NEVER TRUST A PERFORMERIt’s hard to say that we saw the sun setting on that day, for the light had remained unchanged since my arrival. The mood had become so peaceful we might as well have started working on a jigsaw puzzle by the fireplace. If there is an overused word in music writing and writing about art in general, it is “inspiration.” Since U2’s music has spiritual overtones, it’s often been called “inspired” or “inspirational.” It’s a myth I’ve often bought into myself, and I wondered what Bono makes of it after all these years. Was he still buying into it himself or was he ready to debunk that notion? Regardless, he was eager to puncture the myth of celebrity.I never believed in channeling spirits, but I have always had this very naive idea that some musicians are actually able to hear voices.Yeah, but you want to be careful who you’re listening to. That’s all I’d say. [laughs] But, you know, you’re right, the world demands to be described, and so, painters, poets, journalists, pornographers, and sitcom writers, by accident or by design, are just following orders, whether from high or low, to describe the world they’re in.So you’re suggesting that the ideas that come to you are often cheap ideas, not even thought out?That’s right.
