U2 The ultimate Irish band !!!
Dave Miller dave.miller.uk@gmail.com
As Irish as
butter
Growing up during the Troubles ...
Falls Road
1976 ... Punk Rock!
humble beginnings
twang
clunk
A teenage U2
A charged, political approach
lyrics had political, social, and religious themes.
1980's U2 gained international recognition and evolved into post-punk stadium-centric rock heroes.
"rock gods"
1990's - a string of hits, awards. U2 the world's highest earning musicians, raking in approximately ÂŁ100 million per year.
Saint Bono
Since 1999, Bono campaigns for developing-world debt relief and awareness of plight of Africa.
"thank god it's them"
Bono regularly meets political leaders to lobby on behalf of developing nations, to improve the lives of the world's poor.
I will follow
follow me
But for many years U2 have been accused of hypocrisy. U2 have been building up a ÂŁ1 billion business empire, including a major share in Forbes magazine, Facebook, games software companies, and even setting up their own Hedge Fund.
2006 U2 sparked criticism by shifting part of their business affairs from Ireland to Holland after a cap on generous tax breaks for artists in their home country.
!
Irish politicians branded U2's move a cynical ploy while the band were urging the Government to give more money to relieve poverty, they were denying it the funds to do so.
2008 financial crash Irish banks bailed out using public money. Harsh IMF austerity cuts imposed, and public services severely slashed ("austerity for a generation")
U2 are accused of avoiding taxes which could have helped exactly the sort of people that Bono cares about so dearly.
"Of course we want to be tax-efficient – who doesn't?"