Henry Rollins, who has never hidden his dislike of U2 in general and Bono in particular and whose entertaining spoken word shows often featured an elaborate and frankly rather funny story called ‘The night. I had the chance. To kill Bono.’ *), is getting mellow in his old age.
Guesting on Howard Stern’s radio show on Thursday, Rollins admitted he admired Bono’s humanitarion efforts. From Stern’s website:
‘Henry noted he’s never liked U2’s music, but he admires the humanitarian efforts of Bono. Henry did comment, though, he had a problem with photos of Bono he saw that were recently taken in the Oval Office. Henry explained Bono was unshaven and his clothes were disheveled in the photograph, which he took as a sign of disrespect for the history of the Office itself. When Robin responded most of the reason politicians have given Bono so much clout was because of his rock star image, Henry conceded she was right.’
It’s not the first time Rollins’ has said U2 ain’t all bad. In a recent Washington Post chat he was asked if there was any song of the band that made him say ‘that’s not bad’:
‘Yeah, absolutely. A song called “Lemon” is a great song because Brian Eno overhauled that guitar sound so much it sounds like an interesting Eno song.’
But Henry isn’t keen on the band’s rhythm section, as he told CrazyWire.com:
‘U2, in particular, bug me because it’s like such a bad rhythm section. They’re kind of a one-trick band that’s propped up by really good production. I do applaud Bono’s humanitarian efforts; getting third-world debt acknowledged, trying to help AIDS in Africa and lending awareness to that. I think that’s great and I’m sure he contributes a lot of his own money to that. That stuff is also great because it keeps him out of the studio, so there’s no downside to this.’
More Rollins at his website, 21361.com, or check out the cool video for the single ‘Liar’ directed by none other than Anton Corbijn.
*) It involves his crazy mum’s love of the band, a night out on the town with a rather dim date, and a chance encounter with the cowboy-hatted Irishman. You’d have to hear him tell the story, really.
dear old henry still makes me wanna slap him from time to time. he is a great artist though, his weight record (and the one before, and the one after) is a masterpiece, as is the liar video. I wish he could come down from his “I lost my best pal 25 years ago, and I still hate the world thing”, on the other hand it’s exactly this attitude that makes him so significant as an artist…but anyway he deserves a good punch for that eno line alone…
dear old henry still makes me wanna slap him from time to time. he is a great artist though, his weight record (and the one before, and the one after) is a masterpiece, as is the liar video. I wish he could come down from his “I lost my best pal 25 years ago, and I still hate the world thing”, on the other hand it’s exactly this attitude that makes him so significant as an artist…but anyway he deserves a good punch for that eno line alone…
what a dic* …
he is fairly talented, no way great, but why on earth would you keep digging a hole? Rythym section is bad? what are you f’n nuts?
what a dic* …
he is fairly talented, no way great, but why on earth would you keep digging a hole? Rythym section is bad? what are you f’n nuts?
I asked Henry the Lemon question along with two others(one of them regarding Anton Corbijin). He’s a good guy and has well-reasoned opinions, even if you don’t agree with them.
I asked Henry the Lemon question along with two others(one of them regarding Anton Corbijin). He’s a good guy and has well-reasoned opinions, even if you don’t agree with them.
sorry, one more…
if they are propped up by good production then why are they the best live band in the history of rock?
sorry, one more…
if they are propped up by good production then why are they the best live band in the history of rock?
don’t let it get too near you haha ;)) considering that mother superiour sound a whole lot better with danny lanois than with him, is reason enough not to take him too serious when it comes to choices of musicians to form a band. (why the hell did he give up this band with crhis haskett, sim cain, aso….??!)
don’t let it get too near you haha ;)) considering that mother superiour sound a whole lot better with danny lanois than with him, is reason enough not to take him too serious when it comes to choices of musicians to form a band. (why the hell did he give up this band with crhis haskett, sim cain, aso….??!)
Jono, I edited your comment a bit. Try to argue without namecalling, please.
Jono, I edited your comment a bit. Try to argue without namecalling, please.
Jono – to answer your question “if they are propped up by good production then why are they the best live band in the history of rock?”
Simple – u2 use a stack of sequencers, pre-recorded loops etc. U2’s live shows are heavily produced in this regard.
I read the other month an interview with Adam in a Bass Guitar mag (Linked fro http://www.atu2.com). Adam actually said that alot of the bass section for LAPOE is pre-recorded. Just look at Edges’ ‘flick deck’ – basically every song has a ‘treatment’ on it. e.g. How else can you play the Fly, Zoo Station etc on Acoustic Guitar and still make it song like he’s playing a Les Paul?
Before any one complains – I am not knocking U2. I’m just stating why they can be great live and still be considered to have ‘good production’. Another example of a band with ‘good production’ is Coldplay. Just compare these two acts to say, R.E.M. who play everything live (use extra muso’s to do so), and guitarist Peter Buck plays nearly EVERY song in standard tuning with no effects.
U2 are brilliant, but they are not perfect. Henry has some vaild points, but again he isn’t perfect either.
Jono – to answer your question “if they are propped up by good production then why are they the best live band in the history of rock?”
Simple – u2 use a stack of sequencers, pre-recorded loops etc. U2’s live shows are heavily produced in this regard.
I read the other month an interview with Adam in a Bass Guitar mag (Linked fro http://www.atu2.com). Adam actually said that alot of the bass section for LAPOE is pre-recorded. Just look at Edges’ ‘flick deck’ – basically every song has a ‘treatment’ on it. e.g. How else can you play the Fly, Zoo Station etc on Acoustic Guitar and still make it song like he’s playing a Les Paul?
Before any one complains – I am not knocking U2. I’m just stating why they can be great live and still be considered to have ‘good production’. Another example of a band with ‘good production’ is Coldplay. Just compare these two acts to say, R.E.M. who play everything live (use extra muso’s to do so), and guitarist Peter Buck plays nearly EVERY song in standard tuning with no effects.
U2 are brilliant, but they are not perfect. Henry has some vaild points, but again he isn’t perfect either.
Well, I think Henry is hilarious as a standup comic, and he always makes some valid points in his interviews. Seems very intellligent. Yet, how does he get off complaining about other bands’ music when I couldn’t stand listening to his song for more than 5 seconds? It sounds awfully similar to Limp Bizkit crap to me.
Well, I think Henry is hilarious as a standup comic, and he always makes some valid points in his interviews. Seems very intellligent. Yet, how does he get off complaining about other bands’ music when I couldn’t stand listening to his song for more than 5 seconds? It sounds awfully similar to Limp Bizkit crap to me.
spacejunk, not sure if you are a guitar player and familiar with edge’s setup. first, zoo station is not played with an acoustic guitar, but a custom les paul. the two songs he uses line6 variax 700’s on are the fly and lapoe(diff.tuning on this one). one reason why he can go electric with an “acoustic guitar” is because this axe allows him to do so, without tearing down the stadium with guitar feedback. also regardles of feedback, would you play the heavier parts of the song on a conventional amplified acoustic it would still sound electric…like a really fat hollow body electric with heavy gauge strings for instance. edge’s way of treating his sounds is an integral part of his art, always has been, even in the very early days.
peter buck is a whole different guitar player than edge, who would get a heartattack with the kind of setup edge is using. btw…another nice example for produced shows and “treated” guitar playing is david gilmour and pink floyd.
ok, enough tech talk here…
spacejunk, not sure if you are a guitar player and familiar with edge’s setup. first, zoo station is not played with an acoustic guitar, but a custom les paul. the two songs he uses line6 variax 700’s on are the fly and lapoe(diff.tuning on this one). one reason why he can go electric with an “acoustic guitar” is because this axe allows him to do so, without tearing down the stadium with guitar feedback. also regardles of feedback, would you play the heavier parts of the song on a conventional amplified acoustic it would still sound electric…like a really fat hollow body electric with heavy gauge strings for instance. edge’s way of treating his sounds is an integral part of his art, always has been, even in the very early days.
peter buck is a whole different guitar player than edge, who would get a heartattack with the kind of setup edge is using. btw…another nice example for produced shows and “treated” guitar playing is david gilmour and pink floyd.
ok, enough tech talk here…