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  1. Originally posted by NeonTiger64:Eh, Bono's financial dealings have felt a bit iffy for a while now. I like the causes he works for but it seems like all the meetings with high level officials is having a corrupting effect on him. I'd like if he went back to being a musician first, all that other stuff second.
    When your bringing in a lot of money you’ve got to be intelligent with how you manage it. Of course music is the part of Bono’s life I’m primarily concerned in also but it’s wise of him to ensure as much of the money he earns stays in his bank account or rather is his to do with what he pleases not going towards taxes. As long as it’s legal of course, any loopholes are the governments fault. I also think a lot of it is done for him and he’s simply giving it the ok, as badirishcharlie mentions above his personal involvement probably isn’t too significant.
  2. The stuff in the article is from 2007. Maybe he has stopped with that focus on business since, same way as he's gotte nway less involved in politics these past years, and much more focused on music.
  3. If Bono told everyone to avoid paying as much taxes as possible then I'd maybe agree. I do however think that taxes, especially on people for who paying isn't going to put them on the street or otherwise lower their standard of living in any meaningful way, do have a purpose no matter how much people say "but the government is wasteful and can't be trusted!"

    Any further talk will likely be deemed off-topic and I don't care to discuss excuses for billionaires so I'll leave it at that.
  4. Originally posted by NeonTiger64:If Bono told everyone to avoid paying as much taxes as possible then I'd maybe agree. I do however think that taxes, especially on people for who paying isn't going to put them on the street or otherwise lower their standard of living in any meaningful way, do have a purpose no matter how much people say "but the government is wasteful and can't be trusted!"

    Any further talk will likely be deemed off-topic and I don't care to discuss excuses for billionaires so I'll leave it at that.
    I pay into a private pension and company sharesave scheme which both have tax benefits...I mean where do you draw the line.My (and Bono's) home country's entire business model is based on attracting investment through low corporate taxation. Anyway having watched the Panorama programme on this on BBC earlier I think they need to worry a bit more about Lord Ashcroft and the like!
  5. Originally posted by NeonTiger64:If Bono told everyone to avoid paying as much taxes as possible then I'd maybe agree. I do however think that taxes, especially on people for who paying isn't going to put them on the street or otherwise lower their standard of living in any meaningful way, do have a purpose no matter how much people say "but the government is wasteful and can't be trusted!"

    Any further talk will likely be deemed off-topic and I don't care to discuss excuses for billionaires so I'll leave it at that.
    It’s a fair opinion I just think as a matter of principle I wouldn’t be handing over more money than is legally necessary. I’m the kind of person that if I was a billionaire and saved £5 million in taxes i’d give £10 million to a charity (a better cause), I think Bono sees it that way also. I accept I don’t have any proof Bono does think that way whilst we do have proof he legally avoids taxes.
  6. Originally posted by RattleandHum1988:There's something to be said for going to see local punk shows or whatever, because it's all right there, warts and all. No IEM's keeping time, no sequencers or backing tracks, etc. U2 was once a band like that.

    But there's also a time and place for that.
    When listening to early shows is easy to love them but is also easy to notice that there's no way that could work in an arena setting, much less in a stadium one.

    Playing in a pub or small theatre you can just focus on the music. The people in Arenas and Stadiums demand a whole experience in their shows.
    No matter how great Into The Heart is, Elevation will work ten times better in a stadium.
    And no matter how great spontaneity and improvisation is, a well studied and rehearsed performance that includes all kind of tricks and cheats will work ten times better in a stadium.
    And since there's no way U2 will get back to be a pub/small theatre band, it's absolutely frustrating to long for them to stop using the tricks, the script, or the crowd pleasers.
  8. Originally posted by Bloodraven:[..]

    But there's also a time and place for that.
    When listening to early shows is easy to love them but is also easy to notice that there's no way that could work in an arena setting, much less in a stadium one.

    Playing in a pub or small theatre you can just focus on the music. The people in Arenas and Stadiums demand a whole experience in their shows.
    No matter how great Into The Heart is, Elevation will work ten times better in a stadium.
    And no matter how great spontaneity and improvisation is, a well studied and rehearsed performance that includes all kind of tricks and cheats will work ten times better in a stadium.
    And since there's no way U2 will get back to be a pub/small theatre band, it's absolutely frustrating to long for them to stop using the tricks, the script, or the crowd pleasers.
    True. They're addicted to them at this point--the Roxy club show still had the full rig with all the counts, cues, and metronome.
  9. Originally posted by Bloodraven:[..]

    But there's also a time and place for that.
    When listening to early shows is easy to love them but is also easy to notice that there's no way that could work in an arena setting, much less in a stadium one.

    Playing in a pub or small theatre you can just focus on the music. The people in Arenas and Stadiums demand a whole experience in their shows.
    No matter how great Into The Heart is, Elevation will work ten times better in a stadium.
    And no matter how great spontaneity and improvisation is, a well studied and rehearsed performance that includes all kind of tricks and cheats will work ten times better in a stadium.
    And since there's no way U2 will get back to be a pub/small theatre band, it's absolutely frustrating to long for them to stop using the tricks, the script, or the crowd pleasers.


    That's a fair point, and I agree. But lip syncing (if that happens) or Edge faking guitar solos is bullshit.
  10. I think the band would fall apart in a proper ‘gig. They are a well oiled act but U2 live is much more than a gig. I’d love to see them strip it back one day but they are so invested in the way they work at the moment that I doubt it will ever happen.
  11. Originally posted by germcevoy:I think the band would fall apart in a proper ‘gig. They are a well oiled act but U2 live is much more than a gig. I’d love to see them strip it back one day but they are so invested in the way they work at the moment that I doubt it will ever happen.
    Yeah it's like less is more. Hope to see a light and funky band live next time. It's sometimes too well thought out.
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U2start is run by fans for fans. Help us reduce personal costs. Consider to make a donation to support us.
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