Follow Newser on Twitter   Friend Newser on Facebook
Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Angry Irish to Protest U2 at Music Fest

Glastonbury demonstrators say group avoids taxes at home

By the Associated Press

Posted Jun 24, 2011 8:51 AM CDT

(AP) – Activists say they plan a major protest during U2's performance at England's Glastonbury festival today, accusing the group of dodging tax taxes in Ireland. Bono "is well known for his anti-poverty campaigning," but has avoided paying Irish taxes at a time when the country desperately needs money, says a member of the group Art Uncut. Bono, guitarist The Edge, and U2's other members—bassist Adam Clayton and drummer Larry Mullen—are among Ireland's wealthiest residents.

In 2006, the band moved its corporate base from Ireland to the Netherlands, where royalties on music incur virtually no tax. U2 is headlining the first night of the three-day festival. Some 170,000 people have descended on a farm in southwest England for the muddy music extravaganza, which includes sets by Radiohead, Morrissey, Mumford and Sons, Coldplay, Beyonce and scores of other acts.

A festival-goer ploughs through thick mud ahead of the annual Glastonbury Music Festival, at Pilton, England, Thursday, June 23, 2011,.
A festival-goer ploughs through thick mud ahead of the annual Glastonbury Music Festival, at Pilton, England, Thursday, June 23, 2011,.   (Joel Ryan)
Yents stand in the mud overlooking the Pyramid stage ahead of the annual Glastonbury Music Festival, at Pilton, England, Thursday, June 23, 2011.
Yents stand in the mud overlooking the Pyramid stage ahead of the annual Glastonbury Music Festival, at Pilton, England, Thursday, June 23, 2011.   (Joel Ryan)
Festival-goers wearing wellington boots make their way through the mud ahead of the the annual Glastonbury Music Festival, at Pilton, England, Thursday, June 23, 2011.
Festival-goers wearing wellington boots make their way through the mud ahead of the the annual Glastonbury Music Festival, at Pilton, England, Thursday, June 23, 2011.   (Joel Ryan)
The sun sets over giant lettering at Glastonbury Music Festival, Glastonbury, England, Thursday, June 23, 2011. More than 170,000 ticket-holders arrived at Worthy Farm for the 41st festival.
The sun sets over giant lettering at Glastonbury Music Festival, Glastonbury, England, Thursday, June 23, 2011. More than 170,000 ticket-holders arrived at Worthy Farm for the 41st festival.   (Joel Ryan)
A man dressed as comedian and musician Frank Sidebottom walks through the main stage at Glastonbury Music Festival, Glastonbury, England, Thursday, June 23, 2011.
A man dressed as comedian and musician Frank Sidebottom walks through the main stage at Glastonbury Music Festival, Glastonbury, England, Thursday, June 23, 2011.   (Joel Ryan)
Bono performs with his band U2 Wednesday, June 22, 2011 in Baltimore.
Bono performs with his band U2 Wednesday, June 22, 2011 in Baltimore.   (AP Photo/Gail Burton)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
My TakeCLICK BELOW TO VOTE
8%
7%
0%
74%
0%
10%
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 10 comments
sidewinder
Jun 25, 2011 6:37 AM CDT
Should just protest them for sucking so badly. 
Ultraworld
Jun 24, 2011 3:02 PM CDT
 You can't fight the masses who go straight to Twitter & Facebook. They can stop U2 in their tracks. This is blowing up in their faces.
tc909
Jun 24, 2011 1:29 PM CDT
I was a big time fan of U2 in the early 80's around the time War came out, then The Unforgettable Fire.  Learned to play electric guitar, got the hip 80's boots, was stylin'... I thought Bono was awesome.  Then not long after Live Aid, they lost their luster. The Joshua Tree was ok, except for their idiotic "let's imitate the Beatles on top of Abbey Road" number. I didn't get the whole "Rattle and Hum" thing,..trying to channel Elvis in Sun Studios?...please..some forced blues number with BB King.. what did they have on him to make him do that?...  And it just went downhill from there.  I haven't bought the last 3 or 4 albums (CD's or iTunes now) and I don't think I've missed anything.  And,... Bono meeting with the Pope?  I mean, WTF?  The Pope!?  Does the Pope not have anything to do?  Then there's the Edge...don't even get me started on his scam of a way to build those houses in Malibu.  Using his wife, her father etc. as other vested interests... and what the hell is the deal with his damn black toboggan hat he's been wearing year round for the last 20 years?  Jesus man, no one else cares that your hair all fell out except you...wait is that why you're wanting to build these big ass houses in Malibu, because your hair fell out.... but I digress.

Copyright 2012 Newser, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. AP contributed to this report.

More Newser Stories

Lady Gaga Channels Marilyn at Clinton Fete

Bono: I Felt 'Impotent' While Making Spider-Man

Spider-Man Musical Off to Tangled Start

5 Worst Drunk-Musician Videos

The Edge Rejects Greenie Criticism of U2 Tour


NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Timelines   |   Geek Sugar   |   Business Insider   |   HuffPost Entertainment