Bono’s Blog

Lead vocalist for Irish rock band U2, Bono along with his other band members gained worldwide popularity in the 80s for their politically charged songs ("Sunday Bloody Sunday") and incredibly vague lyrics ("With or Without You"). Bono has become a humanitarian figure championing third-world debt relief and increased AIDS/HIV awareness in Africa.

How to gain a couple of inches

By Bono

As a songwriter, I live and breathe metaphor (not literally). But finding the right similes, analogies and metaphors ain't always easy. The most annoying simile I've unleashed upon the world was actually something I saw on a bumper sticker in Atlanta (a.k.a. "Hotlanta" to those in the know): "A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle."

I don't know what I was thinking when I stole that and slapped it on "Tryin' to Throw Your Arms Around the World." Of course fish don't need bicycles! How would they pedal, with their fins? Oh, Bono of 1991, how you vex the Bono of today.

If ever I complete my time machine, I will go back and tell Bono of 1991 that women, unlike aquatic cycling enthusiasts, absolutely need men. WE (dudes) have penises and THEY (babes) have vaginas. To amend my previous error, I'm trying to work in the heckatight simile "A woman needs a man like her vagina needs his penis" into a song on U2's forthcoming album.

Free Basquiat painting to a good home -- or a bad one

By Bono

Bio & Blog

In case you haven't heard, the above untitled abomination can soon be yours.

No, I did not vomit after eating a beet, banana and blueberry salad. But you'd be forgiven for assuming so. After all, I eat a lot of strange combinations of produce, have terrible allergies, and this painting looks like vomit. If anyone can tell me what's going on in that painting, please, keep it to yourself. To me, it looks like a retarded Jesus chasing an equally retarded bird as depicted by a retard playing with finger paints.

Am I right or am I right?

John Mayer, my offer stands more firmly than Jennifer Aniston's breasts

By Bono

Bio & Blog

Ahoy cap'n!

I just found out U2 is not, repeat NOT, scheduled to play John Mayer's next cruise. Rather, it appears he booked Guster. A quick glance at the Guster songbook did not turn up "One," "Lemon," or any other awesome U2 songs.

However, they do have one called "Red Oyster Cult," a not-so-clever tune about never growing up, which is the fantasy of most rock stars, stuck in adolescence's ice like a caveman. Me, I'm 48 and proud of it! In short, I am to healthy adult rock stars what Jennifer Aniston is to sexy. And that's why U2 deserves to play Mayercraft Carrier 2.

Confidential to my former pal John Mayer: Dude! Can't you totally see us dueting shirtlessly on "Your Body is a Wonderland" while Jennifer, assuming she's there, hears how my rich voice subtly drowns out your raspy whisper? I can.

I'm on the South Beach Diet and doing crunches every morning, so my abs are in tip-top shipshape. I'll send you a jpeg.

Overweight alcoholic + sexual deviant - actual sex = U2 manager Paul McGuiness

By Bono

Bio & Blog

I love you, Paul McGuinness, all 317 pounds of you. But the title of this post is my way of saying I also hate you a little. You've always been like a band manager to me, which means you're a glorified Reuben Kincaid, so how and why is it you're stealing my rightful press all the time lately?

 You've been making too many headlines. Bitching about ISPs? Claiming that Radiohead's pay-whatever-you-want-for-our-majorly-gay-album-In-Rainbows was a failed enterprise? Well, at least we know one thing: Turns out you CAN give away Radiohead's muzak.

Who knew, right?

In your wet dreams, Chris Martin

By Bono

Bio & Blog

Once I figured out who Chris Martin is, I was extremely flattered that he dreams about me. It's always a beautiful day when I have something this validating happen to me.

He doesn't, like, out and out say he has wet dreams, but I know a nocturnal emission when I smell one. You can't travel with three other dudes in the close confines of private jets for 40 or whatever years without becoming intimately acquainted with all kinds of smelly fluids, sticky substances and poo.

For the uninitiated, Chris Martin is the young man -- is 31 young these days?  -- from Coldplay. Or, as I now call them, "Couldplay ... with my balls."

Dr. Bono plants a tree in Japan!!!

By Bono

Bio & Blog

My trip to Japan is turning out to be the Best. Trip. Guess who planted a tree whilst in Japan?!!

ME!!!

You're probably wondering about the white gloves. I have a dirt phobia, but I bravely did my share for some cause I don't really understand. Anyone know what the hell a sea forest is?

I also earned -- well, received (same diff) -- a Doctorate in Law from Keio University, roughly the equivalent of the vaunted  Phoenix University in the States. The little guy who bestowed it upon me said some B.S. about said degree being "honourary," but that's just a technicality, I'm sure.

Go ahead and make a good "passing the bar" joke at your favourite Guinness-chugging rock star's expense. I'll wait. Again, billable hours are applicable, and I round up.

Ten dudes I would theoretically do

By Bono

Bio & Blog

I got married way too young, and I didn't do much experimenting (sexual, that is). I missed the "Am I straight or am I gay?" window, a brief period when young men mess around together and make up their minds about which holes they prefer, and on what gender.

If my long-time missus, Ali, weren't so totally hot and into my favorite sport, there are a few guys I would totally be into being into -- besides my bandmates. You guys are always my aces in the hole, so to speak.

1) Eddie Vedder

Definite Pro: There's just something about his cheeks -- upper and lower decks. Also, had an awesome album, Ten; subsequent work mediocre enough not to threaten me.

Possible Cons: Weight seems to fluctuate; friends with smelly hippie Neil Young. Also, there's that bass player with the silly hats in Pearl Jam. I fucking hate that dude.

2) Jason Bateman

Definite Pro: Handsome, well-spoken, funny. As everyone who stuck with U2 after "Pop" knows, I love a good comeback.

Possible Con: Occasionally looks like smug dickslurp.

3) George Lopez

Definite Pro: Hairy Latino.

Possible Con: May accidentally shout out "Mencia" while we're in sexual conflagrato.

Driving someone to a Myspace suicide is no cake walk

By Bono

Bio & Blog

Even though she’s on her way to prison for a couple decades or so, I must give a tip o’ the hat to Lori Drew. This is the American mother who managed to drive a teenage girl to suicide through good old-fashioned MySpace deception.

 

This week, Lori was indicted on criminal charges of conspiracy and so forth. But before you all join in with your condemnation of Lori, I say to you: Are there any among us who have not terrorized our enemies via MySpace? That’s what I feckin’ thought.

 

I’ll be the first to admit it. Occasionally the edge (no I do not capitalize) will have the balls to give me attitude, saying that “my fake piousness makes his soul hurt” or some such rubbish. It’s times like these that I use MySpace to recover the dynamics of the band.

 

Ignore those muffled cries for help coming from the basement

By Bono

Bio & Blog

The existence of a certain inbred family sequestered in an Austrian basement has been made public, and I don't want to be 73 when my own secret sees the light of day. (Get it, light of day? As in windowless basement?)

For more than two decades, I've kept a back-up band waiting in the wings. Or specifically, beneath the east wing of my manse. I had a little addition put on a few years ago. These boys aren't inbred, but they have been bred and groomed to rock out with their jocks out.

Am I ashamed? Hardly. These guys should thank me, because 1) the space was designed by Tadao Ando, who's only my favoritest architect in the whole world, 2) the windowless room is outfitted with super-cool "Ultraviolet Light," as I sang of on Achtung Baby, and 3) should anything ever happen to the original members of my backing band (God forbid), these cats will successfully escape from the basement -- and go on stage. With me!

I call them 'U3,' because there are three of them. It tickles them pink when I say things like, "Hey, U3 missed an awesome tour, plus I went to Monte Carlo and hung out with Brangelina! What have you been up to, or should I say 'down to'? Have U3 been practicing and taking your Vitamin D tablets? It's such a knock-out gorgeous day out there. Do you know Beautiful Day?"

I had an affair with Henry Rollins

By Bono

Bio & Blog

I was Googling myself the other day and saw this interview with Henry Rollins. You know him as the thick-necked palooka who dabbles in American TV, film, music and self-publishing. He changes media frequently because he's so terrible at everything -- well, almost everything. I'll get to that.

Boy, do I remember that rapid arm movement. And is it just me, or do his pants look like they're bunched up like a frontal butthole? The interviewer rightly suspects Henry has some issues with me and U2.

Well I like Bono’s humanitarian efforts, because when some people go, “oh, he doesn’t mean it. He’s just doing a photo op,” I disagree. I think he’s very sincere.

Gee, guess I'll stick with the whole altruism thing a bit longer, seeing as how Henry approves. He is not quite as generous toward my band, however.

I just think the music, you know, knowing what I know about music… Bands make so much fun of U2. Ask any band on the bandstand, say U2 and the band starts laughing. Because the drummer can’t play. Bass player plods along. The guitar player, if he didn’t have Brian Eno, he wouldn’t have a guitar sound. It’s basically a Brian Eno guitar sound played by guy who’s got one trick. That’s why there’s no leads, because the guys got nothing in there ... To me those records are for people who’ve lost the will to fight.

I'm not going to dignify the accusations with a response -- I mean, seriously, have you HEARD any of Rollins' music? Knowing what I know about music, it's insufferable shite and won't soon win any Grammys.

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