The one singer Bono will “forever” be a fan of: “My drug of choice”
For most singers in a rock band, their drug of choice is typically of a Class-A distinction. However, Bono isn’t your typical frontman.
The U2 singer is as widely known in some circles for rubbing shoulders with world leaders at charity functions as he is for creating anthems like ‘Where The Streets Have No Name’. While he’s a cultural figure that has somewhat transcended the orbit of music, his first love remains as strong as ever.
First and foremost, he is a music fan above all else. Since being exposed to The Beatles as a young child during the 1960s, Bono has had an obsession burning inside of him, and he’ll turn to a selection of trusted favourites in his record collection whenever the occasion demands it.
A long list of artists have stormed into the life of Bono, impacting him similarly to how his own music has affected millions. Patti Smith is one creative mind that matters to the singer more than most. He finds himself turning to Smith’s back catalogue, which never fails to lift his spirits.
Bono views the people’s poet with the respect that she deserves.
Whether it’s a live performance, an album, or through her poetry, the U2 singer adores the full spectrum of her immense artistry. With his band, Bono regularly walks out on stage to her 1988 anthem, ‘People Have The Power’, which holds a particular sacred place in his heart.
However, the jagged history between the pair must be addressed. In 1997, Bono and Smith had a public disagreement at the NME Awards, but it wasn’t severe enough to derail his opinion of her as a person or an artist. When presenting her with the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’, he regretfully referred to her as a “sister, lover, and mother”, which sparked a furious reaction from Smith.
“I’m not your mother, Bono. Do your own dirty work. Fuck you,” Smith said during her speech. After the ceremony, she explained her statement: “I just thought it was presumptuous. I like to be considered a person; I’m not up for grabs.”
Thankfully, the incident was soon water under the bridge. In 2020, Bono put his time in lockdown to good use by sharing an open letter to Smith, thanking her for writing ‘People Have The Power’ and explaining how her work is a vital pillar of his life.
Bono began by writing: “There are many rituals a performer can choose to give them the strength to take on their audience… to believe tonight can be the best night of our lives (really!) You are my drug of choice. Whether reading a sacred text or being reminded of how to be in your body on a stage, I refer to you constantly.”
The U2 frontman continued to explain his love of her work by adding, “I learned that the dizziness, the headiness, the highness of a great show can only happen if both feet are planted in the mud and the messiness of God’s earth. Even better if the devil is making a play for it… and especially if I’m not feeling it or feeling distracted”.
Specifically discussing ‘People Have The Power’, Bono added: “Countless shows U2 have walked on to PEOPLE HAVE THE POWER because it reminds us that the real action of the show lies in the hearts and minds of the people who attend it and it’s not the apparatus, however thoughtfully contrived and constructed. The lights, camera, action is the way we draw nearer, but the intimacy is always about meeting people where they are, and reminding us all that”.
Poetically, Bono signed off his poignant letter by writing in trademark fashion, “Your fan from forever, for forever”.
While the pair have endured a public fallout, there’s nothing that Smith could say or do that could dilute Bono’s admiration of her as a person or artist. He’s also been fortunate enough to share the stage with her on more than one occasion, including coming together to sing ‘People Have The Power’, which is a moment he’ll never forget.
