Bono Apologizes for Forcing U2’s ‘Songs of Innocence’ on iTunes Users
Bono has officially apologized for his part in making U2‘s new album, Songs of Innocence, a compulsory free download on iTunes. In a Facebook Q&A dubbed #U2NoFilter, the singer answered a “question” requesting that the band never repeat the album launch because “It’s really rude.”
“Oops,” Bono said. “I’m sorry about that. I had this beautiful idea and we got carried away with ourselves. Artists are prone to that kind of thing: [a] drop of megalomania, touch of generosity, dash of self-promotion and deep fear that these songs that we poured our life into over the last few years mightn’t be heard. There’s a lot of noise out there. I guess we got a little noisy ourselves to get through it.”
But the singer’s contrition did not dampen the mood of the video interview, in which the four band members sat in a phalanx with their backs to each other. At one point, when the Edge was asked to answer a question about when he wants to throw Bono out a window, the singer chimed in, “Get it all out, the Edge.” (Incidentally, the Edge dodged the question, saying, “It’s hard being in a band. Bands are like street gangs. So to be in a street gang, age 40-plus, is kind of unnatural and even more difficult than maybe when you’re in your 20s, but we still manage to make it work.”)
And at another time, when a fan asked the Edge how he felt about actor Benedict Cumberbatch photobombing the band at the Oscars, the vocalist ran around the couch and climbed in to photobomb the guitarist’s big moment.
When all was said and done, and the band was leaving, the video ended with Bono simply requesting a pint of beer.
Regarding the iTunes release of Songs of Innocence, Bono recently told Rolling Stone, “If you don’t want it, delete it. Here’s the link.”