better if he had said, "You know, where we come from, it's customary to get the clap at a concert."
kingofsorrow
Refugee
on topic: why would someone get front row tickets, then waste time pulling out a cell phone just to take crappy pics? even the cells with the best camera takes crappy pics, especially with the constantly changing lighting at a concert.
doctorwho
Rock n' Roll Doggie VIP PASS
Bono has yelled at fans before. Granted, maybe this one time he was a bit out of line (given that later on, he asks everyone to take out their cell phones), but he's yelled at fans about whistling, or not being into songs or the show. He's yelled about gas, he's scolded fans about signs (again, when he misunderstood it). So why zoom in on this one moment? Why not take all of them and declare Bono a horrible lead singer. 
Zoots
Blue Crack Supplier
BVS
Blue Crack Supplier
That reminds me of some Eddie Vedder moments... I remember one show in Dallas where he scolded some folks in the front row telling them to stop clapping for they have no rhythm they were throwing him off and ruining the show
. Then another time I remember he started scanning the crowd pointing and mocking fan's signs; "no we're not going to play 'Rats' put the sign down and stop being selfish and blocking people's view, no I won't marry you, that song was a song we played once we wouldn't even remember it, don't you people have lives? Quit wasting your lives and throw the signs away." I thought it was hilarious, the sign people were pissed.
BVS
Blue Crack Supplier
Bano sux.
BanoSuxSupadudMaybe that should be my evil twin...
Just kidding Sicy, I'm not going to make any alters...
ShellBeThere
War Child
ah, sorry
It's weird, I recall when it happened, looking at these boards and seeing even the guy himself reporting on it lol, and I thought it was that he was actually yakkin', how strange. Reading that linked story from the guy felt very strange somehow, like it was different from what I recall reading before...
In that case, bad, bad Bono
Honestly, I was happy to see anyone bitch about cellphones, cameras, whatever it was besides just being at the bloody concert, I'm not really analysing it as a datapoint on whether Bono is a nice guy or a naughty mean guy or needs a spanking or whatever. It tickled me to see, whatever that says about me. Not that there's anything wrong with using it as data of course. To the degree that I do I justify his act, and any similar ones indicating he 'expects' anything from his audience by imagining how much is expected of him and how annoying it must be to have all this stuff between him and other humans, you know, cameras clicking and cellphones buzzing.
That reminds me of some Eddie Vedder moments... I remember one show in Dallas where he scolded some folks in the front row telling them to stop clapping for they have no rhythm they were throwing him off and ruining the show
that's too funny, I like Eddie more now lol. Maybe it was on an arcade fire fansite that I saw a fan's working a recording of Win Butler's telling someone to "put away that fucking sign" into a little dancebeat loop. Win was sick of some fan waving a sign the whole show asking "I need a drumstick for my drumstick collection!" or somesuch silliness and he snapped finally and said I'll give you a fucking drumstick, just stop it with that sign you've been waving the whole show. It's gotta get sorta horrifying for the performer.... really, please, no, it's not that I want to deny you the best goddamned drumstick collection ever man, really, but can you please getta life and not wreck it for the people near you and for me!
Cheers all...
VintagePunk
Blue Crack Distributor
I saw him freak out and lose his shit on a crew member last tour. Feisty little guy. 
jonnytakeawalk
Refugee
jonnytakeawalk
Refugee
Agree completely
He was an ass- no excuses. However he apologised and that's the main thing.
Anyway that Tori Amos clip just plain pissed me off- She interrupted the song to embarrass them. Disrupted the performance, probably ruined the vibe. Sure those people were obviously doing the wrong thing but why not just tell one of the security guards to kick them out?
BVS
Blue Crack Supplier
Yes. The guy started a thread about it
That was tongue in cheek... with the point being it's all about perception.
eltimbomofo
War Child
I was standing about 2 people away when Bono yelled at this person. Was kinda taken aback at the time, but whatever. A few songs later, he asked everyone to pull out their phones for the Miracle Drug light display. I think he apologized at that time. Cool show, front row, good times.
Tim
Tim
Screwtape2
Blue Crack Addict
From everything I've read they were being very distracting to the audience around them. Tori had half a show to see what they were doing. Almost any artist would react the same way if people were distracting the audience around them. Go Tori!
kingofsorrow
Refugee
memo to bono:
when you see doucebags in the audience talking on the phone or taking pics, ignore them. sing your song, then go home and roll around in the idiots money. remember they paid top dollar to go to a show and spend the time being douce's.
when you see doucebags in the audience talking on the phone or taking pics, ignore them. sing your song, then go home and roll around in the idiots money. remember they paid top dollar to go to a show and spend the time being douce's.
djerdap
Rock n' Roll Doggie ALL ACCESS
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That reminds me of some Eddie Vedder moments... I remember one show in Dallas where he scolded some folks in the front row telling them to stop clapping for they have no rhythm they were throwing him off and ruining the show
Probably the best frontman ever. An expert in how to turn a bad situation into something hilarious. Check out these two examples:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nd9iOpMSOns
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Mq6VKY1dSU
MrsSpringsteen
Blue Crack Addict
I went to a Bruce Springsteen solo show a few years back. You weren't allowed to leave once you were seated and they even passed out a little postcard containing the rules- it was intended to be a quiet show. Some people in the back insisted on clapping very loudly and yelling some crap and he told them to shut the f up and said some other things that I can't remember. I thought it was awesome. They deserved it for not being able to behave like adults for a few hours.
dal975
The Fly
A stor
Refugee
Wow...concert crowds have certainly changed. I don't go to many concerts now. But, back in the day, we respected the performers and didn't throw anything at them. Probably, the reason they never cursed at us.
P.S. Thanks for the Pearl Jam links!
P.S. Thanks for the Pearl Jam links!
djerdap
Rock n' Roll Doggie ALL ACCESS
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Addicted To Bad
Refugee
So this one incident, ONE in 30 years, makes you think he has no "respect with fans...his most valuable capacity as a lead singer"(whatever that means)?
It's comments like this that make me
Oh... One in 30 years ??? Hmm... Good for him AND good for us !!
but I´m sure this kind of thing will NOT happen anymore since Bonno is getting a little...err....old and old people usually tend to be more patient and less demanding and exasperated... (or is the opposite..)Anyway... everything is fine now... Don´t feel
with my comments cause this is a closed case for me.... Hope to see you soon !!! This thread... wow!!!
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THE MORE YOU SEE... LESS YOU KNOW
4U2Play
Refugee
A stor
Refugee
Thanks for the link. I think Green Day handled the situation well.
LemonMelon
More 5G Than Man
Hahahaha...oh man. I'm not a Green Day fan, but that was well played.
"I'm not going to become a mud hippie, I don't care what you say!"
A stor
Refugee
I wonder if Green Day's speakers and other equipment got ruined? There was mud all over the front speakers and mud on the guitars. The crowd at the Green Day/Woodstock concert acted like a bunch of idiots. I don't blame the band for walking off.
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