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.
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
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
