Our old mate Mr Jetlag reports from Dublin Circuit Court where Bono and Larry testified in their case vs stylist Lola Cashman. Their former employee tried to auction off several items she claims were gifts from the band. U2 stopped the 2001 auction, which included a cowboy hat, a sweat shirt, trousers and earrings, instructing Christie’s auction house the items weren’t Cashman’s to sell.
“It was mental – The court room was more packed than the bomb shelter. I watched Bono and Larry take the stand. There was loads of laughter in the court when Bono was giving evidence. He agreed he had different trouser designed for him in diferent sizes because of a weight problem: ‘…but so did Elvis.’
When he recalled touring and doing promotion for the Joshua Tree and trying to improve their image he said: ‘In a way it was the thing we always thought the last about. As might be obvious looking at the earlier photos.’
There was more laughter when he explained to the judge about a posed live shot they had done using wardrobe. Ever the salesman he said: ‘That photo is today available in music stores – you can get it at €9.99.’
Bono was then accused of performing a legal stunt to secure a stay in another case. He replied: ‘How on earth can it be a legal stunt to protect your reputation?’
When asked about the hat and its status Bono said: ‘You try as a songwriter to place your work, not just on the road, not just in people’s cars and homes but into their consciousness.’
When Ms Cashman’s barrister asked about how they could have known about the value of the items and what they would be worth Bono said: ‘We had delusions of grandeur from the very beginning.’
To top it all off, many of the barristers present were scrambling to get autographs.”