U2 bassist's assistant 'stole €2.8m'

A former personal assistant of U2's Adam Clayton earned his trust before being promoted to the role and embezzling €2.8 million of his funds, a court heard today.
Carol Hawkins is on trial for 181 counts of stealing cheques from the bass player between 2004 and 2008.
The Circuit Criminal Court in Dublin heard how the 48-year-old worked for Clayton for some 16 years, earning up to €48,000 a year and living rent free at his home.
She was initially employed as a housekeeper at the bassist's Georgian mansion -- Danesmoate -- in Rathfarnham, South Dublin, but quickly gained his trust and was promoted over the years to the role of personal assistant.

U22 - One Tree Hill [video]

U22 - All I Want Is You/Love Rescue Me [video]

U2.COM : Ambassador of Conscience

Irish and international artists from the worlds of music, drama, cinema and dance, will perform and give readings at the ‘Electric Burma’ concert for Nobel Peace Prize recipient and leader of the National League for Democracy in Burma, Aung San Suu Kyi. The concert will take place at 4.45pm on Monday 18^th June, in the Bord Gais Energy Theatre, Grand Canal Dock, Dublin 2.

The centrepiece of ‘Electric Burma’ will be the presentation of Amnesty International’s prestigious ‘Ambassador of Conscience’ Award to Aung San Suu Kyi. The presentation will be made by Bono and was originally announced from the stage during a concert by long-term campaigners U2 when they played at Croke Park in July 2009.

‘Electric Burma’ will be a celebration of music, dance, and spoken work, and will include contributions by Damien Rice, Angelique Kidjo, Vanessa Redgrave, Bob Geldof, Riverdance, Jack Gleeson and others. Artistic direction and set design has been created by celebrated Catalan designer and director Lluís Danés.

Announcements on further artists and details of the concert will be made on www.electricburma.com. Tickets for Electric Burma will go on general sale this Friday, 2^nd June, at 9am via www.ticketmaster.ie, priced from €25 each.

‘Electric Burma’ is being organised and promoted by Bill Shipsey, founder of Art for Amnesty – Amnesty International’s global artist engagement programme. Aung San Suu Kyi is travelling to Ireland and attending the ‘Electric Burma’ concert directly from Oslo where she will deliver the acceptance speech for the Nobel Peace Prize that she was awarded in 1991 having been under house arrest or in prison for 15 of the last 24 years. This will be her first trip to Europe since 1988.

Speaking at a press conference to give details of ‘Electric Burma’ at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre, Bill Shipsey commented, “Why Ireland for a concert for Aung San Suu Kyi? Samuel Beckett was once asked why we produced so many musicians and writers and dancers. He said that ‘when you live on the last ditch (of Europe) all you can do is sing.’

“’Electric Burma’ will give a charge to the people of Burma. But the electricity for this concert will be provided by the star who will be seated in the stalls for most of the show. Everybody else who performs, no matter how celebrated or gifted, is a support act. Walk on Aung San Suu Kyi to the Dublin stage. A free woman of Dublin since 2001 and now a free woman of the world.”

The Executive Director of Amnesty International Ireland, Colm O’Gorman, commented, “Aung San Suu Kyi’s visit is a truly momentous occasion for everyone in Ireland, and throughout the world, who campaigned tirelessly for her release for more than twenty years. On behalf of Amnesty International members across the globe we are honoured to welcome her to Ireland for an event that will celebrate her freedom and her extraordinary life’s work to secure freedom and human rights for her people.”

U2’s Bono commented, “It's so rare to see grace trump military might and when it happens we should make the most joyful noise we can. Aung San Suu Kyi’s grace and courage has tilted a wobbly world further in the direction of democracy. We all feel we know her, but it will be such a thrill to meet her in person. How honoured we are that she should consider Ireland for her first real trip from home.”

Bob Geldof commented, “To be allowed to honour this woman is an honour in itself. The heroine of dignity, integrity, courage and steely moral vigour lost her freedom and her family in order to gain a nation. Ireland is enobled by her visit.”

Amnesty International will host a public celebration outside the Bord Gais Energy Theatre on the evening of the concert at which it is expected that Aung San Suu Kyi will make a brief address to the assembled crowd. Further details will be available in due course.

U2.COM : Download Twelve

'...as for the tracks, they’re outstanding as U2 always are! UltraViolet has always been a  favourite and from listening to the live version, it’s easy to see why! Magnificent, I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, Elevation, One Tree Hill, City of Blinding Lights … phenomenal! Thanks very much Bono, Edge, Adam and Larry...'


U22, the soundtrack of U2360° featuring 22 songs chosen by fans across the world, is now released.

From today subscribers to U2.com can download 12 tracks immediately - and the limited-edition, double-live CD and photo book will be be in the mail to you.

From All I Want Is You to Walk On, Mysterious Ways to Bad, and Even Better Than The Real Thing to With or Without You this specially commissioned CD set runs to over two hours and is the definitive record of the 360° Tour.

Presented in a deluxe book of live photos, it also features  liner notes from Adam Clayton. Take a look at the tracklisting, some of the artwork and the videos.

Subscribe to U2.com and  download ELEVEN tracks from U22 - plus a bonus track,  'UNKNOWN CALLER', that's not on the double CD.

Check out the benefits of a U2.com subscription...  and start downloading the tour that was U2360°

U22 - The Videos !!!

U2.COM : 'In a parked car, in a crowded street...'

Something sound familiar in the newly released trailer for Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby, coming later in the year.

The trailer opens with Jay-Z and Kanye's 'No Church In The Wild' playing in the background but a minute in and we're listening to a blistering vocal from Jack White...  performing Love Is Blindness.

 Take a look.

Jack and Edge worked together with Jimmy Page on the documentary film  It Might Get Loud. U2 wrote Love Is Blindness  for Achtung Baby in 1991 and Edge performed the song solo during the making of From The Sky Down last year.  Jack's version first came to light on 'AHK-toong BAY-bi Covered' last year.

Two special performances. One fine song.

Bono to appear on stage with Suu Kyi at concert during whistle-stop tour

BONO will appear on stage with Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi when she attends a special concert in her honour here next month.
A theatrical celebration has been planned for Ms Suu Kyi in the Bord Gais Theatre in Dublin's docklands on June 18. Ms Suu Kyi will attend the event as part of a whistle-stop visit to Dublin.
While U2 will not appear as a band, Bono has not ruled out making a musical contribution on the evening, according to sources close to the group.
The singer campaigned for many years on behalf of Ms Suu Kyi (66) and prominently featured her 15 years of house arrest in Burma during the band's performances.
The visit is being organised by Amnesty International and Art for Amnesty founder Bill Shipsey has promised a "special event to mark the occasion".
Ms Suu Kyi will be presented with Amnesty International's most prestigious award -- Ambassador of Conscience -- at the concert.
It is understood that the human rights organisation asked Dublin entrepreneur Harry Crosbie to stage the event in the theatre.
Mr Crosbie, who produced a concert for Queen Elizabeth's visit last year at the Convention Centre in the capital, was unavailable for comment yesterday.
Sources close to Foreign Affairs Minister Eamon Gilmore confirmed that the Burmese opposition leader would, however, not be staying overnight in Dublin.
"Ms Suu Kyi will only be in Dublin for half a day or less and the concert will be the focal point, where she will receive awards and plaudits, but no details have been finalised," said the source.
Although she will address both Houses of Parliament at Westminster in London after she leaves Ireland, it is understood that there are no plans for her to address the houses of the Oireachtas.
"The Government will be happy to facilitate anything for the celebrated visitor but they are aware Ms Suu Kyi is a guest of Amnesty International," the source said.
Prize
Ms Suu Kyi is expected to fly to Dublin from Oslo where she will formally accept the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to her in 1991.
In Dublin Ms Suu Kyi will be presented with a number of honours awarded to her during her years of house arrest, including the freedom of Dublin city, granted to her in 2000 alongside the members of U2.
Earlier this month in Burma, Ms Suu Kyi was sworn in as an MP after her National League for Democracy won 43 seats in parliament.
Although the ruling military junta kept her under house arrest for 15 years, Ms Suu Kyi was always free to leave Burma -- but she refused, fearing she would not be readmitted.
Her European tour marks the first trip outside Burma since 1988. After her release from house arrest in 2010, Ms Suu Kyi said she wanted to develop closer ties with Ireland.
Mr Gilmore said he looked forward to discussing how Ireland can assist the people of Burma with Ms Suu Kyi.

source : http://www.independent.ie/ by Sam Smyth

U2.COM : U22: Tracklisting, Video, Photos

'I'm so happy! I cried a lot when Unknown Caller didn't enter the U22, but now I'm euphoric!'

'Definitely the best fan club release to date. U2 truly knows how to take care of their fans.'

'I'm so excited to get this CD. this was my 1st concert, even tho I've loved u2 forever, what an awesome way to remember.'

'Cant wait to get my cd from the best live band of all time.'

With the imminent release of the double-live CD from U2360°, the anticipation is rising and people are posting some great comments. In the countdown to release we're adding  information about U22 to the site every day

Take a look at this new gallery collecting the live video  clips from different songs.  And check out these sneak preview images from the deluxe book that comes with  U22.

And in case you missed it, here's the tracklisting. Is it the one you predicted ? Tell us what you think in the comments below.

U22 - THE DOUBLE-LIVE CD FROM U2360°
22 TRACKS SELECTED BY U2.COM SUBSCRIBERS

DISC ONE
1. EVEN BETTER THAN THE REAL THING
2. THE FLY
3. MYSTERIOUS WAYS
4. MAGNIFICENT
5. UNTIL THE END OF THE WORLD
6. I STILL HAVEN'T FOUND WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR
7. STAY (FARAWAY, SO CLOSE!)
8. ONE TREE HILL
9. BEAUTIFUL DAY
10. ELEVATION
11. BAD

DISC TWO
12. ALL I WANT IS YOU/LOVE RESCUE ME
13. THE UNFORGETTABLE FIRE
14. ZOOROPA
15. CITY OF BLINDING LIGHTS
16. MLK/WALK ON
17. ONE
18. WHERE THE STREETS HAVE NO NAME
19. ULTRA VIOLET (LIGHT MY WAY)
20. WITH OR WITHOUT YOU
21. MOMENT OF SURRENDER
22. OUT OF CONTROL

U2's Bono praises Queen's use of Gaelic during trip to Republic of Ireland

Bono made a room full of celebrities cheer when he praised the Queen for speaking in Irish during her trip to the Republic last year.
The U2 singer, Joan Collins and Sir Paul McCartney paid tribute to the Queen as she attended a Diamond Jubilee celebration of the arts at the Royal Academy of Arts in central London.
Addressing the Queen, Bono said: “I wanted to take this opportunity to acknowledge the extraordinary magic that you made on your trip to Ireland last year.”
He joked: “And the Queen spoke Gaelic. I can't even speak Gaelic.”
She met Sir Paul and his wife Nancy Shevell as she toured the galleries of the academy.
Sir Paul declared that he was a “huge fan” of the Queen.
The former Beatle said: “It is always wonderful meeting her. She's great.
“It is always a great pleasure meeting her —– I'm a big fan.”
In another room the Queen met Dame Shirley Bassey and Joan Collins.
“I'm such a great admirer of her,” said Collins.
“I think she is the most wonderful, incredible woman and just a great Queen. There will never be anyone like her again.
“I always want to know what she keeps in the handbag.”
The Queen also met choirmaster Gareth Malone, singer Jamie Cullum and his wife Sophie Dahl, and Sir Jonathan Ive — who was knighted at Buckingham Palace yesterday.