October 24, 2000 11:33

BONO HAS A POP AT THE CHARTS

The [a]U2[/a] star slams record companies for "ignoring real talent in favour of pretty young things"...

Photo Gallery: U2

Bono has joined George Michael in slamming production-line pop pap, attacking record companies for "ignoring real talent in favour of pretty young things" and declaring that people are "sick to the teeth of processed and hyped pop bands."

The U2 singer, quoted in UK tabloid The Sun today (October 24), lashed out during an intimate recording at BBC Radio 1's Maida Vale studios in London, when the band played a set in front of 40 people. They played 'Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of', 'New York', 'Elevation', 'Beautiful Day' and 'She's A Mystery To Me'.

Saying that music fans want "something real" again, he also commented that the tide is turning for the better: " People want something real again, and that's where we come in... what I'm picking up is that they want us to do well because we are flying the flag for bands who can really play."

He continued: "The state of music in Britain and Ireland hasn't been very healthy recently, but you can tell it?s changing by the chart position of pop acts - they are slipping. We went in a Number One, which surprised me. We were Number One in the singles chart and Radiohead Number One in the album chart. That tells me things are changing for the better. Fans are getting wiser. I mean, who are Steps?"

During the recording, Adam Clayton also spoke of the band's world tour lined up for next summer. "We want to do something different. We've done stadiums, so we'll probably do Earls Courts and Wembley Arenas. We're starting off in America but will be back in Ireland for a show at Slane Castle. We want to do more intimate venues. Well, intimate by our standards."