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Bono says campaigning caused tension in band

Tuesday 3 January 2006
Rock singer Bono has admitted that his high-profile campaigning against global poverty has caused tensions between him and his fellow U2 band members.
1 of 1 Bono - Admitted that his campaigning caused tension within U2
Bono - Admitted that his campaigning caused tension within U2

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Speaking in an interview on BBC Radio, Bono said that he previously feared that his commitment to such anti-poverty campaigns could force him out of the band. 

The singer, who frequently makes statements about global poverty during U2 concerts, said: "There was one point when I thought  'I'm going to be thrown out of the band for this stuff'."

"People just openly jeered and I felt like I was a weight around my band's neck for doing this kind of work," he said.

Referring to his fellow band members, Bono said: "They are hugely supportive spiritually and financially of the work I do, but they are in a rock 'n' roll band and the first job of a rock 'n' roll band is not to be dull."

But the singer also said that his bandmates recognised that U2's audience appreciated the kind of work that he was doing. "I thought we would wear our audience out, but it hasn't happened," he said.

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