December 31, 2005 14:21

Bono reveals U2 tensions

His campaigning nearly made him leave the band

Photo Gallery: U2
Photo: Pa Photos

U2 singer Bono has revealed that he thought he was going to be thrown out of the band over his campaigning against global poverty.

The star has said that at one stage he was concerned that his commitment to the cause may force him to quit the group.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he explained that his campaigning activities had “raised eyebrows” amongst fellow band mates The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr.

"There was one point when I thought 'I'm going to be thrown out of the band for this stuff'," Bono said.

However, he said that the rest of U2 were "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."

He added: “So we have to be very careful about just letting me go too far. People just openly jeered and I felt like I was a weight around my band's neck for doing this kind of work."

Bono was heavily involved in the summer’s Live 8 concerts as well as the Make Poverty History campaign, and makes speeches about global poverty during U2 gigs.

According to BBC News, the singer said that he was worried that his stance would “wear out the audience” but that he did not think this had happened.

“People are smart out there. They know what you are doing, they know the compromises you are making, they get it,” he explained. “Our audience feels like they have a stronger voice through me, and the band can see that."