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Does this look like an egomaniac to you?
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U2 lead singer Bono has justifiably gotten grief for fraternizing with the unrepentant opposition, for his band's massive carbon footprint, and for backing out of a much-needed debate on the efficacy of celebrity activism. Now, he's taken a hit from a fellow rock band front man. Brian Johnson of AC/DC recently declared:
"When I was a working man I didn't want to go to a concert for some bastard to talk down to me that I should be thinking of some kid in Africa. I'm sorry mate, do it yourself, spend some of your own money and get it done. It just makes me angry. I become all tyrannical. Do a charity gig, fair enough, but not on worldwide television."
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Being that celebrities seem so adept at raising other people's money, you gotta love this part of Johnson's rant: "Spend some of your own money and get it done." However, I think the metal legend is confusing charity with raising awareness.
Charity is often best done in a low-key manner, even face-to-face. But in order to create a more-informed movement, talking some reality on "worldwide television" is as good as it gets. If only Bono were truly offering that much-needed reality.
WATCH VIDEO: Check out "Instrumental"
Whatever his intentions may be, Sir Bono has a politician-like habit of speaking in platitudes. Imagine if someone like Bono were to use his fame and fortune to talk about:
- Environmental racism in places like Africa
- The environmental impact of war
- The role of corporations in global pollution
- The power of corporations in American society
- The US Department of Defense is the planet's worst polluter
If this were the case, it would be Brian Johnson who'd need the public reprimand.
Green Harmony
Rather than debate the whether Bono is an egomanaic (he often is), we can take matters into our own hands, as follows:
- Vote with your music dollar by only supporting the artists that support your deeply-held values (like Radiohead).
- Spread the word about Reverb.
- Who needs mega-stars? Make your own music and play it unplugged.
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