MAJOR ROCK 'N ROLL MOMENT IN HISTORY
By Members of U2
U2'S ACCEPTANCE SPEECH AT THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME CEREMONIES 2005.
Monday, March 14, 2005
U2'S ACCEPTANCE SPEECH AT THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONIES 2005.
On March 14, 2005, U2 was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This link contains Bono and the rest of the bands acceptance speeches. In my humble opinion, this should be required reading for all music fans, and more importantly, for all people in the music business.
Bono truly is grace personified. The tremendous love and respect emanating from the band members towards each other, and towards those who have been instrumental in the bands remarkable history (Paul McGuinness, Chris Blackwell, Barbara Skydell, Frank Barsalona also an inductee), was palpable. Bonos speech is historical, educational, emotional, and dripping with humility and humanity. Especially touching was Bonos recognition of the bands legendary personal manager Paul McGuinness, stating [Paul is] the reason no one in this band has 'slave' scrawled on their face -- referring to McGuinness insistence when first signing the band to Island that the copyright to U2's masters should revert back to them after [I believe] 30 years (please correct me if I am wrong by clicking here), and Prince's Slave scrawling on his cheek a few years ago in protest of not owning his own masters (leading to his aptly-titled "Emancipation" Album for Capitol-EMI when he finally began maintaining the copyright ownership in his records distributed by so-called "Major" labels).
Check out also Bono's comments about "Long Term Vision," and his opinion about how in the current state of the music business, there would be no U2 beyond their first album (horrific, scary stuff).
Also remarkable and entertaining was Bruce Springsteens tremendously articulate, funny, and heartfelt speech when introducing the band [I am still looking for Springsteens speech online].
Then, the band kicked into a scorching 4-song set, during which Bono walked around the audience and literally kissed all of the people he had thanked earlier. He then grabbed a bottle of champagne, ceremoniously popped its cork, and sprayed it on his band and the audience.
In short, it was all a rare moment of true GREATNESS. Note that both Bob Marley and The Clash are referred to in Bono's acceptance speech. Big ups to U2 for ceaselessly bringing us inspiration and honor.
