Paul Brady has become one of the few Irish artists to criticise U2 for distributing their latest album, Songs of Innocence, for free on iTunes in a $100 million deal with computer giant Apple.
Speaking to the Sunday Independent, Brady said: “I just thought it was a publicity stunt that made it even more difficult for, say, a young band who have spent 20 grand making an album to ever make that money back.
"Alright, so, U2 didn't invent taking money for free but they kind of rubber-stamped it in a way and I felt it was something that they shouldn’t have done. I'm not the only one. Apple are still apologising for that gaffe. So I am not taking all the blame on my own shoulders!”
Asked if he felt he was the only Irish singer to `put his head above the parapet' in criticising U2 over the issue, Brady said: “I'll tell you, put your head above the parapet is the right way to describe it! You know - never annoy a U2 fan!”
Brady has just released his new album, The Vicar Street Sessions Volume 1, a live record of his sold-out run of 23 shows at the Dublin venue which sees him duetting with Van Morrison, Mark Knopfler, Bonnie Raitt, and Sinead O’Connor.
