Bono was devastated to discover he had a “telephone voice” while watching Killing Bono.
The Irish singer is the first to admit he lacked confidence when he started in the industry. He’s grown to accept himself and had forgotten about how he used to feel before watching the movie.
Killing Bono follows two friends who are keen to form a band in Ireland, but have to watch as their schoolmates put together U2. Bono went to see the film with his bandmate The Edge, and was amazed when he heard Martin McCann, who played him, start speaking.
“We were self-conscious. When we went to see the premiere of Killing Bono this year… There’s quite a talented actor playing me in the movie. But I said to Edge, ‘What accent is he speaking in?’ – because I didn’t recognise it,” he recalled. “Edge said, ‘That’s the accent you used to do interviews in.’ My telephone voice! He’d obviously done his research on YouTube.”
U2 are currently celebrating the 20th anniversary of their hit record Achtung Baby. It’s being reissued, but they have no idea whether they will put out a record of new material again.
They are working on several albums at the moment, but aren’t sure whether any of them will be a follow up to their 2009 release No Line on the Horizon.
Bono knows the group will continue playing shows in the future, but fears they don’t have it in them to pen a number one track anymore.
“U2 will be playing large places, if we want to, for the next ten years. That’s not the issue,” he told the December edition of Q magazine.
“I think what you’re asking is: can you make the small music for the small speakers? And it’s the right question to ask. Getting songs played on the radio is very important to us. The only answer to that question is when I have the song that I can play you. It’s the inarguable one. We didn’t have that on the last album – we had everything else, but we didn’t have that one thing. I’m not sure we’ll ever be number one on the pop charts [again].”
Bono knows U2’s music isn’t for everyone. He’s also aware that he’s a controversial person, with some viewing him as a saint and others demonising him.
He’s been outspoken about charity work which has led many to think he’s too worthy, but the 51-year-old doesn’t mind that. He insists it’s causing these kinds of conversations which has ensured U2’s long career.
“We’re the most loved and the most hated band on Earth. A lot of the reasons people don’t like us – apart from myself, which I understand because I have to live with me too – are actually what makes us interesting,” he said.
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