Auction - 2017 Les Paul Standard T Guitar – signed by U2’s The Edge

 

2017 Les Paul Standard T Guitar – signed by U2’s The Edge auction 
We are thrilled to be auctioning a USA 2017 Les Paul Standard T guitar, which has been very generously donated by Gibson Guitars UK to raise money for Help Musicians UK.
This amazing guitar was signed by U2’s The Edge, at the Q Awards at London’s Roundhouse, in November 2016, for which HMUK were charity partner. It’s an opportunity for you music loving public to bid on a fantastic auction piece and own a special piece of rock and roll memorabilia!
Go to our eBay page, place your bid and help us to support musicians across the UK!
Happy bidding!
HMUK







 www.helpmusicians.org.uk

Bono spoke at the Web Summit in Dublin. He participated in a panel on Movies & Music in the 21st Century.

Update:


In a conversation on the main stage at the Web Summit in Dublin today, U2 lead singer Bono provided some more tantalizing hints about how the band is collaborating with Apple.

“They let us into the labs,” Bono said.

To illustrate the kind of concepts U2 and Apple might be exploring, Bono told the story of being in a house in France with Steve Jobs a decade ago. Bono looked at a version of iTunes being displayed on a TV screen and asked Jobs if he liked design so much, then “why does that look like a spreadsheet?”

Bono said he had wondered why the album covers displayed on iTunes weren’t interactive or why they didn’t display archival photos, lyrics, or 3-D versions of band members: anything that would make for a more engaging visual experience with fans to complement the music.

Jobs replied that the operating system and the technology didn’t quite exist yet for such an experience.

“But it does now,” Bono said.

So earlier this year, U2 proposed the deal with Apple that led to its new album, “Songs of Innocence,” being released for free. While discussing the deal, Apple chief executive Tim Cook asked, “Is there more?” To which Bono says he replied, “Oh, yes.”

He said the band wanted to work with Apple’s designers and engineers to develop new music formats and new experiences that would create more engagement with fans and customers, while also inspiring them to pay for music and support artists. While Bono remains optimistic about the future of music, he’s concerned in that short term that musicians are losing their leverage and their ability to make a living.

“We wanted to work with the creative people at Apple,” Bono said. “Jony Ive is a guy I’d like to be in a band with. He’d be like a bigger Edge.”

Bono said he remained convinced that giving away the new album was the right thing to do, even knowing about the resulting backlash from some Apple users that prompted him to apologize.

“We got a lot people who weren’t interested in U2 to be mad at U2,” Bono joked. “I would call that an improvement in the relationship.”

Bono noted that 100 million people checked out at least a few of the songs. And he said 30 million people had listened to the whole album after three weeks.

“It took us 30 years to do that with ‘The Joshua Tree,'” Bono said.

Web Summit 2014 Day Three

http://venturebeat.com/

Paul McGuinness: Google isn't doing enough to fight piracy

Google has been making "encouraging noises" about restricting access to sites hosting pirated content, but it needs to take action, said U2's manager Paul McGuinness speaking on a panel at Midem(Marché International du Disque et de l' Edition Musicale)

McGuinness was talking about Google's promise to downgrade sites that host copyright-infringing content in its search engines. He said that he didn't want to engage in "Google-bashing" but that there was a sense of unease across Europe towards the search giant.

He then proceeded to bash Google for not applying itself properly.McGuinness admitted that Google has brought "so much to civilisation" in terms of spreading knowledge. "We all know they're ingenious, but they are making money from directing people to piracy sites." He called for Google executives to "apply themselves" to developing a system of microtransactions that could remunerate artists when someone listens to their music over the web. However, he believes that "they're not really doing what they could be doing in this space".

Michael Barnier, European Commissioner for Internal Market and Services, was keen to point out that he was firm on tackling piracy in addition to reforming copyright legislation. He called copyright an "essential driver" in the creative process, but said that if that right is not respected it is of little use. He showed particular disdain for those sites making money from advertising from hosting pirated content. "Is it acceptable to tolerate advertising revenues being gobbled up by service providers who foster the free sharing of illegal music files?" he asked.

He went on to criticise the fragmented nature of the European market, but was keen to point out that the situation had improved over the last three years. "But there are some istances of restrictions which Europeans have to suffer; the availability of music and unavailability of some websites is still uneven between member states. It's incomprehensible that Europeans are still facing obstacles on the internet that we've faced in the physical world for the last fifty years."

When the conversation moved to legal streaming services such as Spotify, McGuinness felt that the artist revenues were quite trivial even for huge stars. "You could say that these services are mainly a promotional medium," he said.

You can watch all of the Midem panels online. Or you can read Midem's liveblog of the session here.

http://www.wired.co.uk//http://www.ultraviolet-u2.com

The Rolling Stones and Bono Celebrate 'Muscle Shoals' Premiere

The Rolling Stones, Aretha Franklin, Paul Simon and Wilson Pickett are just a few of the artists who traveled to Muscle Shoals, Alabama, during the 1960s and early 1970s to record. In that small town, a handful of studios were changing the sound of soul and rock & roll. Now you can check out the trailer for the new documentary Muscle Shoals, from director Greg "Freddy" Camalier, which is set to premiere this year at Sundance.

Bono, Greg Allman, Clarence Carter, Mick Jagger, Etta James, Alicia Keys, Keith Richards, Percy Sledge and othere talk about the  magnetism y mystery of "Muscle Shoals", and why it`s still influential.

Filled with interviews with a wide array of artists and never-before-seen footage, Muscle Shoals tells the story of this Northern Alabama town and the many hits that came out of its legendary recording spaces: Rick Hall's FAME Studios and Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, which was started by FAME's former rhythm section, the Swampers. "Being there does inspire you to do it slightly differently," says Mick Jagger in the trailer. "It was really funky; you know, that was the whole idea of it."

http://www.rollingstone.com/
http://www.muscleshoalsmovie.com/

Edge Launches Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund

NATIONAL RELIEF FUND + GRANT TO SUPPORT MUSIC PROGRAMS AFFECTED BY HURRICANE SANDY

U2’s the Edge Announces National Relief Initiative

New York, New York …January 8 , 2013….Music Rising, the award winning post-Katrina music initiative founded in 2005 has expanded its mission to rebuild music programsimpacted by natural disasters within the entire US. The initial donation being made by the new, nationwide Music Rising program is $250,000 to help rebuild school music programs in the tri-state area that were affected by Hurricane Sandy.
Music Rising’s original mission was to rebuild and preserve the music of the Gulf South region in the aftermath of the devastating2005 hurricanes. Having provided tens of thousands of instruments to musicians, schools, churches and community programs, Music Rising embarked on a partnership with Tulane University to create a curriculum that will permanently preserve the rich musical heritage of the Gulf South. The Studies of the Gulf South: Music Rising program launched in 2012, and will eventually be available to any teaching professional worldwide. In addition, after the 2010 Nashville flood, Music Rising provided significant support to musicians and to the Nashville Symphony. The process for those affected by Hurricane Sandy in applying for assistance is to email DeAnna Sanchez at Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation at deanna@mhopus.org or to call directly at 818-762-4328. Music Rising is actively seeking support and endowments to continue its ongoing work of rebuilding music education programs as such needs arise. For more information about Music Rising or to make a donation go to www.musicrising.org. Music Rising is administered by the Gibson Foundation.

http://www.musicrising.org

U2 to support musical youth

ROCK giants U2 and the Music Generation scheme will invest €1.7 million to help children and young people in Cork city, Laois and Wicklow get access to vocal and instrumental tuition in their local area.

U2 guitarist The Edge said: "Access to music for children and young people is something that is very close to our hearts. We believe that every child should have the choice to get involved in music, irrespective of their background.

"Music Generation is addressing the gap in individual and group vocal and instrumental music tuition in our education system and we are delighted to be playing a part in nurturing and inspiring Ireland’s young musicians of the future."

Music Generation was launched in 2009 after a €5m donation from U2 along, with another €2m raised by The Ireland Funds.

The donation was the largest-ever single philanthropic gift to music education in Ireland in the history of the state.

The programme, which last year ran in Louth, Mayo and Sligo, is expected to create substantial job opportunities for local musicians over the next five years.

Chairman of Music Generation Dr Tony Ó Dalaigh said: "Music Generation would not be happening without the contributions made by U2 and The Ireland Funds.

"In practical terms it means that Music Generation can provide access to music education which is currently unavailable to the majority of children, as well as employment for musicians in their locality," he added.

By Colin O’Hanlon   www.examiner.ie/ireland




Emotional performance of "Love is Blindness" by Edge taken from From The Sky Down, a documentary film about the making of U2's Achtung Baby, will be released worldwide on Blu-ray and DVD on Monday 12th December, 2011, and in the U.S. on 24th January 2012.

Young musicians find what they're looking for

Soon, they will have found what they're looking for.
Young musical talent, starved of the money or opportunity to develop their skills, can look forward to tuning up thanks to the country's biggest band.
A public-private music education partnership, called Music Generation, has been partly funded to the tune of €5m by U2.
Two pilot projects, one in Dublin and one in Donegal, are already proving a huge hit.
In Co. Donegal, about 1,000 children a year are learning an instrument or receiving vocal tuition, thanks to the programme.
Hundreds of children in disadvantaged communities in Dublin's north inner city and Ballyfermot are also benefiting.
At Larkin Community College in the city centre, the project led to the introduction of music as a core subject and saw an increase in attendance on the days it was offered.
Now Music Generation is ready to set up music education partnerships in other parts of the country and is seeking applications from interested parties.
The funding will support 12 new programmes between 2011- 2015, with up to €200,000 a year for three years on offer.
Opportunity
U2 were attracted to the project as a way of giving children the opportunity to get involved in music. Ireland's most famous rock band came together during their own school days at Mount Temple Comprehensive on Dublin's northside.
Guitarist The Edge said they considered themselves lucky to have had music in school.
But an Arts Council-funded report some years ago found that only about 1pc of children of second-level age receive tuition in instrumental or vocal performance, compared with 6-8pc in other European countries.
Music education in Ireland has largely been concentrated in urban areas and has proven too expensive for some.
The new partnerships will allow for music education to be offered at an affordable cost or for no charge at all, depending on local circumstances.
Rosaleen Molloy, who heads the programme, said music education should not be a matter of chance or luck.
U2's funding was crucial to a national rollout of the initiative, but the Department of Education is also a key player.
Once a partnership goes through the initial three-year phase, the intention is that the department will sustain it through state funding.
As well as U2's €5m, the Ireland Funds, a philanthropic organisation dedicated to supporting programmes in the arts, culture and education, is raising a further €2m.
Applications must include at least one statutory agency, such as a VEC or local authority.
© Independent.ie, 2011.

www.atu2.com//www.independent.ie/

Do You Want to Listen to Edge´s favourite music?

i Tunes has launched a series  of "Celebrity Playlist Podcast" where in each episode "it brings you that much closer to the artists, actors, musicians, and other people in the public eye by giving them a chance to expand on their favorite music in their own words"

In the broadcast (which lasts about 19 minutes), Edge discusses and shares music he has "a particular connection with" highlighting New Orleans and the Gulf Coast region. 

If you have iTunes, you can access it here for  

free !!

source:itunes.apple.com//www.atu2.com

Bono and Edge Invited to Become Members of The Academy

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is extending invitations to join the organization to 135 artists and executives who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to theatrical motion pictures. Those who accept the invitation will be the only additions in 2010 to the Academy’s roster of voting members.

The work of these individuals has been appreciated by moviegoers all around the world,” said Academy President Tom Sherak. “The Academy is proud to invite each and every one of them.”

New members will be welcomed into the Academy at an invitation-only reception at the Academy’s Fairbanks Center for Motion Picture Study in Beverly Hills in September.

Among the 2010 invitees are Bono and Edge in the category Music  noted for their musical work on Gangs of New York, and separately recognized for In the Name of the Father and Goldeneye, respectively.

U2's latest tour has been voted the year's best stage show

The 360 Degree tour, which used a groundbreaking "claw" stage, was named live production of the year at the Total Production International Awards.

The ceremony, hosted by TPI magazine, rewards roadies, riggers, truckers and other behind-the-scenes workers.

Dallas Schoo

The Edge's roadie Dallas Schoo won an award, while U2 production guru Willie Williams picked up two prizes.

Willie Williams

TPI magazine editor-in-chief Mark Cunningham said the Irish band's tour had "made the biggest noise" of the last 12 months in more ways than one.

"It is a massive engineering feat - from scenery to video to audio, with the biggest PA system that has ever been seen on a tour," he said.

"It's a fantastic achievement and the four members of U2 are effectively the icing on the cake."

The TPI Awards were first held in 2002 and the winners are voted for by readers of the magazine.

This year's ceremony was hosted by BBC Radio 2 broadcaster Chris Evans and attracted artists including the Pet Shop Boys, Kaiser Chiefs singer Ricky Wilson and former Public Image Limited bassist Jah Wobble.

Speaking about the nominees at the black tie event, Wobble said: "It's very interesting seeing all these people with mohican haircuts and beards done up looking very uncomfortable wearing black suits and bow ties and all that.

"You just know they'd rather be wearing jeans and bomber jackets."

source:bbcnews

Edge Talks to Hot Press

It seems our guitar master has done some interesting interviews lately.Here is the one published by Hot Press.

U2's Edge Warns Nobody Will Invest in Music

In an interviewed exclusively for the Hot Press Annual 2010, which takes a look back over the past ten years, ( U2’s The Edge predicts the demise of the record industry if current trends prevail and admits that he’s never heard of Jedward.

Reflecting on the impact of the internet on the music industry, the U2 guitarist sounds a grim warning. “There aren’t going to be any record labels in a few years if things carry on the way they are, because CDs – that industry is pretty much all over,” he says. “And because there’s no replacement right now that’s viable, it just means no one’s going to invest in music, which just means no-one is going to get tour support, record deals, publishing deals, all the rest, which is how every band since The Beatles have managed to get going initially. That feels like that this sort of parasitical medium will basically kill the host, which would not be good.”


Asked about illegal downloading, The Edge tells Hot Press, “You’re never going to stamp it out totally, and in some ways I don’t think anyone cares as long as the majority of transactions on the internet involve some sort of a fair payment to the people who have put their life into the work, and the companies that support them… It’s not even that important, relatively, for us, but for bands that are coming up.”


Asked about the view that the telecoms have “gotten away with murder”, Edge agrees. “I think they have. I think that they are distanced enough that they can hold up their hands and say, ‘It’s not us. We’re not doing anything’. But in the end, people are buying broadband access in order to get ‘stuff’, content of some sort… I think that the people who have been making it their life’s work to create that content have got a reason to be upset… for young groups, it’s important that this gets resolved.”


In a lengthy interview with the Irish rock bible, Edge also reveals to Hot Press that the Spiderman musical is ready to go. “We’re waiting for the word that our director, Julie Taymor, can start putting the show together. We’re told it could be any day. We’ve got new producers involved: Michael Cohl is coming in, to become an additional producer. So they’re busy working on raising finance and getting all that stuff in order.”


For the full interview, see the Hot Press Annual 2010

source:www.hotpress.com