BONO LOSES A FRIEND

Home

Community

Irish World

Travel

Ireland

Roots

News

Shopping

Dating

Search

Irish Voice

Columnists

Classifieds

WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

Read newsletters

Enter your e-mail address to receive our weekly e-Newsletter:

Irish Voice Entertainment

BONO LOSES A FRIEND

September 13, 2007

By Debbie McGoldrick

THE great voice has been silenced, but Luciano Pavarotti received an awesome sendoff and heartfelt tributes from leaders of all walks of life in all parts of the world. Bono and Pavarotti were close friends and collaborators, and the U2 frontman was one of the celebrities who traveled to Italy to pay last respects at Pavarotti’s funeral. Bono also penned a moving tribute to his Italian inspiration which he posted on the band’s website.

“Great, great fun, The Pavlova we used to call him. An emotional arm twister if he wanted you to do something for him he was impossible to turn down. A great flatterer,” Bono wrote.

“When he wanted U2 to write him a song he rang our housekeeper, Theresa, continually so we talked about little else in our house.

“When he wanted U2 to play his festival in Modena, he turned up in Dublin unannounced with a film crew, and door-stopped the band. His life and talent was large but his sense of service to the weak and vulnerable was larger.

“He liked to eat, sleep and then warm up his vocals though I remember more eating than warming up. When we first recorded with him I left a stone heavier than I arrived.

“I spoke to him last week. .. the voice that was louder than any rock band was a whisper. Still he communicated his love. Full of love.” Sounds like the two superstars had a truly special friendship.

Meanwhile, Bono was also in France last week with Cherie Blair, wife of ex-British Prime Minister Tony Blair, to dedicate a peace fountain imprinted with the word “coexist” in the town of St. Jean Cap Ferrat.

Cherie, a favorite whipping target of the British press, was lambasted in the Daily Mail for falling all over Bono at the event.

“And when Cherie met rock star Bono, she was clearly delighted. So much so that she puckered up and planted a kiss on the rock star’s cheek,” the paper reported. “Star-struck Cherie looked positively smitten as she gazed through the trademark shades into Bono’s eyes.” Well, who could blame her – it is Bono, after all!

Share this story: digg this | Add to del.icio.us

Print Save Discussions

Discuss

Email a friend