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  1. When Bono does his speech at the RRHoF induction show he says something like this.

    "That's what I'd like you to take away from tonight. I would like to ask the music business to look at itself and ask itself some hard questions. Because there would be no U2 the way things are right now. That's a fact."

    What does he mean here?
  2. My personal opinion (with no real hard facts), I think he might be talking about the longevity of rock and/or pop bands today. There is no passion for long time music careers. No want to make records for the shear love of music. No desire to even do so with other people and build friendships along the way. Look at the 4 in U2. Shining individual personalities that we all know well and love and they bring something special to all of us as they come together and share their lives and love with us. That is what makes them popular - their friendship. Something I believe you need if you want to stick around for many years and make lots of records. People will buy records with people they can connect with.

    This is partly visible today in the lack of groups. Even more so when you see individuals go out and they call themselves 'artists' and all they do is rearrange other peoples songs (usually through someone else doing it for them ie. the producer).

    Look at half the people coming out of australian/american idol. They win the competion and you don't see them twelve months later. They are merely marketed in such way as to achieve $$$ quickly (and lots of them) and then we move onto the next superstar. His statement about there being no U2, in my mind is a vision of an industry in a similar state had there been this mindset 25 - 30 years ago. Thank God there wasn't.
  3. Originally posted by andyrooh
    Look at half the people coming out of australian/american idol. They win the competion and you don't see them twelve months later. They are merely marketed in such way as to achieve $$$ quickly (and lots of them) and then we move onto the next superstar. His statement about there being no U2, in my mind is a vision of an industry in a similar state had there been this mindset 25 - 30 years ago. Thank God there wasn't.


    That was originally my first thought about the Idol marketing machine and these so called "bands". There'll be a couple from Australian Idol (one or two, give or take) who will be around in a few years time but apart from that they ain't doing much with their winning.
  4. My take on this was what happened with October. It wasn't that well received, critically or commercially. I believe that Bono was meaning that in this day and age a band in a similar position (eg The Strokes) would potentially be dropped by the label rather than given another chance. If they hadn't been given another chance, no War and no career as we know it.

    It's basically all too money-driven was his point and there's no time for burgeoning creativity. Same's happening in the film industry with all these sequel, three-quels etc and increasingly sanitised ratings (Terminator being a 12A (and shit) compared to Terminator being an 18 (and, well, good)).
  5. And they were going to be dropped by CBS (I think) because the drummer was crap.

    I don't think many labels were interested in October (and fair game, was Fire that great a tune - could you imagine a song called With a Shout (Jerusalem) being released today against the more so-called "bands", or An Cat Dubh - and Boy still stands as one of their best). But when War > Unforgettable Fire > Joshua Tree > and so on were released all the labels wanted to sign them on. Who would have known that in 25 years time U2 would be one of, the biggest bands in the world next to the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin....that big.

    The whole music industry is driven by money and greed. Most bands and artists are chucked together today to make a quick buck, and it's fucking pathetic and stupid.
  6. I though Bono explained it. He simply meant that he wants the music business to lighten up and to stop ditching bands after they release a poor second album. If things had been the same in 1981-1982 then there might not be no U2 today.
  7. Originally posted by germcevoyI though Bono explained it. He simply meant that he wants the music business to lighten up and to stop ditching bands after they release a poor second album. If things had been the same in 1981-1982 then there might not be no U2 today.


    Yep, that's what I remembered from it too
  8. Indeed, musical business is much harder nowadays, there are no second chances. "If you don't success, better go to your fu**ing home, you are useless for us".
  9. Originally posted by djrlewisIt's basically all too money-driven was his point and there's no time for burgeoning creativity. Same's happening in the film industry with all these sequel, three-quels etc and increasingly sanitised ratings (Terminator being a 12A (and shit) compared to Terminator being an 18 (and, well, good)).


    As you explained above (being money driven) that's pretty much where I was going with my essay. Lots of dollars and no meaning, if you can't bring home the gold covered bacon, you'll get the arse!

  10. Originally posted by andyrooh[..]

    As you explained above (being money driven) that's pretty much where I was going with my essay. Lots of dollars and no meaning, if you can't bring home the gold covered bacon, you'll get the arse!




    yep no room for talent in this business
  11. Discoteque "You know you're chewing bubblegum , you know what it is but you still want some , you just cant get enough of this lovey dovey stuff. Come on everyone , we are living in the age of disposable pop heroes, how many of these bands will be around in 2 years , how many will be around in 2 months ? A catchy jingle or a hook is all you need for your 15 minutes to start counting down. imagine the one hit wonder countdown on VH1 from the 00's!!!!


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Contribute to the U2 community with uploading photos or by telling us which shows you have visited.
Contribute to the U2 community with uploading photos or by telling us which shows you have visited.