Bono on Joy Division, 1980, RTE radio, Ireland.

[02115Rick]

What a thoughtful young man Bono was at age 20. Sad what happened to Ian, and to Bono.

[L3XINGTON]

He was still Irish, Christian and objective then... How very refreshing.

[mickdel]

I forgive him for annoying me over the years. Whatever you say about Bono, he had a damn fine taste in music.  I've got the originals of the songs he mentions in this interview.

[spateeight]

It sounds like when the song starts at 1:26 that the two drum beats are the entire song. Thought it was kinda funny...

[wdoss07]

Bono is a SELL OUT.  Obama? Are you serious? You supported Obama?

[lesassassins]

@wdoss07 U2 = total sell outs. To me Pop is their last album, now they're DEAD.

[LandsEbb]

The important thing isn't that people are watching the video just to comment that Bono's a wanker, it's that people had no fucking clue about Ian Curtis (schizophrenia...seriously?) Also, 1980 means U2 were unknown, unlike now where everything but what the media says about them is unknown to people who really don't give a shit to look further. Think of all the bad press when bands survive beyond their early stages. It's a choice between that or anonymity.

[skotnoctis]

The interviewer said schizophrenia, not Bono.

[90alexcatalan]

give the guy a break hes only 20 here , what the fuck do u lot know anyway . sad bastards jealous of bono

[Cleaver62]

What great comments Bono is making. It really makes me miss the 80s. Truth is, I miss them anyway.

[vhead1]

i love that story of when u2 were in the studio and listening to joy division record and after the recording bono goes up to joy division manager rob gretton and says 'that was amazing i wish i'd have thought of that' and gretton replies 'really? why didnt u fuckin do it then?!' lmao

there was no bullshit with joy division, sometimes a feel a bit sick listening to bono sometimes cos hes so far up his own arse, still the guys written some of the best songs ever written

[findlaymcarthur]

pop singers assholes

[burlearth]

Anyone from Dublin knows Bono's 'affected enunciation' accent is completely fake.

[rendlesham]

@burlearth can you tell me what you meant by "affected enunciation" i love the idea of what you're saying..i mean we all know U2 would do anything for fame and money which is not that bad a thing but it does make you

at the root pretentious and inauthentic and liable to being fake when you are in a creative and expressive field - all of which of course they are...but God what ambition, what drive, what discipline...originality, talent, innovation, creativity - no... why do people buy it though?

[burlearth]

@rendlesham He changed his accent so he wouldn't sound like the people he grew up around. The words 'shame', 'snobbery' and 'elitism' come to mind, a lot of Irish people suffer from such afflictions.

Phil Lynott -another Dubliner- never felt the need to change his accent, he was always more assured, charming and genuine as a person because of it.

[TheJesusisland]

Ken Stewart is a fool

[stilldasayme]

I love good ol' Bono.

When I am depressed, I think about him and it makes me laugh.

I once changed the ringtone of a friend of mine's phone to the end of Vertigo (yehyehyeh, like in South Park)...it was funny when he found out.

Bono is fun and cool ⸮

[hedbox83]

So Ian Curtis killed himself after meeting Bono?

[CMEAGAIN]

@hedbox83 yeah i think it was the tipping point!

[willyfisterbottomm]

@hedbox83 who wouldnt?

[Quasi8]

I have 97 1/2 people inside of me.

[dmstn]

You share nothing with Joy Division, Bono, you f*cking prick.

[rickyisgould]

dont have to to diss bono, yeah he sucks but hes just giving his ups to ian curtis.

let him say his peace you fuckersss

[Nigelxman1]

@rickyisgould U2 was great in their day despite Bono's pretentiousness.

[colabottles77]

Two pretentious gobshites talking out of their arse-holes. Ian Curtis would have thought Bono is a right tosser no doubt.

[Robert27962]

Bimbo sucks.

[Zatzzo]

come on people, relax

[wood1155]

i want to try to take him seriously really i do, but there is something about bono that makes me cringe like meeting a person and finding out they are a used car salesman.

[Moowayable]

Bono's the man.

[IanCurtisisagod]

Wow, a time when Bono didnt have his head up his arse

[51yourtimeisup]

He's got more right to talk about Joy Division than anyone here has.

[EmitFlestiKY]

Piss off...you are a tosser! and considering this is a 1980 recording, wow!..long before U2 wre really anything, it's amazing to hear how articulate Bono is already about U2's early music and goals, and amazing that U2 were in the studio listening and watching when Joy Division recorded Love Will Tear Us Apart! Not

[ollihp]

cupomash, it takes a classy irishman to admit what you did but true fans of fine music w/ common sense would never associate bonehead w/ irish people as they know there are =ly & more talented irish, british, german etc. bands under the media radar & that's all that matters to genuine fans. As for awsomenessk, there's nothing awesome about you or your washed up hacks from ireland unless you're a weenybopper that enjoys everything the mainstream media throws at you.

[MICHAELVINTER]

BONO is a hero, thats my opinion, and it seems that theres alot how got an idea to put out there negative opinion about him in this link. Bono is a hero in the sense of being a musicmaker and being aware of politics and having an opinion that for many is to direct. God bless bono.

[mramos1126]

yea yea yea!

[awesomenessk]

U2 pwns Joy Division.

[scudderforthewin]

@awesomenessk bollocks!!!!

[awesomenessk]

@scudderforthewin

lol, I do love British sayings :D

[scudderforthewin]

@awesomenessk hahaha :D

[mojopin70]

magazine are/were radioheads influence...or at least thom yorkes...

[mojopin70]

magazine were radioheads influence...

[IamScarface]

I think Bono is such a turd. Joy Division were simply streets better, even today they sound so honest. Bono was just an ambitious tosser, but Ian Curtis was far more honourable than that.

We can only imagine what Curtis would have gone on to:(((

[santiago2u]

@IamScarface ...and Kurt Cobain, and Jimi Hendrix, and John Lennon, and Janis Joplin, and Brian Jones, and Peter Hook...---wait, he's still alive! but since Curtis Left, the music, and the bands he leads, are irrelevant...

[tertommy]

That's numeral U and the letter 2. Those guys are from England and who gives a shit/ Ponderous.

[mjenkins74]

@tertommy U2 are not from England, they are from Dublin, Ireland!

Get your facts straight!! before posting

[tertommy]

@mjenkins74 Ponderous,  That's the Numeral U and the Letter 2.

[badbibles]

@tertommy Negativland, haha

[MrMUGS94]

joy division would of been bigger than u2 there music has way more substance and meaning.

[dermot51]

We met the band outside the beach club in manchester in 1980 {june 4th} and Bono was a twat we just cringed such a pretentious idiot he was actually trying to impress me and my two mates cause we lived down the road from Cedarwood Road where he lived the other three guys were cool and the gig was great but Bono just seemed fake

[lifepod2036]

Oh the gentle side of Bono. his voice is sooo sooothing huh? haha.

[basshred]

I'm sorry to say this but Bono here sounds like David St. Hubbins from Spinal Tap

[kateeee1x]

i wouldn't even give bono the pleasure of being compared to a band like joy division.

[0mgwtfbbq21]

well im not a u2 fan or anything but i at least admit they r good and its true what south park said, even if he helps so much ppl and gives so much money 2 charity he is still crap cuz thats what he is, crap

[amaranth7777]

Very good interview

Excellent insights by Bono

[knownpleasures]

bono is brillaint in this interview

[196177]

Boner>>. what a nob....

[essy111]

This is the humble Bono I wish he would return to

[cupomash]

Look I am from Ireland and I think Bono is a big headed tosser and a fucking two faced twat. Lives in luxury - fair enough he earned it ,but then he comes on stage and tells working class people (whom paid way over the odds to see the band) and the proceed to tell us were not doing enough give more money!!! WTF are you for fucking real man. Listen Bonehead go back to your fucking mansion and wax your fucking carrot you two faced twat. U2 ??? yeah fuck you to and all.

[fuckclearchannel]

@cupomash I actually like U2. I haven't seen them in concert so I can't confirm whether he does what you say; though it is a bit hypocritical to move your business out of Ireland in order to avoid paying taxes. Plenty of middle and lower class people don't have that option and can't avoid paying taxes. However, people are being a bit hard on him here. He likes JD (as do I), and once called Ian the holy voice. Would he be a hero if he'd hung himself in 1983?

[steevenD]

Bono knew that JD was friggen awesome, the first two JD CD's are BETTER than ALL U2 CD's ever made...!

[akauldren]

Come on get a ray of light of reality at least.

[santiago2u]

@steevenD ...agree!! and the 23 cds by New Order Suck big time...as soon as curtis was gone, the talent vanished...oh poor Hook...never got to have a Mansion or the millions Bono has...

[skylab20]

He's speaking favorably of Curtis. It's almost if artists sustain themselves and prove to be successful over many years, they gain haters in those who used to love them. If Bono died in 1983, you'd be singing the same tune. Way too cliche.

[Robinhoodarch]

yeah, screw all the music he made, screw all the people he helped, Bono is a douche because South Park said so.

And in what part of this video does he compare himself to Ian?

[TripsAplenty]

How dare Bono compare himself to Ian. What a Douche.

[Hate92326]

Please, write at least approximately about what it speaks, I do not understand English. Very interestingly...

[sedmond]

once again do you know who this prick is/

[HawK047]

Once again, whats wrong with Bono?

[blacklightposter]

Old U2 fucken rocks!!!!!

[sedmond]

BONO speaks of whats inside himself total SHITE .go back to your dalkey booze buddys middle class wanker

[theMacvarish]

The closest Bono ever got to Curtiss was Hands of love and he listened to JD for 3 days before he recorded the vocal.

[wood1155]

@theMacvarish agree... oh i was there when they recorded the best song ever made... sounds like a scene from forrest gump lol

[Reegatron]

Bono you dick...

[Mattfletch001]

what a dick

[fractaljack]

I was biting my tongue until the last comment he made regarding Martin Hannett ...GRIEF!!!

Already SO cocksure of yourself Bono, that you couldn't risk a true innovative producer to bring you to a level you weren't capable of imaging yourself?!

Now I've heard everything!!

BTW, I saw U2 in a nightclub in Lansing, MI in 1981 and Magazine in Vancouver, Canada in 1988 and Howard Devoto had more "texture" then than Bono has had in his entire career!

[Rang3rfuel]

Everybody spam: FUCK BONO!!!!

[dermot51]

Joy Division Bono not Joy Divisions for fuck sake get it right

[Zatzzo]

Joy Division's

[Popdivision]

Bono is the worst Joy Division fan, he can't even sing the lyrics right!

[crieff1sand2s]

fuckin prick

[TheTheriddler23]

Bono is the most Pretentious, worthless person in music I think I've ever come across. Schizophrenic? Fucking moron! He had Epilepsy and was so much more than Bono

[DJRichardKegg]

bono you could've said - "no - not schizophrenic" but you didn't. Ego over knowledge, obvious at age 20 or whatever you were. But in no way correct. U2 used to be my fave band, in my teens, but only cos I'd never heard Joy division before - or new order. Now age 38, I don't really play U2, done it, it's good music, but JD and NO really move me so much more. They have a more spiritual sound. Much more gritty. Much more best band in the world and we don't brag about it kinda thing.

[MrsNesbit1]

im not bono's biggest fan by any means but i get far more annoyed by Ken Stewart interviewing him. Ian Curtis wasn't schizophrenic. He did have epilepsy but just cos he performs aggressively doesn't mean he has schizophrenia! what a douche.

[winiapoo]

i agree...

[carlo88moe]

@MrsNesbit1 u twat, they were discussing the transformation he had in persona when he took the stage9which is distinctly remembered by many who saw JD live) was LIKE schizophrenia, he didnt mean it as an actual diagnosis....

[RemeberLoughall]

'Sunday Bloody Sunday' IS a rebel song.

TAL

[patrickmarlon]

It's interesting and stupid at the same time when people slags off someone who really made it!!!What is that..

So when you not that big your'e cool then??

[ReyZame]

Rip off man, ripp off band.

U2 yearly saves millions of pesos with (of course) legal tax constructions. Let their hard working countrymen pay the taxes, keep the money for themselves and pretend they really care about the world.

[robert99brown]

i think its bono's polotics not his music that hack's a lot of folk off,ie the eu its not democratic ironically ireland was forced into a yes vote yet bono howls on about democracy and calling brown and blair the lennon and m'cartney of polotics !?....

[bigdunk9]

Hes a bit less of a tit now, I now know he has a neutral opinion on other music.

[calmster]

It amazes me how many people slag bono off , he's commenting on an artist he clearly admires yet some people just want to rip into him, bono is an incredible performer and U2 are an incredible band , whether or not they're better than JD is irrelevant to me.

[LLawliet133]

U2 sucks ass and Bono is a tosser, that's why people are slagging him off.

[joliecide]

amen brother

[HawK047]

You obviously havent heard U2's old stuff.

Sure, U2 was christian and Bono might have this "annoying voice" or how people call it. But the old U2 actually sounds really good!

[Bonnogreen]

@LLawliet133 U2 is one of the most amazing bands in the world and they have changed the way music is today. Maybe some of their work isnt too good but they ARE truly amazing

[AwesomeCoasters]

@LLawliet133

U2 does not suck ass. Have you ever listened to The Joshua Tree, Achtung Baby or The Unforgettable Fire? No you haven't.

[gormarx]

@AwesomeCoasters Those are just three of the reason U2 suck anything suckable. Four utterly worthless, vain and shallow cretins with no talent at all; Boner is a fucking Justin Bieber prototype.

[AwesomeCoasters]

@gormarx

Let me repeat. Have you ever listened to any of these three albums?

[KazeHebi]

@AwesomeCoasters Those three albums are really good, no doubt about it, especially Achtung Baby. However, my three fav of U2 are their first three albums, Boy, October and War, the baby era of U2. But the reason why people don't like U2 isn't because of their music, it's because Bono shows up in every form of media how he was able to save hundreds of lives through his charity... What an arrogant self centered douche...

[AwesomeCoasters]

@KazeHebi

The guy said ''U2 sucks ass and Bono is a tosser''.. I was responding to the first part.

[KazeHebi]

@AwesomeCoasters I know that, but that's exactly my point. If he didn't think Bono was a tosser, he would probably appreciate U2's music better. People, when asked why they don't like U2, they normally have nothing bad to say about the band, the hatred is normally focused on Bono. A bit stupid really. Nevertheless, it doesn't really matter. Both U2 and Joy Division are awesome in their own way.

[AwesomeCoasters]

@KazeHebi Well, this guy and the 17 who thumbed his comment up could all state that they hate U2 but it's not that they don't appreciate their music because Bono is a tosser, in fact they don't have a single problem enjoying U2's music, they just hate Bono like so many and want to lead people into believing the same thing by saying that U2 sucks.

[polabona]

@LLawliet133 you sucks ass!

[renr17]

Please. Stop calling them sell outs? Because if JD was "Sell-outs", would you still like them? Because from some of you fans opinions, it seems you like JD because of its non-commercial success.

[tumbipanther]

is that wanker calling them joy divisions. I hate bono so much.The self loving git. Ian curtis would roll over in his grave!

[cornelpunx]

hate him so much you want - but this is an interview from early 1980 when he was just 18 or 19, they just had 1 album out and their first tine produced by Hannett. So he was into the same music you seem to like you. He grew up on that when they were around. You/us getting into the music 30 years on is a different matter. Lots of romanticizing & baggage added. Hate Bono for being omnipresent & annoying at times but the guy knows his stuff & got his heart in the right place.

[HarmonicsExplorer]

He was 20 years here. Ian offed himself after Bono turned age 20 in May 1980. This interview is September 1980.

[SuperGameGuides]

def - sorry i used to be a fan

[SuperGameGuides]

listen to their first two albums .......and then the rest ...lost it completely

[kcirdrab]

You think they abandoned art for commerciality after October?

[SuperGameGuides]

grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr i hate the bloody sell outs wish i'd never listened to this

[kcirdrab]

How are U2 sell outs?

A.B. Surrey, England.

[spadge321]

they cant play rock and roll ,, anyone see that tv prog about guitarists,, that cunt edge (wankers name) has more special effects than a fucking hammer film,, just un plug it all and play a robert johnson number you thick shallow navy !!

[johnnyjilted]

@spadge321 what like every other guitarist known to man.....hes an innovator not an immitator you thick shallow navy!!

[gormarx]

@johnnyjilted He's not a guitarist to begin with, he's a poser and a prick with a guitar and really no clue what to do with it.

[spadge321]

pity bongo didnt hang himself instead of Ian but the rope would have snapped on the fat cock sucker,, he sounds like a faggot,, dont rate u2 or oasis at all ,, fuck em ,, give me the buzzcocks (harmony in my head),, or dr feelgood,, irish fakes,,

[gankball]

Hahaha

[robert99brown]

i don't know how old most of you cats are or if you ar from england,but its almost impossible to explain the massive impact and excitement jd bought to a very boring rock scene at that time,they reinvigerated many older bands and inspired hosts of new.wether right or wrong i understand hooky saying he feels in some way u2 stole their baby,and i'm not knocking u2,it's just jd released their records first.lastly before i get hammered u2 fully deserve their status ,

[zone1doorman]

bono jumps on any band wagon for f%^& sake he was in the clash movie theabba doc on a show about irish punk music a van the man doc i think the man would show up at a letter opening the band has a view on every thing that is hip at the time may he end up singing c/w music the d#$%^&*head

[offthelinegt]

Wow ... Bono was so right . .about the "two people" comment. Wasnt this an era where epilepsy hadent been officially documented? correct me if im wrong.

[knownpleasures]

loads of people find themselves in that situation and dont kill themslves! what are on man?? and it doesnt "make sense"!! wilson was asked on a new documentary and he said it was a secret. it has to be than just being torn apart over two women surely!!??

[dermot51]

he was on an array of medication which obvioiusly didnt help he was in love with another woman he wanted out of his marriage and felt he was letting everyone down and sadly it all got to much for him and thats it really " case" closed

[ybot1983]

u2 who in 25 years time

[tacosontheceiling]

He was only 20 years old here, and yet he sounds so much older, much wiser than his years. He's obviously extremely intelligent, but it's even more striking being that he's just a kid.

[miarrem]

you've got that right!

[offthelinegt]

Great vids Parnell Mooney! .... my band mate Christopher Mooney agree's! .. Early U2 influenced us soooo much

[knownpleasures]

3) Bono thinks that LWTUA is about ian's split personality and not his doomed love affair

[dermot51]

Do you actually know anything about Ian and JD

[knownpleasures]

im only going on what bono says in the clip if u bother to listen to it!!

[willbaird]

are you 2 married?

[knownpleasures]

LMAO!!! he asking dumb questions thats all!! my comments are based purely on what is sayin in this intriguing clip. word has it that ONLY tony wilson knew why he killed himself but took it with him to the grave. sad. dermot 51 doesnt know the reason or does HE???? lol

[dermot51]

Bono, Edge, and Larry are but Adam isnt

[dermot51]

Bono,Edge and Larry are Adam isnt.

[knownpleasures]

man this is insightful

1) u2 were with JD in the studio when they recorded LWTUA wow!!!

2) Ian curtis was a strange person to talk to

[dermot51]

why did u meet him or something

[knownpleasures]

listen to bono and u will understand

[robert99brown]

take away which  band you prefer,joy division were electrifying live, so different from the two amazing albums ,finally they conquered ,or deffinetly on their way. like the beatles every concert was a sell-out ,and they turned down the majors,learning their trade the real way eventually after awhile they sighned with the majors they changed music sadly we have stepped back andtruly learnt fucked up into x factor and uk's got shit. i do love u2 see them often and belong wiv de best

[seanreillyireland]

CONTINUED...

reminds me of Rowan Atkinson. But the sheer quality of 2 or 3 of the songs on UP and basically the entirety of Closer was way beyond the emotional and ontological scope of anything u2 have ever done.

Thats my opinion, anyway.

[seanreillyireland]

No. It has always annoyed me the way this man has tried to put himself in the same category. u2 or bono were never, could never be anything but dross compared to what Curtis and Hannett did.

[HarmonicsExplorer]

Joy Division may be influential, but hardly epic. U2's 1980-81 period had already eclipsed Joy Divisions quality. U2 has been epic since then.

[seanreillyireland]

Ah, we'll just have to agree to differ on that one. In my opinion, only two individuals from these islands have ever deserved the word "genius", and they were Syd Barrett and Curtis, and both had serious psychological or psychosomatic issues, in Curtis's case, his form of epilepsy. Bono and u2 never remotely scaled these heights - and there were far greater bands than u2 who never scaled these heights, the Beatles, for one. Now, I'm not talking about curtis's daft dancing - that

CONTINUED

[heartandsoul1988]

i'd hardly call it daft

[alkelliher]

thanks for sharing . o

[SadLookinMoon]

thanks for sharing this!

[macphistomo]

Really cool...Good taste in Joy Division tracks too. New Dawn Fades is an amazing tune.

[shazandbono]

I LOVE to hear Bono talk he is so involved with whatever the discussion

[bittenof]

what like when he talks about the enviroment and then flies around on private jets.the man is a total and utter back to front(c__t)

[Skeltonmusic]

Beautiful stuff here. I've always wanted some of Bono's insight on Curtis since they met in the studio. I never knew it was during the Love Will Tear Us Apart Again sessions. Beautiful stuff.