Bono’s poverty ‘rants’ cause tension in U2

ROCK star Bono said that his commitment to campaigning against poverty caused tensions within U2.

The musician said that at one point he feared his commitment to the anti-poverty cause might force him out of the band.

Bono was one of the leaders of the Make Poverty History campaign and Live 8 concert, and often makes statements about global poverty during concerts.

“When I do my rant on making poverty history, I have got Larry Mullen, our drummer, behind me looking at his watch, timing me,” he told BBC radio.

“There was one point when I thought, ‘I’m going to be thrown out of the band for this stuff’.”

But he now feels the other band members recognise that U2’s audience appreciates what he is doing.

“People are smart out there. They know what you are doing, they know the compromises you are making, they get it.”