The Lefsetz Letter
U2 On Entourage
by Bob Lefsetz
Last time I checked bands were supposed to be COOL! What's next? Is U2 gonna send hookers to my house? So I'll say they're still great? Like Eric did with R.J? Maybe you have no idea what I'm talking about. That proves the point. In the late nineties, the gig was to hype your band EVERYWHERE! To reach every last person in the universe. Only one problem. This worked. And these overhyped piece of shit bands were forgotten. It just seems that Paul McGuinness didn't get the memo. And Bono is so removed from the world he's trying to save that he's got absolutely no clue what's going down on the street, or the Net, where bands are broken, where cool people live. I mean it would be one thing if it weren't U2. The Thompson Twins. Missing Persons. Somebody who can't get arrested with no credibility, a period piece. People like THAT show up on two bit trash like HBO's "Entourage". Not U2! Isn't ANYBODY in mainstream media gonna stand up and shout about the whoring done by these so-called superstar acts? Have you seen that Ameriquest commercial with the Stones? Do you REALLY need the money that bad? I mean haven't you got ENOUGH? So, you wrote "Satisfaction". What have you done for me LATELY? U2 is no different than a balding, overweight thirtysomething who cheats on his wife just to be able to impress his buddies, so he'll look cool. But it's not cool to cheat on your wife. Only people who don't know what's important do that. The fact that the music business is so bad and thirty and fortysomethings are so desperate that they'll go to see U2 doesn't make the band RELEVANT! Hell, there's more relevancy, credibility, in the latest "Harry Potter" novel than there is in U2's sunk like a stone last CD. God, if the record was any good Top Forty would have played it and some station out there STILL would be playing it. But, the public at large knows the record stinks. That U2 ripped off an old riff from the sixties to create their one ubiquitous hit that's been shoved down our throats by the marketing gurus at Interscope. I'm telling you now. Nineties values are OVER! I don't care what your grosses are, how much money you make, that's IRRELEVANT! It matters who you are, and the music you make. And don't say that Bono's compassionately saving the third world. Good. But that's got nothing to do with MUSIC! Bill Bradley retired from the Knicks before he ran for Congress. Maybe Bono should give up music. Hell, doing a spot on "Entourage" wherein he shouts out a character's NAME?? What's next. If Microsoft pays him enough money he'll shout out Bill Gates' name? And the U2 iPod. A limited edition you can now buy at a DISCOUNT! If the future of this business is U2, it's in trouble. Actually, that's RIGHT, the music business IS in trouble. Because music ain't soap. It's not a commodity. It has to have intrinsic value. A soft, nougaty center, that tastes so good even if it's junk. Bob Lefsetz, Santa Monica-based industry legend, is the author of the e-mail newsletter, "The Lefsetz Letter". Famous for being beholden to no one, and speaking the truth, Lefsetz addresses the issues that are at the core of the music business: downloading, copy protection, pricing and the music itself. His intense brilliance captivates readers from Steven Tyler to Rick Nielsen to Bryan Adams to Quincy Jones to EVERYBODY who's in the music business. Never boring, always entertaining, Mr. Lefsetz's insights are fueled by his stint as an entertainment business attorney, majordomo of Sanctuary Music's American division and consultancies to major labels. While Rhino may occasionally disagree with some of Bob's opinions, we certainly agree with his right to state them. At the bottom of each column we give you, the reader, the opportunity to respond and we encourage you to do so. We will post select comments.
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Comments:
when any of you can say that you have done ANYTHING exceptionally for nearly 30 years, then maybe you can criticize U2. It is amazing how quickly your negative comments overshadow what U2 has done for music, Go listen to your 1 hit wonders, and keep watching Entourage, because if any of you had the opportunity to showcase your talent...I am sure you would
entourage is the least of bono's sins...like you said its really all about the music...now if they had an agent like jeremy piven....
Bob obviously has no clue what he's talking about. U2 realizes that it HAS TO COMPETE for publicity, as 2005 is a whole different world than the 1980's, where college radio actually had an impact on music. U2 was born out of college radio and word of mouth. Those days are long gone. Bob understandably misses those days, but Bob needs to "wake up" and see that U2 is fighting for musical relevance more than ever before, and along with it bringing other artists to into the picture for a new generation of music fans. Artists such as Arcade Fire, Keane, The Killers, Franz Ferdinand and Razorlight have all benefitted from exposure because of U2. U2 is advertising music, not blonde hair and a great body, but music, truly great music. Vertigo is hands down U2's best single since The Fly, and yes it is catchy enough to generate the MUSICAL interest of a new generation of fans. In fact, new fans seeing U2 perform for the 1st time on this tour are COMPLETELY BLOWN AWAY, similar to the reaction of people seeing U2 for the 1st time back at U2's The Unforgettable Fire Tour. U2 is more relevant today than ever before.
If U2 doesn't matter, why write about them?
Music Business -- an oxymoron -- what's new? Get over yourself. To Bono, and the world at large, YOU'RE irrelevant.
While I too respect the right of Bob Lefsetz to express his opinion, who the hell is HE to lump U2 in the same pile as The Thompson Twins or Missing Persons? And with the exception of the Allman Brothers and a few other artists, Santuary Music has become the home for MANY artists that have been dropped from the label or labels that they've recorded for in THEIR heyday. That's like the pot calling the kettle black.
Praise Bob! The day the Edge plays a guitar solo is the day I'll start to take U2 seriously as a rock band.
Entourage = Best Show On TV
U2 = Best Band Around
Bob Lefsetz = Who?
some people like them and some people don't. no matter what, bono is cool, u2 is cool. john lennon complained that the beatles could go on stage and fart and the people would applaud. u2 can do whatever they want. that is largely because u2 is real. they're not overhyped or overprocessed. they just make cool music and keep it real.
This is another really good piece. As I said before it is really reassuring to know I'm not crazy because this guy thinks a lot like I do. Keep up the good work. I'll keep reading your column.
I don't understand the entirety of this article, either in point or in concept. Bob whats-yer-name loves small-time, "cool," bands, who don't try to sell their product (usually because it's not saleable). That's fine -- I like those bands too; everyone does. But what the hell do they have to do with U2 in 2005? If you love those small bands so much Bob, maybe you could try writing about them and giving them some much needed exposure (since their music obviously isn't good enough to break them (unlike U2, who filled stadiums without corporate advertising or a hit single in the early to mid-80s). In short, Bob has fallen into the lazy route of bad commentators: choose the easiest target and shoot it down. You know what Bob? I don't think the four men in U2 are ever going to read your little article, and you didn't help any of those little cool bands. So do you want to tell us what your point was, besides bitching? By the way, that "last album" by U2 that you refer to has now sold 10,000,000. Your column was just read by me -- that makes 14 people my friend!
I went to see U2 in October. Steven Tyler of Areosmith was standing right in front of me. I have seen U2 in concert 10 times and have NEVER been disappointed. This is an intense energy filled show, were 20,000 people all know the words. The best sign of their talent is that early U2 fans are now bringing their kids to the concert.
U2 have nothing to prove to anyone.
And the Edge plays a guitar solos, have you seen Bullet The Blue sky live, he is as good as anyone, Until the end of the world as well.
You dont have to be a guitar wanker to be good.
Guy you've got issues. Did you run out of ideas for an article? The group still has fans. The group is still making music that (great or not) still sells. These four men don't have to work any more, or go out and fight for funds for 3rd world countries. They can sit in their mansions and on their asses. How much money have you given to charity?
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