'It's probably easy today to dismiss
Negativland's activities as trifle, banal or plain stupid. They probably wouldn't be too uncomfortable with that, as they rarely claimed to go beyond the softest platitudes of the entertainment biz.
No Other Possibility (1989, 58 mins,
.avi d/l link), their first video work, showcases the band at a career threshold, before their
U2ploitation move and just after their
Christianity hoax. It typically explores the debris of American pop culture, dealing with automobile fetishism, televised preaching, halloween traditions, Marlboro masculinity, soft drinks and MTV.'
[more inside]
posted by item
on Nov 30, 2012 -
31 comments
For some, it's a document examining a pivotal point in rock history with one of the biggest bands. For others, it is a eulogy marking the transformation of a vibrant force in music into ironic self-importance. Either way, David Guggenheim's 2011 film
From The Sky Down [in
two parts, ~90m total,
trailer] is an interesting, somewhat historical, definitely hagiographic documentary about the struggles U2 faced between the end of the Joshua Tree tour and during the recording and release of
Achtung Baby.
[more inside]
posted by hippybear
on Nov 7, 2012 -
70 comments
At 16,
she published her first book, started
writing for Melody Maker, and
won the Observer Young Reporter Of The Year competition, and they gave her a column. At 17, she "skipped ship" over to
The Times, and has been writing there since.
U2 filmed a video in her house at 18, when she was co-presenting on the short-lived
Naked City program, interviewing
Björk,
Iggy Pop, and
others. Caitlin Moran won the British Press
Awards' Columnist of The Year award in 2010 and Critic and Interviewer of the Year in 2011, and
Glamour Magazine's Writer of the Year award in 2012. The last award was in large part for her book
How To Be a Woman, her
mission from God to reclaim feminism, though it was more in the lines of The Blues Brothers: crashing a lot of cars, and having a hoot.
The "British Tina Fey" talks about contemporary sexual issues such as slut walks,
pop culture, clothing and women, abortion, having the sex talk, and
why "it's actually technically impossible for a woman to argue against feminism".
posted by filthy light thief
on Sep 9, 2012 -
45 comments
At the end of November, 1979, this band was just a year and half old and had played fewer than 40 sets. They had a handful of embryonic songs influenced by Television and Magazine, and a 3-month old, 3-song EP with
two decent
songs. Then they went to London to play a bunch of gigs behind that EP, and in just 6 months, over 40 gigs, they exploded.
They watched in the studio during the January 1980 recording of “
Love Will Tear Us Apart,” wooing Joy Division’s producer Martin Hannett; appeared on TV that month with
a song they had only played 4 times, and released a
forgettable single at the end of February. Suddenly new songs poured out at a remarkable rate:
”Twilight”,
“Things to make and Do,” “
A Day Without Me”,
”Trevor” became
”Touch”,
”Silver Lining” transformed into
a second single (produced by Hannett). They signed a record contract in March, and immediately began recording a
stunning debut album. By the summer they had more songs: a
psychedelic/sexual horror tune, and a
hot new single.
It all became
bloated and sucky commercial and atmospheric soon after, but for a while there,
boy did
they rock. [more inside]
posted by msalt
on Jun 30, 2012 -
127 comments
Fifteen years and three weeks ago, four lads from Dublin wandered into a K-Mart in NYC and attracted a crowd as they played a song they've never played live since. They then took some questions from the audience about their intentions over the next year or so. The proceedings were carried live on music television stations around the world. (Part
1 2 3 4) The day was February 12, 1997; the song was Holy Joe; the men performing were U2. They were announcing the release of their new album,
POP, released 15 years ago, on March 3, 1997. Loved by many critics, adored by many fans, met with an indifferent shrug by the general public, and repeatedly scorned by the band themselves, perhaps it's time to look back again at this controversial groundbreaking album and landmark tour.
[more inside]
posted by hippybear
on Mar 2, 2012 -
84 comments
This week, the world will finally get its first look at Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark
. But the most expensive musical in Broadway history has already had an epic run—battling bankruptcy, broken wrists, unruly technology, and one comic villain disguised as a Post columnist. And at the center of it all, perched over her “God mike,” is the relentless and inventive Julie Taymor. (previously)
posted by Joe Beese
on Nov 23, 2010 -
49 comments
Only 325 days until Broadway's Hilton Theater hosts the first preview of
Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, a $40 million musical directed by Juliet Taymor with music and lyrics by Bono and The Edge of U2. Investors hope it will fare better than
another big-budget pulp adaptation.
posted by Joe Beese
on Feb 25, 2009 -
35 comments
Bonofilter: Yesterday, May 16, U2 front-man Bono was a guest "editor" for the UK newspaper
The Independent. Called the
"RED Edition," half of this issue's proceeds went "to help fight HIV and AIDS among women and children in Africa." Highlights included US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice offering her take on
"The Ten Best Musical Works" and an
interview with Eddie Izzard on immigration in Europe. Is there a downside to celebrity editing, or is it a win-win-win for Bono, The Independent, and some people in need?
posted by bardic
on May 17, 2006 -
33 comments
Newsfilter: Bill Gates, Melinda Gates and
Paul Hewson named by Time Magazine as their persons of the year in recognition of their efforts against HIV-1, malaria and debt in Africa. "For being shrewd about doing good, for rewiring politics and re-engineering justice, for making mercy smarter and hope strategic and then daring the rest of us to follow, Bill and Melinda Gates and Bono are Time's Persons of the Year."
said the mag's editor-in-chief.
posted by docgonzo
on Dec 18, 2005 -
123 comments
Built at
Lockheed's secret
Skunk Works facility for use by the
Central Intelligence Agency, and in service since 1950s, the
U2 spy plane has seen service all over the world (or, at the very least,
70,000 feet above it). It has shown us what both our friends and enemies were doing,
helping us avert wars, and in at least one occasion, almost
causing one itself. Today, just over 45 years since
Francis Gary Powers fell from the sky into the Soviet Union, the United States Air Force has announced from Baghdad that yet another Dragon Lady has
fallen from the sky in an undisclosed location in Southwestern Asia.
posted by NotMyselfRightNow
on Jun 22, 2005 -
37 comments
Bono's commencement address to U.Penn. "The world is more malleable than you think and it's waiting for you to hammer it into shape.... That's what this degree of yours is, a blunt instrument. So go forth and build something with it."
[via Ed]
posted by rory
on Jun 2, 2004 -
46 comments
When Bad Singers Happen To Good Songs: The Songicides! In today's
Spectator Markus Berkmann amusingly raises the deadly spectre of the worst
covers ever recorded. We're talking assassins here. I nominate Phil Collins's massacre of Holland/Dozier/Holland's "You Can't Hurry Love", as originally sung by Diana Ross and the Supremes; U2's goring of Cole Porter's "Night and Day", best sung by Sinatra or Ella and, worst of all, though he's my favourite artist, Leonard Cohen's mangling of Irving Berlin's classic "Always". What's
the worst cover version you'd like to report to Musical Homicide?
posted by MiguelCardoso
on Sep 4, 2003 -
137 comments
"It's a beautiful day..."
So i hear U2's singer, the great and charismatic Bono, has just been
nominated for nobel peace prize.
Of course, we the french, find it very amusing to find Chirac nominated. (Oh, the hysteria if ever he won).
Also
in the race is ex Gov. George H Ryan, who amongst other achievements declared a moratorium in 2000, before leaving his job a few months ago... with class.
Or maybe they'll just choose Bono & Chirac for
knowing how to work together on the 'drop the debt' issue?
So,
what do you say?
(i'd have to go with Bono, i'm afraid. Rock n roll but effective and passionate...)
posted by Sijeka
on Feb 19, 2003 -
39 comments
U2 sells out (again?). I just got this email, which calls for a boycott of
Best Buy because of an exclusive distribution deal with
U2. Apparently, their upcoming concert DVD will
be available at Best Buy two weeks before we can buy it
anywhere else. Personally, I hoping for another
interview with the Edge in which he claims to know nothing about this.
I've always been a fan, but it is difficult to decide if these guys are genuine humanitarians or corporate pawns. In this day in age, I'm sure you can be both and get away with it.
posted by jeffvc
on Nov 14, 2001 -
57 comments
U2 still providing rockingly spiritual balm for the masses
"...the need for great art, meaningful art has deepened considerably..." --concert review
U2 rocked through all our favorites last night at a sold-out show at Chicago's United Center. Fans were jammin' as well as they could in the steeply vertical arena seating. Then came the encore, which began with a defiant "New York," and continued with "One" as the names of 9/11 victims scrolled slowly on a huge projection screen. The crowd stilled, and I looked around at tearful faces & couples holding each other & sobbing. Probably the first real, shared catharsis for many of us.
Sincere thanks, U2, for helping us let it all out.
I wish *everyone* could have been there. Have you had a good cry yet?
posted by Tubes
on Oct 16, 2001 -
31 comments
Bono, Fred Durst and P Diddy cover Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On". More Music From Hell news, even if the proceeds are for World AIDS Day and AIDs research.
"I just thought, you know, we're the usual suspects. Don't come to us. We're too right on," Bono said backstage at the VMAs. "Go raid the pop charts. Go ask Britney Spears. Go ask Jennifer Lopez. Go ask 'NSYNC. Go ask the rappers, the hip-hop guys like Ja Rule or Nelly or DMX...The Global AIDS Alliance originally asked Bono and Wyclef Jean to record the song; however, Bono had other ideas.
posted by BarneyFifesBullet
on Sep 10, 2001 -
10 comments
Sen. Helms Takes in U2 Concert It seems that Jesse and Bono are pretty good friends. I just didn't imagine that -- I thought Bono liked Strom Thurmond much better. Show's how politically savvy I am. At least Jesse took his grandkids; I'm sure they would have given him hell for a while for leaving them out!
posted by dwivian
on Jun 17, 2001 -
6 comments
"The members of U2 kindly request that
all fans of the group be physically attractive. In order to have a Beautiful Day, we require Beautiful People. Thank you for your understanding." (BTW, it turns out the article is wrong. HBO had nothing to do with it; it was entirely U2's decision.)
posted by aaron
on Jun 14, 2001 -
7 comments
You too can play with U2. With a little forethought and practice, a guy named Glen Goland lived every amateur guitarist's wet dream last night in Boston. Have you done anything to make your wildest dream come true? Or, like me, are you just letting it all ride on dumb luck?
posted by dchase
on Jun 8, 2001 -
19 comments
Bono meets at White House
"We have an ongoing discussion here with people in the White House about the AIDS issue and Africa. It's very, very important to this president and the administration." Huh?
posted by Gilbert
on Jun 2, 2001 -
18 comments
