Bono and The Edge give their reactions to the news that U2 are to be granted the freedom of Dublin city.
U2 as we know it now began life in 1976 when a teenage Larry Mullen recruited The Edge, Adam Clayton and Bono among others, and formed a band called Feedback, because of the sound they made, which then changed its name to The Hype, for lack of it surrounding the band, before settling on U2.
Today the world has become their stage, and they still don't need the hype.
This week sees the release of the sound track of the latest collaboration for music for the movie 'The Million Dollar Hotel’, and the band are currently in Dublin working on their next album.
In addition to their music, U2 have been long term supporters of international human rights and environmental causes.
Their involvement with the Jubilee 2000 Drop The Debt campaign has helped to push western leaders towards cancelling debts owed by the world’s poorest countries. According to Jamie Drummond of Jubilee 2000,
Politicians...saw what they felt was an acceptable face of the campaign, and that was Bono.
At this stage U2 are not entirely sure exactly what becoming Freemen of Dublin will mean for them and their manager Paul McGuinness, according to The Edge,
We’re very humbled by it.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 15 March 2000. The reporter is Colm Connolly.
