Robin Hood 2013

U2.COM : 'Songs Are Everything'

'I've been working for Nelson Mandela since I was about 18 years old. and Mandela says... poverty is not a natural condition. It is man made. This is your chance to eradicate it... I've always been on the justice kick rather than a charity one. '

Bono is the guest of The Charlie Rose Show tonight and highlights have aired on CBS This Morning. As well as talking about his political work and the  role of the US in fighting global poverty, he reflects on how music changed him and on songwriting, his 'drug of choice.'

'Songs are everything really to us in the band. People say that your songs, they're like your children. No, they're like your parents. Really, they tell you what to do, they tell you how to behave, they tell you how to misbehave, how to dress. Everything you do is directed by the songs. '

Watch the full hour long interview on The Charlie Rose Show at 11 pm EDT on PBS - and on Bloomberg International tomorrow night. 

U2.COM : With Mary J. Blige In New York

The Robin Hood Foundation raised more than $80 million to fight poverty in New York at a star-studded gala last night. 

Bono joined Mary J. Blige onstage for 'One' and 'Moment of Surrender' while other performers included Elton John, Sting and Paul Simon.

This is what the Foundation is all about   - we'll have more news later.

Bono fronts Aslan at gig for ailing Christy

Bono is set to front Aslan at an upcoming charity concert for Christy Dignam.

They may come from opposite ends of Ballymun and be rock rivals, but at the same time they are the best of friends.

Now Bono has agreed to front Dignam's band at A Night For Christy in the Olympia Theatre next month.

The Herald has learned that the U2 singer has pledged his support to the night, which will see some of the biggest names in Irish pop and rock perform to help pay the medical expenses of the Aslan frontman, who is battling cancer.

"There are some people who are going to get up on the night, but we can't announce in advance because of the crowd-control situation. We're just not allowed to say who they are," guitarist Billy McGuinness said, announcing the concert on Tom Dunne's Newstalk programme.

Bono had been among the well-wishers to send Christy a personal message as he underwent chemotherapy during a 10-week stay in Beaumont Hospital being treated for two forms of blood cancer.

tickets

A handwritten card from Bono and his wife Ali was spotted by a visiting journalist.

Bono has vowed to support the benefit by turning up as one of the guest vocalists fronting Aslan on the night.

But he could have competition from Christy himself, who has vowed to take the stage himself if he's well enough.

"It really will be down to how Christy feels on the night. All we know is that we could fill the bill for this concert several times over such is the support we've had.

"It fact the line-up for A Night For Christy is better than most of the summer festivals this year and all as a result of goodwill for Christy," said Billy McGuinness.

Bono's pal Gavin Friday, Mark, Feehily of Westlife, Bressie, Danny O'Reilly (The Coronas), Horslips, Ryan Sheridan, Paul Brady, Shane MacGowan, Mary Black, Don Mescall, Tom Dunne (Something Happens), Jerry Fish, Steve Wall (The Stunning), Gavin Friday, Paul Walsh (Royseven) are among the artists performing.

Tickets from €30 including booking fee will go on sale from Ticketmaster outlets nationwide this Friday.

source : http://www.herald.ie/

Happy 53 bday B-man!!!

U2.COM : Happy Birthday Willie!

'Happy Birthday, Willie!  80 and still a pilgrim.  All the best… Bono, The Edge, Adam & Larry.'
Never before seen footage of 'Slow Dancing' with Willie Nelson, made by filmmaker & friend Lian Lunson.

Art by Bono for auction

Limited-edition prints of U2 star’s art in Dublin auction

Jack B Yeats, Sir William Orpen, Seán Keating, Colin Middleton, Mary Swanzy and, eh, Bono? The U2 star is among the artists in Morgan O’Driscoll’s auction on Monday. Lot 188 is a set of limited-edition prints of the drawings made by Bono in 2003 to illustrate “a new interpretation of Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf by Gavin Friday”.

The estimate for the signed set of five giclée prints (set number 28 from an edition of 200 copies) is €2,000-€3,000. It is understood that the vendor paid €5,000 at the time.

The original drawings/paintings by Bono were sold at a charity auction, to raise funds for the Irish Hospice Foundation, at Christies’ in New York 10 years ago amd made $368,000 (€283,000).

The prints, and more than 200 other lots, go on view from noon today at the Clyde Court (formerly Berkeley Court) Hotel in Ballsbridge where the auction takes place on Monday at 6pm.

A small early painting by Jack B Yeats, titled Hot Weather/Hot Day and dating from 1913, is from a private Dublin collection and is appearing at auction for the first time. The oil-on-board , measuring just 18cm by 28cm, is estimated at €30,000-€60,000.

Other highlights include a late self-portrait portrait by Seán Keating, painted when he was aged 83 in 1972, five years before his death (€6,000-€8,000); The Old House, Pont-Aven , a late 19th-century Breton village scene by Co Down artist, Helen Mabel Trevor (€4,000-€6,000); and, In The National Gallery by Thomas Ryan with an inscription dated Oct 4th, 1965, describing the picture as “Oliver Snoddy seated. The two daughters of Mr Guerin, porter, near door”, (€2,500-€3,500). 

source : http://www.irishtimes.com/

U2.COM : Walk This Way

Adam has signed a pair of his favourite Alexander McQueen Puma high tops - and they're under the hammer right now on ebay.

In total over 40 pairs of shoes, donated and signed by Ireland’s top celebrities and sport stars, are available from the eBay store ‘walkinmyshoes2013’.

All funds raised will be donated to ‘Walk in My Shoes’,  a campaign raising support for mental health services for young people in Ireland.

Paul Gilligan CEO of St. Patrick’s University Hospital said, 'Unfortunately talking about mental illness is still taboo, through Walk in My Shoes we are hoping to get the message across that mental illness can affect anyone at anytime and talking about it is vital.'

The auction runs until Sunday - check out the footwear and make your bid.

Bono sings for Quincy Jones & Michael Caine @ Las Vegas gala!

U2.COM : 'One I Keep Coming Back To'

Ahead of Walk In My Shoes day this  Friday, Hot Press have posted their recent interview with Adam.

Walk In My Shoes, an initiative of St. Patrick’s University Hospital, Dublin, is all about raising funds and  awareness of mental health issues facing young Irish people.

As well as talking in depth about the taboos surrounding mental health, Adam also talks about the work he and the band are doing in the studio - and some of the music he's been listening to. He namechecks albums by The Tribes, The Vaccines, The Villagers, The Original Rudeboys and The Maccabees. 

'The Tribes album, Baby, is one I keep coming back to. The Vaccines have that garage-y Ramones thing going on, which I’m a sucker for. The Villagers album is great - Conor J. O’Brien is an incredibly talented guy. I made a bit of a connection today at the Walk In My Shoes launch with The Original Rudeboys - they have a lot of energy. A band I really like and got to see in London recently are The Maccabees. They sound quite tough on record, but live are a bit… not wimpy, sensitive!'

So there's five to watch from Adam but while you wait for the next U2 album what five bands are you getting into? What album are you loving right now? Who've you caught live that blew you away? In the comments below,  spread the word on the five acts and five records you're into in 2013.