Kodaline have leapt to the defence of U2, saying they were delighted to receive the band's latest album as a free download.
Speaking to Hot Press magazine, Steve Gargan, lead singer of the Dublin fourpiece, said, "Imagine if it was Justin Beiber."
Kodaline, who are gearing up to release their second album, Coming Up For Air, said they were in the studio when the free download of U2's Songs of Innocence arrived last September.
"I read about it so I was like 'everyone check your iPhone'!" said Kodaline drummer Vinny May. "We can see both sides of the argument but there's no real need for the complete outrage - `how dare they invade my personal property'.
"It's a f***ing hour of music! Jesus, I'm sorry! There could be worse things. It could be an hour of somebody giving out to you. Or an hour of somebody shouting f***. It's an hour of music!"
Guitarist and keyboard player Mark Prendergast added: "And everybody loves to take a dig at Bono. If it was Britney Spears or someone like that, I don't know.
"But there's something kind of edgy and ballsy about it - 'bam, here's our album.' Sure if you look on your iTunes, Bono's there already! The outline of the singer is Bono!"
U2 today released a new remastered version of their new single, Every Breaking Wave, the second song to be lifted from Songs of Innocence.
