In Bono’s first column for the New York Times, the singer – perhaps against type-cast – muses on believability, duality, “hubris and humility, blue eyes and red” in a new, less certain year.

“If you want to hear the least sentimental voice in the history of pop music finally crack, though — shhhh — find the version of Frank’s ode to insomnia, “One for My Baby (and One More for the Road),” hidden on “Duets.” Listen through to the end and you will hear the great man break as he truly sobs on the line, “It’s a long, long, long road.” I kid you not.”

Forget the petrol pump attendant. If Bono hadn’t been in a band, he would have made an a-list blogger.

This year we are happy to share with you a rare gem from our 1/4″ reel tape vault; radio ads announcing the upcoming release of Achtung Baby. One cannot help but to wonder what the media onslaught will look like next year as the boys get ready for the release of the next album.

This download (bittorrent) will be available for a limited time only.

Happy Holidays!

This year we are pleased to share with you some rare gems from our vinyl vault. But before we open the vault we would like to present you with the following message.

It was 20 years ago today:

• Vicki Iovine introduces A Very Special Christmas, taken from a US cassette promo.
• An edited version of Christmas (Baby Please Come Home), taken from that same promo.

From the vinyl vault:

• I Will Follow (Special Edited DJ Version), from a UK 7″ promo.
• An edited version of Fire, from a UK 7″ promo.
• An edited version of Gloria, from a UK 7″ promo.
• An insanely rare edited version of Gloria, from an Argentine 7″ promo.

These downloads will be available for a limited time only. A big thank you goes out to our friend Rajiv Udani for providing some of these rarities!

Merry Christmas!

Here’s some ancient footage of the boys in Japan. Sit it out till their live performance to experience New Year’s Day without guitar. Nulle points for the sound guys.

He will receive the honour, Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order, for “his services to the music industry and for his humanitarian work.” The ceremony will take place in Dublin shortly after New Year’s Day. Bono will not be adding his name to the long list of people who have declined a British honour, like David Bowie, Francis Bacon and John Lennon, who eventually returned his MBE.

Knights and Dames Grand Cross and Knights and Dames Commander who are not not citizens of the United Kingdom or another country ruled by the Queen are not entitled to the prefix “Sir” or “Dame”, but may still use the post-nominal abbreviations: Paul Hewson, KBE.

A statement on U2.com reads:

We understand that Bono is ‘very flattered’ to be honoured, particularly if the honour – like its French counterpart – opens doors for his long standing campaigning work against extreme poverty in Africa.

The sainthood can’t be far off. Though maybe The Mrs has dibs.

• The Independent: Arise, Sir Bono!
• NME: U2 star to be knighted

U2 have arrived in Queensland, Australia and set up camp in a reportedly ‘stupid expensive’ hotel on the Gold Coast. While their crew continues to work on getting the venue ready for the show, the band will take a few days to acclimatise. Bono told the press: “I don’t really feel like Bono at the moment, I looked in the mirror and saw a little man with sunken eyes.”

Their Denton interview from March this year is going to be repeated on Monday and the band will appear on Rove on Tuesday night.

The stage in Brisbane is almost fully set up.

We haven’t had any info yet on how GA lines are going to be handled. Aussie fans, we welcome your reports and tips.

• The Daily Telegraph: U2 touch down, in pictures
• The Courier Mail: Bono’s soundcheck
• New.com.au: U2 lands for Vertigo tour
• The Gold Coast bulletin: Still a beautiful day for jetlagged U2
• News.com.au: We will rock you says U2
• The Courier Mail: Another day in paradise

Meanwhile, Billboard publishes the U218singles track list, including the new song ‘Window in the Skies’, and U2place.net has what might be the album sleeve.

“Beautiful Day”
“I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”
“Pride (In the Name of Love)”
“With or Without You”
“Vertigo”
“New Year’s Day”
“Mysterious Ways”
“Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of”
“Where the Streets Have No Name”
“Sweetest Thing”
“Sunday Bloody Sunday”
“One”
“Desire”
“Walk On”
“Elevation”
“Sometimes You Can’t Make It on Your Own”
“The Saints Are Coming”
“Window in the Skies”

Polish fan Zbych tells ‘The Story of the Flag’ on U2tour.de.

Bono brought two girls to the stage, one during “Desire” (she stole a kiss from Bono and The Edge) and one during “Mysterious Ways.” The highlights of the show were during “Pride” and “Where the Streets Have No Name,” when the audience sang louder than Bono. The setlist was full of surprises. Take a look:

City of Blinding Lights
Vertigo
Elevation
Until the End of the World
New Year’s Day
I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
Beautiful Day / Blackbird
The First Time
Desire
Sometimes You Can’t Make It on Your Own
Love and Peace or Else
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet the Blue Sky / When Johnny Comes Marching Home / The Hands That Built America
Miss Sarajevo
Pride (In the Name of Love)
Where the Streets Have No Name
One
Zoo Station
The Fly
Mysterious Ways
With or Without You
Yahweh
All I Want Is You / Love Rescue Me

Photo slideshow

The motorcycle will be auctioned on the internet at www.gaybyrneharleyauction.com to benefit the Crumlin Hospital for Sick Children. All bidders must pledge a nonrefundable EUR500 toward the fundraiser before being allowed to bid. The winning bidder will receive a letter from Byrne and a photograph of Byrne, Bono, and Larry Mullen Jr. with the Harley.

On the New Year’s Eve show, Byrne and Clayton chatted about Clayton’s recent trip to Nepal and what’s in store for U2 in 2003.

“We’re doing another record, and we’ll be doing another tour,” Clayton said.

Video of Clayton’s appearance on the show is located at the auction site.