s singer

Give God a call, Pavarotti has died

Bono: “I spoke to him last week… the voice that was louder than any rock band was a whisper. Still he communicated his love. Full of love.”

The Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti died at his home in Modena today. He was 71 years old.

Pavarotti once famously asked Bono’s housekeeper to “Tell God to give me a call” when he found it difficult to get hold of U2’s singer. He was trying to get U2 involved in his charity concert ‘Pavarotti and friends‘ for Bosnia’s war children. When Bono did get involved, the collaboration produced the single Miss Sarajevo. Bono later duetted with the opera legend on various occasions, including the performance of Ave Maria shown above.

Pavarotti was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last year.

Ave, maestro.

Michael Stipe thanks Bono and The Edge

At the start of the first of five rehearsal shows in Dublin’s Olympia Theatre, R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe mentions various people among which Bono and The Edge. He thanks the pair for ‘keeping him grounded’. U2’s singer and guitarist both attended the show.

R.E.M. is currently recording a new album in Dublin. The band is using these shows to try out the new songs they have been writing. Fans report the new songs have an old school – Fables/Document era – feel.

Reported working titles: Horse to Water, Living Well ‘s the Best Revenge, Tomorrow, Staring down the barrel of the middle Distance, On the Fly, Until the Day is Done, Mr. Richards.

Visit www.remdublin.com.
Photos at REMHQ.