Bono: Really Cool
A few years back, I had the opportunity to interview Bono, who is, of course, the lead singer of
U2. We met at the Cafe des Artistes on West 67th Street, near Central Park, in Manhattan. Bono walked there alone from an apartment on Central Park South, about ten blocks away, which right away struck me as quite cool—hardly typical for a rock star.
I spoke with Bono for about two hours, and came away hugely impressed. We spoke mostly about his drive for international debt relief for poor nations, and he clearly knew what he was talking about. Well, let's be honest—he knew vastly more about the issue than I did. But we also talked about the politics of being a rock star and some of the issues raised by his dual roles as activist and musician.
Bono had enormous charisma, humor and intelligence.
Also, he holds his liquor better than I do. But that is true of most adults. And many young people.
I am reminded of all this by the extensive
interview Jann Wenner has done with Bono in the new Rolling Stone: This is a thoughtful and fascinating man. And inspiring. More than anyone else I can think of, Bono makes real change in Africa seem not only plausible, but mandatory.
I liked one particular answer of his, when Wenner asked if he has a "messianic complex." Bono responds: "Once you see not only the problem, but also the solution, there's no escape. You see it, you can't look away from it. I want it to feel like an adventure, not a burden. ...This is an extraordinary thing. This is not, 'Oh, my God, all the poor starving Africans with flies around their faces.' They are very noble, royal people, full of easy laughter and very innovative. This is about us, too. It's about who are we? What are our values? Do we have any? It's exciting."
And inspiring....
