U2 HAVE made a significant financial contribution to the live music industry.
The coronavirus pandemic has put paid to thousands of live music events all over the world.
It’s a situation that has left many venues and backstage workers struggling to stay afloat with no discernible work to speak of.
Eager to do their bit to support the industry, according to Billboard U2 have donated €1.26 million to the industry during this time of need.
The donation will go towards supporting those unsung heroes that helped make thousands of live events possible, pulling the strings backstage.
It includes a pledge of €200,000 to the team behind the recent Songs From An Empty Room event.
Taking place last Saturday, the event saw bands and solo artists take to the stage in venues across Ireland to raise funds for those working behind-the-scenes at live events.
The event saw Bono and The Edge performed Led Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven and dedicated the song to their own long-serving road crew.
In their specially recorded video, Bono says: “There’s one annoying aspect of an Irish crew that has to be said.
“Wherever you go in the world, whatever venue you’re playing — whether it’s the Olympia or 3 Arena or Madison Square Garden — you walk into the venue and it’s a big moment, and you’ll hear a song that we said, ‘We’ll never, ever play this.’ And that’s right, ‘Stairway to Heaven’.”
“These professionals believe they play this better than the band. And you know, it might be true.”
The donation comes just months after U2 gave €10 million to support Irish frontline workers fighting against the coronavirus outbreak across the Emerald Isle.
These funds went towards the sourcing and purchase of essential personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare staff across the country.
