Art by Bono for auction

Limited-edition prints of U2 star’s art in Dublin auction

Jack B Yeats, Sir William Orpen, Seán Keating, Colin Middleton, Mary Swanzy and, eh, Bono? The U2 star is among the artists in Morgan O’Driscoll’s auction on Monday. Lot 188 is a set of limited-edition prints of the drawings made by Bono in 2003 to illustrate “a new interpretation of Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf by Gavin Friday”.

The estimate for the signed set of five giclée prints (set number 28 from an edition of 200 copies) is €2,000-€3,000. It is understood that the vendor paid €5,000 at the time.

The original drawings/paintings by Bono were sold at a charity auction, to raise funds for the Irish Hospice Foundation, at Christies’ in New York 10 years ago amd made $368,000 (€283,000).

The prints, and more than 200 other lots, go on view from noon today at the Clyde Court (formerly Berkeley Court) Hotel in Ballsbridge where the auction takes place on Monday at 6pm.

http://www.irishtimes.com

The "Human Rights Concerts"

The "Human Rights Concerts" is the collective name of the series of concerts presented by the Nobel Peace Prize-winning human rights organization Amnesty International in the years 1986-1998.

2013 is the 25th anniversary of the most high-profile of all the concerts in the series - the "Human Rights Now!" world tour. A six-week, five-continent, fifteen-nation, twenty-concert tour of the world in 1988 raising awareness of the human rights cause - headlined by U2, Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Peter Gabriel, Tracy Chapman and Youssou N'Dour.

In celebration of this anniversary - and to raise further funds for - and consciousness of - Amnesty, the films of all the "Human Rights Concerts" have been digitally restored and are to be released in 2013 in DVD, audio and digital formats. Three of the four films have never been available in any format since their one-time-only airing on TV - making the upcoming release all the more exciting.


The complete concert set will be released in a DVD box-set in October 2013. The title of the box-set is "¡RELEASED!" There are also plans to release corresponding audio CDs.

In addition to the main DVD box-set - a single-disc DVD - and corresponding 2-disc audio CD - of highlights from the concerts - "GET UP! STAND UP!" will be released throughout the World (except North America) in May 2013 by Eagle-Rock.

Click here to learn more about the "Human Rights Concerts".

SUPPORT 

Bush on Bono: 'We became pals'

In President George W. Bush’s mind, Bono is “the real deal.”

The rock star “became a pal,” Bush told his former press secretary, Dana Perino, in an interview that aired Thursday on Fox. “He was skeptical of me and frankly I was skeptical of him. And we became pals because we shared a common desire to help others on the continent of Africa. Bono’s the real deal.”The two are both champions of humanitarian efforts in Africa. Bush discussed that relationship in a wide-ranging interview that was broadcast on the same day of the dedication of his presidential library and museum. 

By KATIE GLUECK // http://www.politico.com/

Bono`s Letter in Newly Open President`s Library

George W. Bush Presidential Center includes the presidential archives of the Bush Administration, a museum with permanent and traveling exhibits and an independent public policy institute.

The SMU (Southern Methodist University) is celebrating the opening of the Bush Presidential Center .The Bush Presidential Library and Museum opens to the public May 1.

The Museum is the repository for domestic and foreign presidential gifts as well as other donated artifacts relating to the life and career of President George W. Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush. 

Among those artifacts, there`s  a letter Bono sent President Bush after 9-11 and another one where he expresses his thanks for  Bush`s humanitarian work.

In the letter, Bono talks about the presence of the former president on the cover of the special issue on Africa of Vanity Fair, when Bono was guest editor.

Give Us the Money

"Give us the Money" is a  documentary on the effectiveness of activism done by celebrities. The common thread is the job for decades of musicians like Bono and Geldof, with their charity concerts stirred the consciousness of millions of people.

From Live Aid to Make Poverty History, celebrities have become activists against poverty. Bob Geldof and Bono have been the most prominent voices advocating on behalf of the poor.
Geldof, Bono and Bill Gates speak candidly about how to lobby effectively and how to play to politicians’ weaknesses for glitz and popularity.
They have been criticized for over simplifying issues and failing to challenge the fundamental causes of poverty. But they’ve also received praise for saving lives and bringing an awareness of poverty to a new audience and a new generation…
Can poverty be tackled without celebrities? Do they put issues in the spotlight or cause more harm than good? Have their concerts and campaigns really lifted millions out of poverty?



http://www.youtube.com/user/WhyPoverty?feature=watch

Bono on Jonathan Ive for 2013 TIME 100

TIME presents its annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world, from artists and leaders to pioneers, titans and icons

Jonathan Ive

Designer, 46

By Bono

"Jony Ive is himself classic Apple. Brushed steel, polished glass hardware, complicated software honed to simplicity. His genius is not just his ability to see what others cannot but also how he applies it. To watch him with his workmates in the holy of holies, Apple’s design lab, or on a night out is to observe a very rare esprit de corps. They love their boss, and he loves them. What the competitors don’t seem to understand is you cannot get people this smart to work this hard just for money. Jony is Obi-Wan. His team are Jedi whose nobility depends on the pursuit of greatness over profit, believing the latter will always follow the former, stubbornly passing up near-term good opportunities to pursue great ones in the distance. Jony’s values happen to add value — emotional and financial. It takes a unique alchemy of form and function for millions of people to feel so passionately about the robot in their pocket."

New Bishop of Limerick quotes Bono in first public address

The newly ordained Bishop of Limerick took inspiration from U2 singer Bono when speaking about the need to connect with those living on the outskirts of society.

Taking inspiration from Pope Francis, the bishop said he was recently struck by the words of the new pontiff when he advised to “start from the outskirts” when reaching out to people.

Limerick’s new bishop also quoted the lyrics from the U2 song I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, which he said could be applied to the situation many people find themselves in with regard to faith.

“A fellow Irishman, Bono, wrote a song some years ago now. Its words ran something like this: ‘I have climbed highest mountains, I have run through the fields, only to be with you, only to be with you. I have run, I have crawled, I have scaled these city walls, these city walls, only to be with you. But I still haven’t found what I’m looking for.’

“I don’t know what Bono had in mind but these words can be applied to the situation many find themselves in with regard to faith. Moments of difficulty are written into the Christian journey of faith. How many saints and exemplary men and women throughout the centuries have told us about shadowy moments they lived through,” he added.

http://www.irishtimes.com

Every Generation Gets a Chance to Change the World

The African Well Fund hosts the 11th Annual Build a Well for Bono's Birthday fundraiser April 15 through May 31. AWF aims to raise $10,000 through this year's fundraiser to fully fund the Mali Dibaro School WASH Project, a $50,000 project to be implemented by Africare that will benefit over 1,800 schoolchildren and community members. For more information on the project, click here.
Between 2003 and 2012, U2 fans donated more than $220,000 in Bono's honor to fund the construction of clean water and sanitation projects, implemented by Africare, that are benefiting more than 56,000 people in Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Liberia, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

From April 15th through May 10th, the African Well Fund invites U2 fans and others who are inspired by Bono's tireless activism on behalf of Africa to make a donation in honor of Bono's 52nd birthday. Your donation in any amount will go a long way to help advance the academic performance of these schoolchildren by improving their access to clean water and sanitation.


Donations: http://www.africanwellfund.org/Bono-Well-2013.html

Bono 's Latest Out & About : Loose in US

Bono channels Frank Sinatra with a "I've Got You Under My Skin/Fly Me To The Moon" medley to pay tribute at the Power of Love Gala: Quincy Jones and Sir Michael Caine's 80th Birthday Celebration LIVE from Las Vegas. 

Bono and Ali attend the Broadway opening night for "Motown: The Musical" at Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on April 14, in New York City.


http://www.zimbio.com//http://www.youtube.com/user/hdnetmusic?feature=watch

Bono and Ali at 2013 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival

Bono at Studio Africa Party#Edun#Diesel#coachella#Palm Springshttp://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=563413097013461&l=d3232fe560

Bono at the stage with African band "Baloji"

Bono, Ali & @RenzoRosso sit down with @RollingStone at #StudioAfrica to talk about the collection sourced in Africa -

 http://ow.ly/i/1SRqe

Ali Hewson (L) and singer Bono attend the DIESEL + EDUN Studio Africa Event At Indio Valley With Rolling Stone Rock Room at Tally Horse Ranch on April 12, 2013 in La Quinta, California.

http://www.diesel.com/diesel+edun//https://www.facebook.com/UltravioletU2Brasil//https://www.facebook.com/ISTANBUL74//http://www.coachella.com//

http://www.gettyimages.com

Adam Clayton has opened up about his bouts of depression

U2 star Adam Clayton has opened up about his suicidal thoughts and bouts of depression in a bid to remove the stigma from mental illness.

The 52-year-old bassist, who is fronting the Walk in My Shoes campaign, said he felt unable to speak about his dark thoughts when he was at his lowest ebb, even though he was part of the biggest rock band on the planet. 

The musician said he is now speaking publicity about his demons as part of a campaign to get young men to seek help for depression. 

“People generally find it difficult to share those kinds of personal thoughts and I did in my own experience,” said Clayton. “I’m an ex-drinker and a very happy ex-drinker, but before I got to that point, I had been through the whole process of suicidal thoughts and the whole process of depression, and really just not realising these were all the results of drink and that, by talking to the right kind of counsellor, I could actually make some progress and I could see that as my problem. 

“I don’t want to make it about alcoholism but I think, whatever the causes of the depression are, it’s the depression that is important and that’s the thing one can treated for.” 

Clayton told the Ray D’Arcy Show yesterday that most people, especially young men, tend to shy away from admitting they have a mental illness. 

“Mental illness is a very broad word and there is a lot of stigma to it and perhaps a better term is if their state of mind is not right, and if they are not feeling good, that there are a lot of services out there to help you cope,” he said. 

“This is really about encouraging young people that may have some difficulties to seek help and to realise there is help out there and there is nothing wrong with seeking help, and that everybody at some point in their lives finds it difficult to cope.” 

The bassist, who is currently holidaying in Brazil, also spoke about the band’s hope to have a new album out before the end of the year. 

“It’s certainly the plan. I would love to say it was firm but I can’t really say that at this moment in time. It is certainly our intention to have a record out before the end of the year.” 

To support the Walk in My Shoes Campaign log onto walkinmyshoes.ie to donate 

By Lynne Kelleher

http://www.irishexaminer.com

Stepping Out In Ireland

It's Walk In My Shoes day today with Adam joining Royseven, The Original Rudeboys, Kathryn Thomas and others in raising funds for St Patrick's Hospital Foundation and its mental health services to vulnerable young adults.

Across Ireland people are hosting funky shoe days at work or school, organising sponsored events, volunteering as street collectors... or simply making donations. Now in it's second year, Walk in My Shoes aims to encourage people to talk about mental health issues and raise funds for support services for those who can't afford them.

Find out what's happening or make a donation or check in on Facebook  or Twitter (@WIMS2013).

The idea came from a young service user at St. Patrick’s University Hospital who said he wished his friends could ‘walk in my shoes’ so they could gain a better understanding of mental health difficulties. Suicide is the number one cause of death amongst 18-25 males in Ireland, with over 75% of mental health difficulties beginning before 24 years of age.

'Growing up is hard enough to navigate without any health issues,' explained Adam, an ambassador for Walk In My Shoes. 'Teenagers need a lot of support, and vulnerable teenagers even more so. By helping to give every vulnerable teenager someone to talk to about their concerns, Walk In My Shoes is doing very valuable work.

'I'm happy to raise awareness and funds and I hope everyone will join me in wearing stylish and mismatched shoes on April 12th.'

Bono reads Beckett at a benefit for the Drawing Center,NY

Bono applauds his friend, the artist Sean Scully, at the Drawing Center gala, where Scully was honored.

Bono read from Samuel Beckett’s “The End” last night at a benefit for the Drawing Center, paying tribute to his friend, artist Sean Scully.
Then he found his own words. “I am lucky enough to live with some of Sean Scully’s work. They are of course very musical, very lyrical, but it’s their discipline I want to be around.”
Scully paints horizontal and vertical blocks of rich colors, “approaching the canvas like a kickboxer or a builder,” Bono said. “These grids with their frayed edges don’t intend to contain uncontainable emotions. What they do is suggest boundaries, limits. Limits are important for an artist, I’m told.”
“We’re both from Dublin, we kind of agree about things, about making the world better,” Scully said of his friendship with Bono.

http://www.bloomberg.com

Bono, Lula and the fight against extreme poverty

Former President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva and his "friend" Bono had a meeting and talked for an hour in London. There he proposed the president to command a global institution to replicate the implementation of social plans  made in Brazil, such as "Bolsa de Familia" (Family Bag).As Bono already knows the social inclusion program conducted in Brazil, he asked Lula to do a summary of its viability worldwide, since in his view, Lula could replace what  Nelson Mandela   (now with problems health)used to do as the major party of the poor world.

"You're the only person able to speak with socialist and capitalist leaders of rich countries and the Third World. You must lead an international crusade to transform Bolsa Familia in a planetarium program. I want to do this with you, "said Bono.

The plan 'Bolsa Familia' applied during Lula government in Brazil, allowed out of extreme poverty over 40 million people and social program placed this global reference.





http://onebrazil.blogspot.com.ar/http://news.u2fanlife.com/http://www.institutolula.org

Bono in Germany Introducing ONE Campaign

U2 lead singer Bono, actress Anna Loos and German rocker Herbert Grönemeyer have launched the new ONE campaign for the next parliamentary  The lobby group wants to continue the pressure to politcians  to fight poverty in Africa.

 Bono  was in Berlin on Monday for  the presentation of  the  campaign "I look back!" Bono , singer Herbert Grönemeyer  and actress Anna Loos  participated in a panel discussion about the necessary development priorities of the next government.

Bono spoke of what has been achieved "The amazing news is that brutal poverty that we all have seen on the news is halved. The images of swollen bellies and sunken faces should not be our image of developing countries - because the countries have been facing the challenges. Even for us, activists, is hard to believe.

Bono and  some ONE  young ambassadors also met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the Foreign Office in Berlin.

Jens Koch Fotography 

Jens Koch Fotography 

http://news.u2fanlife.com//http://www.focus.de//http://www.kochfoto.de/

http://www.one.org/international/

Act now: JOIN THE FIGHT AGAINST EXTREME POVERTY

JoiN  

Five videos that you might not have seen

U2.com , the official website,  is starting a new series that shows five things fans may not have seen at the time they occurred.

“It´s not easy being a rock star these days…”


Making of  Vertigo video , which  won a Grammy for "Best Short Form Music Video" in 2005. Mini documentary from directors Alex Courtes and Martin Fougerol.





Lemon for sale

The motorized mirror ball lemon shaped led the band around the world between 1997-98. But when the tour was over, they were open to bids.



A day in the life of Edge: Part 1 (A film by Bono)

Earlier in the morning, during the American leg of the tour Elevation, Bono arrives at the hotel room  with The Edge. And he has a camera.




Brian Eno – Moment of Surrender





U2.com via ultraviolet-u2.com