U2 performed ‘Pride’ and ‘City of Blinding Lights’ at the ‘We are One’ inaugural concert in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington on Sunday. During Pride, Bono addressed president-elect Obama: “This is not just an American dream, but also an Irish dream, a European dream, an African dream … an Israeli dream and a Palestinian dream…”.
There was something familiar about the sleeve of U2’s new album (Not a picture of any sea or ocean, but actually Lake Constance (Bodensee) as seen from Uttwil, in Switzerland, taken in 1993.) A few Google searches later, I realised that the photographer, Hiroshi Sugimoto, also took a photo of Tadao Ando’s Church of Light:
And it so happens that Bono visited that church, when he was in Osaka, Japan with Guggi and Gavin Friday back in 2006:
Bono and Gavin Friday, Church of Light. Photographer unknown.
And here’s a picture of Bono and Tadao Ando together when the architect came to visit Dublin.
So there you have it. A fun little insight into how U2’s choice for their new sleeve may have come about.
Dutch radio station 3FM and the Red Cross are raising money for children in Congo with various fundraising activities on and off air. 3FM photographer Hans Peter van Velthoven has donated a framed picture of The Edge and Bono, for auction on E-bay. The photo was taken at U2’s Amsterdam concert on July 13.
To bid, go to Ebay.nl. It’s for a good cause!
(Though personally, I’m bidding on the backstage acoustic set by dEUS’ Tom Barman.)
