U2 drummer Larry Mullen on 'war criminal' Blair, on Bono/Blair and on Bush/Blair

U2 drummer Larry Mullen has slated the band’s frontman Bono for the company he keeps - in particular his fraternising with ex-PM Tony Blair.

The musician branded Blair a “war criminal” in an interview for the imminent edition of Q and said he finds Bono’s activities disquieting on a “regular basis”.

====================

My biggest problem really is sometimes the company that he keeps. And I struggle with that. Particularly the political people, less the financial people. Particularly Tony Blair – I mean, I think Tony Blair’s a war criminal. And I think he should be tried as a war criminal. And then I see Bono and him as pals, and I’m going: 'I don’t like that'.

He said Bono "would know how I feel about Tony Blair". Mullen said he understood why the singer had cosied up to President Bush. "George Bush has been very generous to his cause … the difference between him and Tony Blair is that Blair is intelligent. So he has no excuse for what he did. Whereas I think George Bush could find a few excuses for his behaviour.

http://news.q4music.com/2008/12/mullen_takes_a_swipe_at_bonos.html

I remember a few years ago there was a real fit here at DU that Bono was working with Rick Santorum. But the thing with Bono, he doesn't care about what a person stands for on any other issues out there, just trying to get support he needs when it comes to Africa/AIDs/Famine area.

I mean Bono has worked with Jesse Helms - yikes.


I think Bono is a great person but sometimes I think he'll work with the Devil if it means getting what he wants. Is that a good thing - I don't know.

I couldn't be in the same room with half the bastards he deals with:)

Time for a Christy Moore comment
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQpTnUAgA5E

Unless you think AIDS and debt forgiveness are the same issue.

I should have included the 4th, which is debt forgiveness but you totally missed the point.

Those are the issues that Bono cares about. I'm not saying they are bad issues or that he's a bad person but he does tend to work with anyone who can help his causes regardless of what other causes those people may or may not support. Hence why the guy has worked with George Bush, Rick Santorum, Jesse Helms and Tony Blair (who is not as bad as the first 3).

As long as you don't let the Devil call the tune, take as much of his money as you can.

I feel the same way and I am glad he said something about it because I was starting to worry about the entire band and whether I should be playing their music anymore.

Bono was supposed to meet with Sarah Palin so she could have a photo op but then cancelled and just made a phone call...maybe he has some standards :rofl:

as long as someone is willing to work with him on that issue then any other issue doesn't matter with him. Which is why Bono has worked with the likes of George Bush, Tony Blair, Rick Santorum and even Jesse Helms.

But a question one might ask is this - would Bono have worked with someone like Adolph Hilter if Hilter pledged to help with Bono's pet cause - AIDs/Africa/Famine?

:shrug:

would Bono have worked with someone like Adolph Hilter if Hilter pledged to help with Bono's pet cause

Invoking Godwin's Law.

Nor informative.

Makes me wonder why you bothered.

Substance over style.

Adolf was.:evilgrin:

would Bono have worked with someone like Adolph Hilter if Hilter pledged to help with Bono's pet cause

Would Bono have been wrong to take some of Hitler's money and turn it to good purposes?

Because, unfortunately, Hitler was around for awhile and doing bad things way before what he did to the Jews. And even when he started the Holocaust, the world was not away of it right away. Hitler did pro-actively invade other countries like Poland and Czechoslovakia. Would Bono still be willing to work with a world leader who was quite willing to invade other countries BUT would listen to the causes that Bono was presenting to him?

hmmmmm

I'm not trying to dis the work that Bono is doing. I'm trying to say that Larry Mullen definitely has a valid point

They were talking about it back when they were making the Rattle and Hum concert movie.

They didn't like it back then either.

I guess it doesn't bother them enough to affect their actions, in other words, not really that much.

He's not known for his speaking. Adam Clayton on the other hand...

There's a certain amount of voice a member of a band like this has that they wouldn't if they left. They can either stay committed, as they have since the 70s, or move to join any other group that allows them to express their social values as freely. I'm sure Def Leppard or AC/DC would love to hear their educated takes on the sugar euphemisms, motor runnings, big balls, honey, money or just plain "rocking". ;)