[Bono] urges Australia to make poverty history

from The ABC

Reporter: Donna Field
ELEANOR HALL: Tonight Irish rockers U2 will take to the stage in Australia for the first time in nine years.

Since their last performance the band's campaign to rid the world of extreme poverty has become as important to them as their music.

And when he's not on stage, lead singer Bono will be using his time in Australia to urge the Prime Minister to commit more money to aid.

In Brisbane, Donna Field reports.

(sound of U2's song Vertigo)

DONNA FIELD: About 50,000 people will fill a Brisbane stadium tonight to hear the Irish supergroup U2.

Aside from playing their vast catalogue of hits spanning more than two decades, front man Bono will use the Vertigo tour to talk about his campaign to make extreme poverty history.

He says he's prepared to talk to the Prime Minister about the idea, but only if John Howard is willing.

BONO: You know I'm not that fussed. If he would like to meet me, if he is serious about 0.7 per cent, then I'm sure we'll find out about it, and I will be very pleased to meet him.

If he's not serious, I don't want to meet him. And neither should you.

DONNA FIELD: Bono wants developed countries, like Australia, to commit 0.7 per cent of GDP to aid. He says that's all that's needed to transform lives in Africa by 2015.

BONO: And I would suggest that in these dangerous times, when a lot of people around the world are not sure of who we are, what our values are, if we have any values at all, this might be a smart thing to do.

And look, we're just your humble rock and roll band. We just come to preach for you now tonight ladies and gentleman!

Sorry about that, apologies. Rock star gets confused!

DONNA FIELD: But Bono isn't confused at all. He says U2's music has always been more than just entertainment.

BONO: All music is political in a certain sense. You know, when Elvis appeared on TV and they only shot from the waist up. It was a political thing, and as Larry was just saying, we just try not to be boring about our politics.

And we try to be... to inspire people that the world is more malleable than you think.

DONNA FIELD: The band was forced to cancel the Vertigo tour earlier this year, but the 40-something rockers are back and they say they aren't tiring of their perch at the apex of world rock.

BONO: I'd like to think that we're doing our best work now, and a lot of people seem to agree with us on that. Critics, and things like that.

But two crap albums, and we're out. That's the deal.

DONNA FIELD: U2 will also perform in Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne.