From: barich@brahms.udel.edu (Dewey H Barich)
Newsgroups: alt.rock-n-roll
Subject: Re: Bono
Date: 11 Sep 92 22:02:02 GMT
Organization: University of Delaware

POSSIBLE SPOILERS TO PEOPLE WHO MIGHT NOT WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THE ZOO-TV
OUTSIDE BROADCAST CONCERTS.

press 'n' now if you don't want to read it!!



In article <flower.32.0@nd.edu> flower@nd.edu (Jody Flower) writes:
>
>First of all, I'd like to point out that I've been a huge U2 for a long 
>time (pre-MTV).  I know I'm going to be flamed, but here I go 
>anyway:  Bono seems so comercialized with his ZOO TV tour.  Besides 
>seeing him in concert, I've decided to stay away from any other visual 
>aspect of U2.  I've been to 5 of U2's concerts in the last year (13 total)
>and only watched one of his videos (hard to believe, I know) and there's one 
>thing I'd like to know:  What's happened to the old Bono?  His 
>mannerisms are totally different and what the hell is up with those glasses 
>and the shiny leather outfit he wears ALL the time?  My friends don't agree 
>with me on this at all - is there anyone else who feels the same way?  I 
>still love the music but can't help but believe Bono's getting too caught up 
>in the whole thing.

You seem to have missed (to some extent) the *point* of ZOO-TV.

After their New Year's Day performance in Dublin (1990, I think), Bono
said "We're going to go away for awhile and rethink this" (or words to
that effect).  What they meant was that they were going to sit back and
look at where they were, and where they wanted to go.  Once they
decided, they began Achtung Baby!

Part of their concerns when they "went away for awhile" was that they
were being seen for their political message only.  Certainly, this was a
part of their message, but it was becoming far too dominant.  As Edge
put it, "We're a fucking rock-n-roll band."

So, as they were preparing for the tour, the ZOO-TV idea came up.  They
are trying to say that Rock-n-Roll Stardom(tm) is just plain silly.  If
the one video that you've seen happens to be "Even Better Than the Real
Thing", then perhaps you've noticed that it has several (or a lot) of
wax figures of rock-n-roll stars.  I think Elvis is there, and Mick
Jagger, some others, *and* U2.

SO, they are trying to say that stardom is silly, and trying to show 
that they are not only making political statements.  To further this 
message, Bono has loosened up a bit and letting the world see his more 
relaxed side.  In one article I read, he said something to the effect 
of, "We used to call ourselves the Politburo, we were so uptight.
We're trying to change that now."

This whole desire to refocus their image has also led to much of the
show that is ZOO-TV, such as the video that has been involved.
Another part of the ZOO-TV idea is to show the overload of information
that is available through TV, and includes the message boards and the
flipping of stations that Bono does with the remote during the concert.
Also, there is the joking that Bono does, such as mimicking Elvis more
than once, and his bringing out a mirror and kissing his image during
the performance of Desire, and calling the White House from the concert,
etc.  In fact, I thought that his statement to the White House Operator,
"So we can't talk to the President tonight? I guess we're not as 
important as we thought we were" was just wonderfully suggestive at
several levels of thought, furthering again their message to not take
them so seriously.

So, what has happened to Bono?  Well, I think nothing, he's just a bit
more relaxed.  Is he getting caught up in the whole thing?  Well, maybe,
but I personally do not think so.  Although, I guess we won't know for
sure until the NEXT album.

Does this help?  I hope so!

Dewey
Newsgroups: alt.rock-n-roll