Meanwhile in Ukraine: U2 Plays Surprise Acoustic Set in Kyiv Bomb Shelter, Haven’t They Suffered Enough?

Remember back in 2014, when U2 teamed up with Apple CEO Tim Cook to download the Irish rock band’s Songs of Innocence album on every iTunes account without users’ permission? Yeah, that was bad. You’d think Bono and his crew would’ve learned their lesson about no tunes without consent, but you’d be wrong.

That’s because the famous frontman, along with bandmate The Edge, put on an acoustic concert in Ukraine recently, and didn’t bother asking if that’s what anyone in the war-torn country wants.

OK, one person wanted it: Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky, who up until this point has exhibited extreme concern and compassion for his fellow countrymen and women. But this move, to invite Bono and The Edge to perform in a subway station-turned-bomb shelter in Kyiv, was surprisingly tone-deaf. After all, haven’t the Ukrainian people suffered enough?

“President @ZelenskyyUa invited us to perform in Kyiv as a show of solidarity with the Ukrainian people and so that’s what we’ve come to do,” Bono tweeted ahead of the show. (It’s as if he could already anticipate the backlash…)

President @ZelenskyyUa invited us to perform in Kyiv as a show of solidarity with the Ukrainian people and so that’s what we’ve come to do. — Bono and The Edge #StandWithUkraine

— U2 (@U2) May 8, 2022

Members of the audience (which looked primarily male and was pretty puny) captured this act of war on video, of course.

The impromptu set included U2 hits like “With or Without You,” “Desire,” “Angel of Harlem,” and “Vertigo.” But wait, it gets worse! Bono also reimagined Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me” by replacing “Me” with “Ukraine.” Good lord. No one should stand by while that’s playing. Run for your lives!

“The people in Ukraine are not just fighting for your own freedom, you are fighting for all of us who love freedom,” Bono told the audience. “We pray that you will enjoy some of that peace soon.”

Funny, we were just praying your music career would end soon. Rest in peace, U2.

Cover Photo: SERGEI SUPINSKY / Contributor (Getty Images)