Bono appears in London Court

[what a bomb!]

...as a character witness for REM Peter Buck!

Got this off BBC ceefax

Rock star Bono has told a court how he had never seen REM guitarist Peter Buck drunk, and that he steered clear of drugs and was a "famously" peaceful man.

The lead singer of U2 was a surprise character witness at Buck's trial at Isleworth Crown Court in London.

Bono-who appeared under his real name Paul Hewson- explained how he has known Buck for 17 years and "played with them as a group a few times"

Buck denies charges of common assault and being drunk aboard a aircraft.

Is there no end to Bono's talent? First he saving the world now he is saving rock stars!

Gonna get me a Bono cape! The world has a new superhero! lol

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Round and round the forum I go, where I stop nobody knows, cos I'm a annoying little piece of...Interference!

[This message has been edited by what a bomb! (edited 03-25-2002).]

 

[U2One]

pictures are at youtwo.net

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"Miami, New Orleans, London, Belfast, CHICAGO!" ~ Bono (during Stay) at Chicago 10/16/01

"Home, that's where Chicago is!" ~ Bono (during Walk On) at Chicago 10/16/01

 

[sulawesigirl4]

 

[madonna's child]

He's such a nice guy.

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"I have a dragon, and I know how to use it. I'm a donkey on the edge!" -Shrek

Won't you kiss me on that MIDNIGHT STREET, sweep me OFF MY FEET, singing 'ain't this life SO SWEET?' -David Gray

Love,
Emily

Visit my webpage for U2 wallpapers:
www.geocities.com/springtime5348/index.html

 

[zonelistener]

From the Assoicated Press...(Nice spelling of the band)

Bono testfies in defense of REM musician's alleged air rage incident

Associated Press
Published Mar 25, 2002
LONDON -- U-2 singer Bono testified in a London courtroom today to defend a fellow rocker.

Bono appeared as a character witness for REM guitarist Peter Buck, who's accused of going on a drunken rampage during a British Airways flight from Seattle to London last April.

Bono told the court Buck is a family man not known for drinking or taking drugs.

Prosecutors say Buck acted like a ``drunken lout'' after drinking 15 glasses of wine.

They accuse him of overturning a breakfast trolley, tussling with crew members, and covering them with yogurt.

 

[sulawesigirl4]

Bono, dressed in a black open neck shirt, black jacket and trousers, entered
court Number Seven, took the witness stand and greeted Judge John Crocker
with a courteous "Hello there."

After swearing the oath and giving his full real name, he was asked by Richard Ferguson QC, for Buck: "Known as Bono?" to which he replied: "That's right, for
my sins." (

)

Asked if he knew Buck, he said: "Yes, I know him very well. I have known him since 1985 when his group REM and my group U2 played at the Milton Keynes Bowl together. It was a friendship between our two groups."

Mr Ferguson asked how often he saw the guitarist, to which Bono replied: "It can
be every year or every couple of years. There is no real set pattern because they
are based in Athens, Georgia and we are in Dublin.

"They played with us a good few times, our groups' work has been parallel for the same amount of years. They are one of the only groups who have had the same longevity as our group."

He added: "There has been a certain amount of social interaction just because we like each other's company and there have been professional engagements as well."

When asked if he had ever seen Buck worse for drink, Bono replied: "I have never
ever seen him drunk." When asked the same question about drugs, he said: "I have
absolutely never seen him taking drugs."

Bono also said he came forward to help his friend because Buck "is actually famously known for being a peaceable person. Of all the people in the music business, I couldn't believe my eyes when I read about this. I had to twist his arm to get him to a boxing match once because he thought it was too aggressive a sport.

"I just wanted to stand up and be counted. This is ridiculous. I don't know what must
have happened to him. It is certainly a bizarre event and unusual. He is a very quiet man. It is hard to get him to go on tour because he loves his kids so much," he added.

After spending just five minutes in the witness box, Bono left court saying: "Thanks
very much. Bye bye", waving at the judge and Buck, who looked on from the dock at
the back of court.

 

[BostonAnne]

Originally posted by madonna's child:
He's such a nice guy.

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"There's a lot of real rubbish going on about new music & old music, can I just say we play U2 music? Is that OK?" - Bono, Us Festival 5/30/83

 

[annalivia]

Two more links:
http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-10300746,00.html
http://www.thisislondon.com/dynamic/news/story.html?in_review_id=533212&in_review_text_id=498844

anna

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...in the beginning...
rock'n'roll...
used to be dance music...

 

[Autumn454]

Originally posted by annalivia:
Two more links:
http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-10300746,00.html
http://www.thisislondon.com/dynamic/news/story.html?in_review_id=533212&in_rev iew_text_id=498844

anna

Thanks, if you find more pics please post.

 

[dougal55]

Hi!

Just found this from The Times website! I had forgotten that Bono's middle name was David....I always thought it was just Paul Hewson. Hmmm I wonder what David was named after... Never mind here's the article:

REM guitarist is quiet and sober, Bono tells jury
By Helen Studd

BONO, the lead singer of U2, made an unexpected appearance at Isleworth Crown Court yesterday to give evidence in support of his friend, the REM guitarist Peter Buck.
The Irish singer removed his purple wrap-around sunglasses before stepping into the witness box at the West London court to tell the jury that his friend was ?famously known? as one of the quietest people in the music business. In the 17 years that they had been friends he had never seen Mr Buck drunk or take drugs, he said.

The tales of Mr Buck?s drunken antics on board a British Airways flight from Seattle were bizarre and unusual, he said. ?Of all the people in the music business I could not believe my ears and eyes. It just did not add up to the person I knew,? Bono said.

Mr Buck, 45, is accused of behaving like a drunken lout, grappling with cabin crew and showering them with yoghurt on his way to perform a concert attended by Nelson Mandela in Trafalgar Square last April. He allegedly tried to throttle a British Airways senior purser with his tie and grabbed a stewardess so fiercely that it left two bruises on her wrist.

The court was told that after consuming about 15 glasses of wine he punched the side of the aircraft, overturned a food trolley and reached for the handle to the emergency exit, saying: ?I?m going home.?

Mr Buck denies being drunk on board an aircraft, assaulting two cabin crew and damaging property belonging to BA.

After taking the oath as Paul David Hewson, Bono greeted Judge John Crocker with a cheery ?hello there?. Leaning forward so that his elbows rested on the witness box, the singer said that as long as he had known Mr Buck he had demonstrated an aversion to violence.

?I had to twist his arm to get him to a boxing match once because he thought it was too aggressive a sport,? Bono said. ?It is even hard to get him to go on tour because he loves his kids too much.?

The U2 star, who recently secured a $5 billion Third World aid package from President Bush, was brought in at short notice yesterday as a character witness. The evidence of a key medical witness was interrupted so that Bono, who had flown from Dublin, could have his say.

He said that he had volunteered to give evidence in his friend?s favour after reading about his case and feeling the urge to stand up and be counted. ?I admit it might embarrass him but I had to come here and say it,? he said.

The two bands had frequently socialised when their tour dates coincided and had drunk red wine together on at least ten occasions, he said. Bono said that, although most professional musicians like himself could not drink and sing, they would often celebrate once a concert was over.

He told the court that he could not recall what Mr Buck had drunk on each occasion, but that he did not notice people?s behaviour with alcohol unless they had a problem.

During his whirlwind appearance he was twice stopped midflow by David Bate, counsel for the prosecution, who told him to stick to the question.

Five minutes after entering the witness box he left with a rock-star wave. ?Thanks very much, bye bye,? he said to the judge as he turned first to salute him and then waved at Mr Buck, who sat in the dock at the back of the court. Bono was then driven back to the airport.

The trial continues today, when the lead singer of REM, Michael Stipe, is expected to give evidence.

 

[sulawesigirl4]

During his whirlwind appearance he was twice stopped midflow by David Bate, counsel for the prosecution, who told him to stick to the question.

bwahahaha! That's our Bono! *can just see him rambling away* "Stick to the question, Bono" lmao.

 

[cass]

I mentioned having a powerful musical experience seeing an Australian musician Archie Roach.It was some time ago now, but fond fond memory. "Everybody Hurts" had been recently released and I remember hearing it on the radio and talking about it on the way to the Archie/Yothu Yindi gig.My g'friend's hub is a big REM fan and his brother. I was with that same friend yesterday when Everybody Hurts, followed by Beautiful Day and a Gabrielle song came on the radio. It was marvellous.
I hope Peter Buck gets this sorted out. Bono is a loyal friend to so many people.
Do you still have to swear on the bible in court? And sticking to the point and answering just the question. I'd be no good at that at all.The yoghurt would be the main problem I guess. Yuk, messy.
REM have some great songs. Good luck to them.