Bono appeared at City University in New York on Sunday afternoon for TimesTalks, an event sponsored by the New York Times that brought “celebrated talents” to the Big Apple for “compelling conversations.”
Bono offered an intimate, compelling conversation to an audience of approximately 400 people. U2log.com sent Ruth Barohn to photograph and report on the event. Because Ruth has a St. Paddy’s Day assignment, U2log.com will publish her full report and additional photos tomorrow. In the meantime, we offer a few of Ruth’s photos from the TimesTalks event.
Click on the images for larger photos.
From left to right: Jon Pareles, John Darnton, and Bono. (Jon Pareles is the chief pop music critic of the New York Times, where he has been writing since 1982. John Darnton is a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer who has worked as a reporter, editor and foreign correspondent for the New York Times since 1966.)
I have an idea, Bono…how about going to Dublin for a while and actually making a new album??? :^D
I have an idea, Bono…how about going to Dublin for a while and actually making a new album??? :^D
I thought he had a bad back, had to be hospitalised ,etc. etc…
I thought he had a bad back, had to be hospitalised ,etc. etc…
hahahahaha, the guy in the middle of the 3rd pic 🙂 funny expression
hahahahaha, the guy in the middle of the 3rd pic 🙂 funny expression
Bono did admit to having a problem with his back. In fact, he joked that it was the result of wild sex. More details in tomorrow’s report…
Bono did admit to having a problem with his back. In fact, he joked that it was the result of wild sex. More details in tomorrow’s report…
Jon Pareles is an excellent rock critic. Who knew he’d look so boring and corporate.
Jon Pareles is an excellent rock critic. Who knew he’d look so boring and corporate.
Since when did wearing a suit make you “corporate?”
Since when did wearing a suit make you “corporate?”
who was the idiot who HAD to have one of bono’s cigarellos?
who was the idiot who HAD to have one of bono’s cigarellos?
’twas a clove-cigarette, according to the report on Interference.
’twas a clove-cigarette, according to the report on Interference.
I know a girl who was there and she said he said his back was bad because he was having way too much sex for a man his age! LOL Bono!
I know a girl who was there and she said he said his back was bad because he was having way too much sex for a man his age! LOL Bono!
Was there…the questions from the critics were surprisingly bland…Bono was funny and engaging…The audience was full of true blue U2 fans.
Was there…the questions from the critics were surprisingly bland…Bono was funny and engaging…The audience was full of true blue U2 fans.
Dave: Bono will take every opportunity to be heard for the cause of relief and support for Africa and aids.
I can’t wait till the new album, but at least I have the future to look forward too. So, lets cut Bono some slack.
Dave: Bono will take every opportunity to be heard for the cause of relief and support for Africa and aids.
I can’t wait till the new album, but at least I have the future to look forward too. So, lets cut Bono some slack.
I know. I was being tongue-in-cheek. I realize that this is more important than music in terms of the world. Its just that I don’t want a 3-year wait for a new album to turn out to be a 4-year wait : (
I know. I was being tongue-in-cheek. I realize that this is more important than music in terms of the world. Its just that I don’t want a 3-year wait for a new album to turn out to be a 4-year wait : (
Wow…go Ali! Bono, you’re a lucky man. Eagerly awaiting more details…..
Wow…go Ali! Bono, you’re a lucky man. Eagerly awaiting more details…..
i was there. he was amazing. i love him as much as one man can love another man who isnt a father or a brother. and the requests from the audience members were parasitic. “can i have ur cigar? can i dance with you? can i kiss you? can u come to an event for me? can u sign this?” I felt sorry for him having to give himself away at every turn. I pray for him and for us u2 fans who sometimes act like leeches.
i was there. he was amazing. i love him as much as one man can love another man who isnt a father or a brother. and the requests from the audience members were parasitic. “can i have ur cigar? can i dance with you? can i kiss you? can u come to an event for me? can u sign this?” I felt sorry for him having to give himself away at every turn. I pray for him and for us u2 fans who sometimes act like leeches.
I was there too, it was such a great event to be at! Bono seemed much more himself at it than he is on TV, he was very natural, kinda like he was talking in his living room, but with an audience there. *g* He got a lot of funny stuff off. I agree, the Q&A was pretty lame as were the requests, although there was one good question about which one of his songs would he like to be remembered by (answer is Kite). It was funny though watching him fumble absentmindly for his cigarillos (the smell wasn’t clove) as people were making a mad dash for the Q&A mics. Came away reminded of just how much I love this guy, he’s both such an extraordinary man and such a goofball. 🙂
PS: Pareles was boring, actually he hardly asked Bono anything, the other guy asked most of the questions.
I was there too, it was such a great event to be at! Bono seemed much more himself at it than he is on TV, he was very natural, kinda like he was talking in his living room, but with an audience there. *g* He got a lot of funny stuff off. I agree, the Q&A was pretty lame as were the requests, although there was one good question about which one of his songs would he like to be remembered by (answer is Kite). It was funny though watching him fumble absentmindly for his cigarillos (the smell wasn’t clove) as people were making a mad dash for the Q&A mics. Came away reminded of just how much I love this guy, he’s both such an extraordinary man and such a goofball. 🙂
PS: Pareles was boring, actually he hardly asked Bono anything, the other guy asked most of the questions.
reading your feedback…I wish I was there!
reading your feedback…I wish I was there!
I was at the Times Talk, and it was just so extraordinary. But I wouldn’t call the fans “parasitic” in wanting to dance/bum a cigarette/get an autograph from Bono. There is something very hard to define, but very special, about this man…I think many of us in the audience wanted to make some sort of personal connection, no matter how short and sweet, with him. It seemed like many of the fans at the CUNY auditorium were long-time fans, and when you’ve liked a band immensely for a long time, you could long to tell one of the members of the band how you feel. And this was their chance, possibly their only chance, to get that dance/autograph/tell Bono how much they appreciate his music, and just the amazing man that he is.
If I had one thing to say to Bono, I would thank him for all the enjoyment and encouragement that U2 has brought me with their music, and the way liking them has helped me bond even more with very good friends than I would have otherwise. I didn’t get that chance yesterday. Oh, well, maybe one day…
I was at the Times Talk, and it was just so extraordinary. But I wouldn’t call the fans “parasitic” in wanting to dance/bum a cigarette/get an autograph from Bono. There is something very hard to define, but very special, about this man…I think many of us in the audience wanted to make some sort of personal connection, no matter how short and sweet, with him. It seemed like many of the fans at the CUNY auditorium were long-time fans, and when you’ve liked a band immensely for a long time, you could long to tell one of the members of the band how you feel. And this was their chance, possibly their only chance, to get that dance/autograph/tell Bono how much they appreciate his music, and just the amazing man that he is.
If I had one thing to say to Bono, I would thank him for all the enjoyment and encouragement that U2 has brought me with their music, and the way liking them has helped me bond even more with very good friends than I would have otherwise. I didn’t get that chance yesterday. Oh, well, maybe one day…
well, i thought some of those questions were a little annoying such as the questions about your birthday and your dance and your autograph. we weren’t there for you. overall though, really cool! I think bono was able to feed off the crowd being fans and not Oprah groupies. We at least laughed at all his jokes and there were quite a few.
well, i thought some of those questions were a little annoying such as the questions about your birthday and your dance and your autograph. we weren’t there for you. overall though, really cool! I think bono was able to feed off the crowd being fans and not Oprah groupies. We at least laughed at all his jokes and there were quite a few.
Pareles must have been there because they weren’t sure if Darnton could handle it; maybe Darnton wasn’t! Despite everything Bono’s done, there’s still that “rock star” (I hate that term!) perception out there, surely at the TIMES, that these guys in bands, at heart, are really inarticulate boobs with half a brain who will pull a bird or bat out of their pocket on no notice and bite its head off! And Pareles would know how to “deal with it!” So I’m not surprised he didn’t say much. But the questions from the crowd make my skin crawl — here’s this dedicated, intelligent,passionate man up there talking about real things, and the response he gets is, can I have a dance? Humiliating. Thanks for your reports everyone, and I’m eagerly waiting the “official” one from u2log. BTW, I’d be interested in knowing what kind of back treatment Bono received, because from what I’ve read, he was in so much pain he was lying on the floor in the studio giving instructions. A screwed-up disc is very debilitating. And he still has to haul it out to LA and perform on Sunday. No one doubt this man’s strength. But isn’t it reassuring for everyone panting for a new album that this guy stays in the studio even when he’s in excruciating pain?
Pareles must have been there because they weren’t sure if Darnton could handle it; maybe Darnton wasn’t! Despite everything Bono’s done, there’s still that “rock star” (I hate that term!) perception out there, surely at the TIMES, that these guys in bands, at heart, are really inarticulate boobs with half a brain who will pull a bird or bat out of their pocket on no notice and bite its head off! And Pareles would know how to “deal with it!” So I’m not surprised he didn’t say much. But the questions from the crowd make my skin crawl — here’s this dedicated, intelligent,passionate man up there talking about real things, and the response he gets is, can I have a dance? Humiliating. Thanks for your reports everyone, and I’m eagerly waiting the “official” one from u2log. BTW, I’d be interested in knowing what kind of back treatment Bono received, because from what I’ve read, he was in so much pain he was lying on the floor in the studio giving instructions. A screwed-up disc is very debilitating. And he still has to haul it out to LA and perform on Sunday. No one doubt this man’s strength. But isn’t it reassuring for everyone panting for a new album that this guy stays in the studio even when he’s in excruciating pain?
Further to Paiges’s comments re. Bono’s back pain, us Irish lads are as tough as nails you know!
Further to Paiges’s comments re. Bono’s back pain, us Irish lads are as tough as nails you know!
I was there as well, second row center so I saw every nuance on their three faces, you might say. It wasn’t so much that Pareles didn’t ask much, it was that Darnton monopolized the question-asking. He (Darnton) wasn’t obnoxious, but he clearly monopolized. And there was some disappointment on Pareles’ face, but also he just mainly looked amused to be sitting there with Bono.
Something else I found quite interesting was that Bono rattled off a long quote from a 1980 (or 81) review of the Boy album. A review favorable enough to say that this album is so good the band that made it might as well just break up now. Bono then revealed the author of the review to be none other than John Pareles. Even funnier , was the look on the Pareles face which was like “Really? Did I write that?” LOL
I was there as well, second row center so I saw every nuance on their three faces, you might say. It wasn’t so much that Pareles didn’t ask much, it was that Darnton monopolized the question-asking. He (Darnton) wasn’t obnoxious, but he clearly monopolized. And there was some disappointment on Pareles’ face, but also he just mainly looked amused to be sitting there with Bono.
Something else I found quite interesting was that Bono rattled off a long quote from a 1980 (or 81) review of the Boy album. A review favorable enough to say that this album is so good the band that made it might as well just break up now. Bono then revealed the author of the review to be none other than John Pareles. Even funnier , was the look on the Pareles face which was like “Really? Did I write that?” LOL
Hey there were fans in the Oprah crowd, plenty of them! In the aftershow, one girl asked for a hug. He seemed aggravated but let her come sit on his lap. He turned away and never really responded to her as she squealed and crawled all over him and held onto his neck. His face was the other way as if put out by her. Sorry, if I have to get my attention from him like that, I’d rather not have it. I’d feel like I bugged him and it would spoil it for me.
Hey there were fans in the Oprah crowd, plenty of them! In the aftershow, one girl asked for a hug. He seemed aggravated but let her come sit on his lap. He turned away and never really responded to her as she squealed and crawled all over him and held onto his neck. His face was the other way as if put out by her. Sorry, if I have to get my attention from him like that, I’d rather not have it. I’d feel like I bugged him and it would spoil it for me.
good story, PC… that’s actually how Bruce Springsteen and his longtime (and current) manager, Jon Landau, met – Bruce was reading a review stapled to a wall of a club he was playing, Jon, the author of the review, walked up and said, So what do you think? Bruce says, It’s pretty good. The rest is history. I wish I could have been at this talk, Bono’s such a natural raconteur. Regarding his back pain – maybe he should get some of that bull’s blood that Larry gets injected. 😛
good story, PC… that’s actually how Bruce Springsteen and his longtime (and current) manager, Jon Landau, met – Bruce was reading a review stapled to a wall of a club he was playing, Jon, the author of the review, walked up and said, So what do you think? Bruce says, It’s pretty good. The rest is history. I wish I could have been at this talk, Bono’s such a natural raconteur. Regarding his back pain – maybe he should get some of that bull’s blood that Larry gets injected. 😛
I flew out from Portland, OR to attend the talk, and it was worth the fourteen total hours of plane travel. I turn 40 next month, but for one weekend, I got to feel like the 20-year-old I was when I first fell in love with Bono, and U2. He was so eloquent and smart and funny and self-deprecating. Not to mention the buzz of sitting in a room with him, instead of a stadium. Darnton did step on Jon’s time, but Jon remained courteous. I hope Bono doesn’t suffer too long from his disc. My husband had back surgery a couple of years ago, and it was the best thing he ever did … the pain was gone immediately.
I flew out from Portland, OR to attend the talk, and it was worth the fourteen total hours of plane travel. I turn 40 next month, but for one weekend, I got to feel like the 20-year-old I was when I first fell in love with Bono, and U2. He was so eloquent and smart and funny and self-deprecating. Not to mention the buzz of sitting in a room with him, instead of a stadium. Darnton did step on Jon’s time, but Jon remained courteous. I hope Bono doesn’t suffer too long from his disc. My husband had back surgery a couple of years ago, and it was the best thing he ever did … the pain was gone immediately.
Oh my god…
Oh my god…