U2 Garners Green Controversy!!!
Although U2 has preached about world hunger and environmental issues, the band has ignited harsh criticism over the sizeable cost of their recent world tour.
The three steel structures that make up the custom-built stage cost between £15 and £20 million each, becoming the most ambitious endeavor of any world tour, including the intricate stages of Madonna and The Rolling Stones.
"We're spending the money on our fans, I don't think there's a better thing you could spend it on," said guitarist The Edge.
The green and orange "claw" stage allowed an estimated 88,000 fans an unobstructed of the band at England's Wembley Stadium this past weekend.
Talking Heads singer David Byrne was one of many that offered his thoughts, "$40 million to build the stage and, having done the math, we estimate 200 semi trucks crisscrossing Europe for the duration. It could be professional envy speaking here, but it sure looks like, well, overkill, and just a wee bit out of balance given all the starving people in Africa and all."
But, the band feels that this is part of the touring process!
"I think anybody that's touring is going to have a carbon footprint. I think it's probably unfair to single out rock 'n' roll," continued The Edge. There's many other things that are in the same category but as it happens we have a programme to offset whatever carbon footprint we have. We'd love to have some alternative to big trucks bringing the stuff around but there just isn't one"
Do U think U2 are a bunch of hypocrites?!
[Image via WENN.]
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Yes! They are the biggest hypocrites in the world. I hate them…
#1 comment!!
#1
who cares
They are such idiots and their music sucks, Im sick of all these preaching 'pop stars' GET LOST U2 and especially you BONO!!!
Fuck Carbon Footprint bullshit
JAAAA!
As much as I HATE U2, part of me has to say they are being targeted unfairly. At least they DO offset their carbon footprint. But as for no alternative to driving around Europe? What about the amazing Euro railway system? And still, I don't think the mission is to break even with your own carbon footprint at this point. I think we need to get ahead of it and attempt to reverse the damage done. But at least they are trying to help in other ways. They don't deserve bad press for this.
I think you're trying to convince people to have a problem with U2 because their new album wasn't some disco/electroclash pile of shit, and they didn't suck Dita Von Teese's dick once.
Perez is getting married.
Perez you're an idiot, they are artists and any money they give to charity etc should be accepted gratefully since it's not their obligation to do so.
hypocrites? YES THEY ARE!
Oh, my darlings, U2 has bigger fish to fry than this.
Just like every other big name in Rock or Hollywood. How many disposable diapers do you think Brad and Angie go through? Do you think they use cloth? How much do you think George Clooney spends going back and forth to his Italy castle. They want everyone in the world to save money and recycle but them.
They are so full of shit! The bigest hypocrites of all, well their music sucks so they need something to draw stupid ass people to concert, and that short man Bono has small dick, so at least stage has to be huge, no matter that it cost enough to feed some small african country.
Yes, but all the "green" celebrities are. They live in ENORMOUS houses (which need to be cooled and heated) and fly to their multiple vacation destinations all year in private jets then preach about being conservative.
They're hypocrite douchebags. The 40 million dollars they spent on the stage could have fed a lot of hungry people and alleviated a lot of suffering. Bono needs to get over himself and put his money where his mouth is.
YES THEY ARE!!!!! Along with Al Gore & Leonardo DiCaprio, and all the rest of those dumb ass celebrities that think we are killing the world!!
Always have. Always will.
I'm glad someone pointed out that the boys are offsetting their carbon footprint! I really don't see the big deal here. Also I think it should be pointed out that there are actually a number of stages, which cuts down on traveling across Europe with them.
Re: kris_smith87 – Good point on the multiple stages. Could they do more? Yes. We all could. The point is that they are doing something. And who's to say they won't learn from this? Maybe they'll auction off these stage pieces and give the money to charity. I want to believe so. And I bet that Angie and Brad actually do use cloth diapers. It's not that uncommon. My sister runs a daycare, and more and more people are doing that.
If they have to have all that to make a good show…then it shows they aren't making good music.
U2 are a non stop juggernaut. They do things differently. May be the reason why they more relevant now in the 20 plus years they been together. if you been to a u2 show you would see that..
Any form of mass entertainment machine (movies, music, sports, etc…) is very expensive to produce and deploy - especially to a world wide market.
U2 has been putting themselves up to be skewered for a long time by undertaking these massive tours while campaigning for Amnesty, Africa or whatever.
I guess it is just the cost of doing a bigger/better thing to get us to pay attention. At least they are using the platform to be big entertainers and raise other issues or causes.
I am sure they actually love the hypocricy of it all. It spurns names like David Byrne to further their name in the press for free.
I wish the enviro Nazis would STFU. Bono & U2 have done so much good work for Africa. David Byrne is misanthropic hateful douche, just ask his former band mates in the Talking Heads.
Heh youre shocked by a band that wants people to donate their money to charities all over the world, but do everything in their power to dodge paying taxes in their own country?
FU@K YOU U2.THERE ARE BANDS BETTER THAN YOU THAT HAVE TO SLEEP IN THEIR CARS WHILE TOURING………….BUT 2U BIGGER IS BETTER!!!
Yes, they're hypocrites!!! They're probably only involved in charity just to look good and be smug about it– watch South Park's "More Crap" and it'll all make sense.
YEAH! bono sucks and needs to go away.
i was there it was absolutly amazing, i never liked u2, i got given the ticket and they blew me away! to be honest you had to be there to understand so none of you know what your talking about, there were points when i thought that it was too much but it wasnt about the starving kids in ethiopia or anything, it was about there performance and it was amazing, and im not lying when i say this but i heard a group of people say they feel their lives felt better for being there
they are being targeted by rival bands, what did you think they were going to say
but i still think bono is a douche
Are you serious? Rock stars spending a whole lotta cash is news now? Like someone else stated here, U2 are totally NOT obliged to give ANY money to charity. But just so happens - they do. And when they spend their money on something else, people are shocked. I think the messages they send out to their public during those concerts are priceless. Back in 1993 U2 helped bring the news from war-wrecked Sarajevo to the world, when no-one gave a damn about some place far away where people were killed, tortured and raped on a daily basis. U2 showed that reality to their public. That also is priceless.
I bet not even half of the people who posted their comments here have never given their money to any kind of charity nor they care about helping people in need. So who exactly is a hypocrite here?
Ok - LOVE U2 and TRULY believe they adore their fans and do alot to keep ticket prices down and want to give us a great show BUT. . .
not for nothin' - did the journalist ask The Edge what exactly the programme is to "offset the carbon footprint"? Will they be providing public transit to and from the concert? Forgo private jets from this day forward? Use solar powered espresso machines back stage? I mean . . . really? I LOVE U2, but . . . really? "Er . . . it just so happens we have a programme to offset the carbon footprint . . . er . . . ya, that's it." Um. . . how ’bout ya share your super magical solution with the rest of us so we can nip this environmental issue once and for all . . . I'm just sayin'
Perez, I graduated from college with a journalism degree in 2008. In fact, I had contacted you in 2007, seeking an internship. But the more I read your site, the more it boggles my mind how factually inaccurate, as well as grammatically incorrect you are in practically every story. If you had properly researched this story for example, you would have read this: "Live Nation, the producers of the U2, U2 360° Tour, have confirmed their commitment to producing the largest concert tour in history in an environmentally responsible manner with a goal of balancing the Tour's direct carbon footprint through a comprehensive reduction and offset strategy."
Take five minutes and double check your work, please.
There is also talk of U@ donating their stages at the end of the tour. One place being talked about is somewhere in South America so that there can be a permanent concert venue in that area.
blahblahblah…
Because of that stupid claw they cant come to Puerto Rico.
Total hypocrites, wrong!
As you've said, Madonna, The Rolling Stones, et al have spend absurd amounts of money on sets and production, time and time again, yet no one questions where that money might have been better spent, but … because U2 has been known to donate large sums of money and time for a good cause, they're under the gun. If they'd never given a dime to help a cause no one would say a word. No, I don't think they're being hypocritical.
I like the Talking Heads' music, but David Byrne can STFU now. Honestly, can the Green Police just go away, please, and leave us in peace? We're not all going to get rid of our cars and drink out of the tap and wear pleather, OK? Be my guest if you want, but can we please just go about our business without you bitching at us?
You left out a word, editor in chief.
The green and orange "claw" stage allowed an estimated 88,000 fans an unobstructed XXXX of the band at England's Wembley Stadium this past weekend.
Re: Akasha71 – I think you have a good point. They certainly are NOT obligated to donate any of their money. However, I am similarly not obligated to purchase any of their music or buy a ticket to their show. Nor am I obligated to adore and worship them like they appear to enjoy being adored and worshiped.
I think people get annoyed when it appears that certain people personally benefit IN PART from humanitarian work that many people believe should be PURELY motivated. (It goes without saying that Bono's image of sainthood has most definitely been a financial and egotistical benefit to U2). Add a dash of preaching, a sprinkle of judgy brow beating and top it off with a little “do as I say, not as I do” and viola! People are pissed.
Notwithstanding, although I'm a little disappointed, I think U2 is amazingly talented, deserve all of their accolades for their music and the world IS a better place because of people like Bono shining light on people that have little to no voice. Nevertheless, I will NOT attend their concert because I believe this type of extravagance is distasteful, harmful and sets an extremely bad example for young people.
Re: Jai – i am no fan of u2, but last time i checked it was not up to boner boy to feed all of africa. a tour is a business venture and they are obviously turning a massive profit
What have you done to make the world a better place?
"…spending the money on our fans."
No, you're not, Edge, you fucking douche. What you're doing is spending money ON DISPOSEABLE ENVIRONMENTALLY UNSOUND CRAP so people will buy your records, and therefore give you MORE money to spend on DISPOSEABLE ENVIRONMENTALLY UNSOUND CRAP.
Fucking hypocrits. Jesus goddamned Christ, is everyone in THE entertainment industry this delusional about "helping people"?
SELFISH MEGALOMANIACS.
I think that U2 has done alot more then most celebrities in terms of giving to charity or creating awareness to different causes. There will always be critics and people who have nothing better to do then find faults in people. I believe that is the case here. Bono and U2 are role models for other celebrities, and people in general who have the money and influence to make the world a better place.
"We'd love to have some alternative to big trucks bringing the stuff around but there just isn't one."
Sure, there is. USE LESS STUFF, fuckhead.
And I dunno, but a BAND with GOOD MUSIC doesn't need lasers…
First of all I LOOOoove talking heads, they were such a great funk machine and if I hade a choice I wish they were playing arena's not the corporate shit of U2, but then again that's why talking heads broke up because they didn't want to become a arena band.
U2 are so rich that a 2 week trip to africa is like a vacation, are they hypocritical? yes, do they suck? definitely.
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Re: jham – U2 sets a bad example? I'm really confused here. I personally don't care about the stage, it's size, it's cost or anything. I'd go to their concert "claw" or no "claw". And I think they set a far better example than Madonna and Rolling Stones (even though I love Stones, but only as a music band), it's just that you have to step away from the fact that a rock band has a huge stage. How dare they??? Seriously…
Re: Akasha71 – When I consider whether or not people set a good or bad example, I certainly don't use Madonna or The Rolling Stones as benchmarks for comparison.
Please don't misunderstand me; choices people make in certain situations do not necessarily make them WHO they are. I don't think U2 sets a bad example for young people in general (quite the contrary). I do think what they are doing right now, however, with this stage, the money spent, and the damage done to the environment is a bad example of good stewardship of success.
It's not just U2, but appears to be all of celebrity, that create these outrageously materialistic and shallow standards of success that contribute, IN PART, to young people, all people, getting their priorities out of whack and pursuing fame and fortune at all costs. Costs being the environment, relationships, dignity, etc.
But that's not where it ends for me because all people, on some level, at many times get their priorities out of whack. What ticks me off is that many celebrities have a tendency to critique society's "mass consumption" and "gluttony" when it's THEIR OWN behavior that is creating and perpetuating the standards. It’s not just hypocrisy – it’s cause and effect. The issue (for me at least) is a bit bigger than a stage.
he conveniently fails to elaborate on what exactly they are doing "to offset their carbon footprint"
I've always thought that.
Yesterday Piggy Boy had nothing but praise for Brad Pitt and family chartering a jet to France. Do BP and AJ have a program to offset their carbon footprint?
Re: jham – I took Madonna and Rolling Stones as an example of entertainers (cause I can't call Madonna a musician) who had huge and extravagant stages as well. On the other hand, the messages from their stages are completely different than those spoken and projected on the U2 stage.
And also, you mentioned media… Well, this Perez Hilton character leeches off of bad news and bad decisions made by so-called celebrities and is so precious of him to point out at the "flaws" of U2. A proper journalist, really.
Re: jham –
re your quote: "What ticks me off is that many celebrities have a tendency to critique society's "mass consumption" and "gluttony" when it's THEIR OWN behavior that is creating and perpetuating the standards. It’s not just hypocrisy – it’s cause and effect. The issue (for me at least) is a bit bigger than a stage."
Well said.
Re: Snarky404 – You'd be surprised how much of the interviews don't get published in the media because it doesn't fit the story they want to publish.
Re: Brainiac – Thanks
screw u2 THEY ARE RUINING MY WEDDING. YES I SAID WEDDING THEY ARE OPENING THEIR TOUR THE SAME DAY AS MY WEDDING IN CHICAGO. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH PARKING ARAGENMENTS SINCE THEY ANNOUNCED THERE TOUR. MY PARKING WAS SUPOSED TO BE 10 A SPOT NOW ITS 45 DOLLARS A SPOT BECAUSE OF THE CONCERT. MY WEDDING IS IN THREE WEEKS. SO ANY BAD PRESS THEY GET MAKES ME HAPPY
Hate them! They also avoid paying taxes in Ireland. Nasty.
ohhhhh perez, everyone is a hypocrite. the fact that they do so much as far as humanitarian efforts excuses them in my books. what are they supposed to do, live in a mud house and adopt 12 international babies??? angelina jolie doesnt' catch slack for living in luxury everywhere she goes. let up guys.
Yes, Bono is so full of himself and ugly as fuck, especially with those sunglasses he always wears. U2 sucks ass anyway, they need to retire.
Maybe a bit excessive. However, I think Blackberry actually paid for the stage to be built. I'm sure they would have been happy to spend just as much money on some other advertising elsewhere though.
NO!
U2 is so overrated it is ridiculous. How does this make any sense? I just can't take them seriously.
Cheers to David Byrne to having the balls to say something against the all-powerful Bono
They do more than most, just because theyre rich and try to encourage others to help people doesnt mean their tour should be anyless awesome because of it
So they're supposed to donate every penny to help people? It would be hypocritical to preach about something and then not do it, which isn't the case, is it? Leave them alone.
One day it's gonna happen. I promise you!!!
Okay. I love U2. Completely. I have been to shows and I can honestly say that they have changed my life. I have met them and they were the most genuine people I have ever met. I have watched them stop everything for their fans. I have met less famous people who were the biggest douchebags and it seemed like they felt owed the adoration of the crowd. Fuck those people. U2, as a whole, have probably done more for people in the past week than your precious Lady Gaga. And why have no other major touring bands been targeted for the same shit, when they're not even taking measures to stay as Carbon Neutral as possible?? None of us, I don't think, could ever be 100% Carbon Neutral, but the effort to try should be applauded. Also, why do people insist on giving U2 shit for helping people living in extreme poverty??? They don't have to share a damn dime they make. Also, I do remember Bono even saying, I believe it was on Oprah, that this was NOT something he wanted to be doing. He would rather see others stand on that soapbox and speak for all of those that don't have a voice, but he feels like if he doesn't step up and do something, no one will. While I know that this campaign to fight extreme poverty isn't quite new, I don't remember it being such a big deal until he did stand up and say "Hey, this is NOT right that people are dying for such STUPID reasons!"
Really, I just wish I could understand why people feel it is so necessary to tear people apart that are trying to help others. I mean, seriously. If you want Bono to shut the hell up about the Africa ordeal, then you fucking do something to help those people. YOU stand your ass up, get off your damn computer and get out there and DO SOMETHING.
Not hypocrite persé, just tremendously boring.
Industry peeps know what a hypocritical voice they have… in 2003, the year Bono was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize, U2 laid off employees from their private management company - it was their highest grossing year ever and rather than thank their employees for their contributions, they put them out on the street. Fans in their demo are craving stripped down shows from their rock "legends" - not creepy, wasteful excess … inoculations, food, medicine are much more important than sets ending up in a landfill…
"We'd love to have some alternative to big trucks bringing the stuff around but there just isn't one."
Sure, there is. USE LESS STUFF, fuckhead.
And I dunno, but a BAND with GOOD MUSIC doesn't need lasers… Re: Brainiac –
Aren't you sharp? Wouldn't a more toned down show help cut ticket prices? The less overhead the less people have to pay for their ticket to help pay for said overhead. I agree, also, that concerts with so many bells and whistles can be used to divert attention away from actual musical mediocrity(unless you are Pink fucking Floyd). I enjoy smaller venues anyway. I want to be close enough to Scooter Ward of COLD that I can see his eye color and this is possible in an intimate smaller venue. Ultimately, the music should be the showcase and everything else is just props and distraction so I prefer a more stripped down show.
Not only are U2 the universe's indisputable kings of boring, generic, mind-numbingly middle-of-the-road "music," but they are also the biggest fücking hypocrites to boot. Please crawl under a rock and die already, you fücking talentless hacks.
Isn't rock 'n roll supposed to be about, uhhm, music? Maybe the big production is supposed to divert attention from the fact that u2 has been making similar songs for the last 20 years? They are so overrated. Heard 1 song, you heard 'm all…
They sing and tell about the world problems. And a tour cost a lot of money.
i went too see them last night in Glasgow and it was absoutly amazing!
U2 have done great humanitarian work, and have been in the public eye for doing so…people are always going to criticize, whether it be for the cost of their tours, it doesn't matter… Paris Hilton spends shitloads of money on clothes that could feed the homeless, and the list could go on forever…people need to see the good people do, instead of the bad.