I do agree that he is just trying to look after the band's interests, he just seems to be going at it in a rather aggresive manner. The way he is going about protesting against illegal downloading is just giving people the impression that he is just trying to make sure the band and him get more and more money.
But saying that I wouldn't know how to go about it in a better looking manner, but even just doing it in a rather subtle manner rather than having a go at anyone and anything relating to not paying for music would be better. Yes he has to have the band's interests in mind but at the same time he is forgetting that the backlash it creates damages how the band are percieved particularly with the amount of critics on the internet, which I think is almost as important as the financial side of things.
If their next album was mass illegaly downloaded and didnt make as much money as Paul wants there is still the fact that tours do make alot of money and they have alot of money it's hardly going to make touring a problem, but if they alienate more and more people that could have an even worse effect as surely the illegal downloading would make alot more fans than having people think they've lost it and just want more money would. And fans are a bit of a big source of money especially when touring is involved. If that made any sense at all.
And really whilst illegal downloading is a big problem in the music industry I think there are far worse ones. Taking Radiohead for an example, EMI have made over £40m off of them yet the band don't even have the rights to their music and they still don't even have that. And yet did releasing the album for free make them a loss (to most people who aren't PM that is)? I see things like alot of record labels being money hungry people who think digital music will never catch on and don't give a band the rights to their own music as as big a problem as illegal downloading. Am I correct in saying that at the time of Bono's wedding the band were in alot of debt with the record label? And yet where is PM's rant at record labels?
It is a very healthy thing from the band to stand up and speak up their opinion, when they agree and also when disagree with the comments or statements, made by someone who is related to the band and set the record straight... it is also remarkable how he speaks about Macguinness' comments, he simple says they disagree but reafirm their respect and love to him....
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did you know? Regarding the phone call Bono as MacPhisto makes at the RDS Dublin show 28th August 1993 to the United Nations, the reply he gets back is a pre-recorded message from Adam Clayton.
new fan around us The most recent fan who registered is named aror99, welcome to U2start aror99! As a new user you can introduce yourself in the Welcome to U2start y'all forum.
popular concerts According to our user reviews, 1987-04-29 - Rosemont, Illinois is the best bootleg we have in our collection. Our users also think that 1993-08-28 - Dublin, Ireland was a great concert since it appears the most in the list of favorite concerts.
notable live performance A great performance of Walk On from the All That You Can't Leave Behind album was played in Slane, Ireland on 2001-09-01, according to user imustbeanacrobat.
popular songs Where The Streets Have No Name is the most-requested song from the song pages and quite popular. According to the favorite song lists of our users, Bad is the all-time favorite song.
latest site news I'm sure in a few hours somewhere on the world it will be 2009, if it's 2009 where you are, I wish you on behalf of me and the whole U2start crew all the best, a happy, healthfull and U2-ish new year!
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bootleg of the month Every month we have a bootleg in the spotlights, the current one took place on 2001-02-07 in London, England. You can download this bootleg, read reviews or write your own review here. You can also join the discussion on this bootleg in our forums.
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"She won't even sing in front of me. I'd have to sneak in and record her in the bath."
- Bono on his wife, Ali