Bono Presents at Dove Awards

Bono made an appearance via video message at last night’s Gospel Music Association Awards (aka the Dove Awards), which was staged in Nashville, Tennessee. After professing his love for both Nashville and gospel music, Bono introduced a performance by Jars of Clay, a Christian pop band who have been working to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS in Third World countries. The awards show will be broadcast on UPN on May 28 at 8 pm ET/PT.

Will Power

We are the first generation that can end not just AIDS, but extreme poverty. For the first time in history, we have the brains, we have the cash, we have the drugs. But, do we have the will?
–Bono

You may read an edited version of the speech Bono delivered at the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS Awards and Dinner in Berlin last week at Allafrica.com.

I Remember You Joey

According to Billboard, Bono is among several celebrities who have contributed an autographed t-shirt for a silent auction honoring Joey Ramone. The proceeds from the auction will be donated to the Lymphoma Foundation (Ramone died of lymphoma in April 2001). Fans may preview and bid on the auction items at the Ramones’ official web site through May 21.

Lords of the Quay

The saga of U2’s domination of Dublin continues. The Irish Independent reports that Bono, Edge, and their Clarence Hotel partner Harry Crosbie have submitted a request to the Dublin County Council for permission to expand the hotel. They reportedly seek to double the size of the hotel, adding a new wing and a courtyard, through the purchase and renovation of adjoining properties.

Hero, icon, musician

Bono made it onto Time Magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world today. Bono is mentioned in the ‘Heroes and Icons’ category rather than ‘Artists and Entertainers’. Which probably means it’s high time for some music.

Bono shares the honour in this category with other luminaries such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mel Gibson and David Beckham.

Time describes Bono as follows: “Bono is a hero … not because he’s a rock star, but because he is a rock star who is willing to spend time on things that are tedious and boring – like long sessions with Senators and administration officials and meetings with the World Bank.”

New book ‘Crank it up’ includes U2 chapter

Clive Young, senior editor of Pro Sound News, has written a book about concert engineers. ‘Crank it up: Live Sound Secrets of the Top Tour Engineers’ will be published in May 2004, by Backbeat Books.

One of the chapters covers U2’s PopMart and Elevation tours, based on interviews with Joe O’Herlihy, U2’s sound man since 1978.

Besides U2, 33 different bands’ tours are profiled in the book, ranging from The Rolling Stones to Tool, Beyonce to the Dixie Chicks and the Sex Pistols.

‘Crank it up’ can be ordered through the author’s website, Amazon and other web based sellers and your local bookstore (ISBN 087930-778-1, Order Code 0879307781, $19.95)