Yet despite his rumpled pride, he was forced to concede: “Even as I was running for my life, I [thought] it was a pretty good line.”
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In the crosshairs: The U2 singer has revealed he was chased by angry anarchists shouting 'Make Bono History'
The anarchists in question are backers of the official Make Bono History campaign, which has the objective: “to remove Bono from the public-eye and restore a sense of dignity to mankind.”
The group, which was formed in 2005, adds: “We believe it is an ethical necessity to prevent this publicity-hound from further damaging the work of Make Poverty History and other vital NGOs around the world, in addition to, crucially, rendering any further ‘music’ releases or bloody ‘special edition’ iPods by US, illegal.
“We believe this is the only way forward for mankind. We urge you to join us on this quest, and please donate to Make Poverty History as well, obviously. God, U2 are shit.”
Bono looking smug
BRITAIN-IRELAND-ENTERTAINMENT-MUSIC-BONO(01 of10)
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Irish musician Bono arrives at 10 Downing street in central London on March 18, 2013. AFP PHOTO / BEN STANSALL (Photo credit should read BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Stella McCartney - Front Row - PFW F/W 2013(02 of10)
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PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 04: Bono and his wife Ali Hewson attend the Stella McCartney Fall/Winter 2013 Ready-to-Wear show as part of Paris Fashion Week on March 4, 2013 in Paris, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Edun - Backstage - Fall 2013 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week(03 of10)
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NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 07: Edun co-founder Bono (R) speaks to the media backstage at the Edun Fall 2013 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Skylight West on February 7, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Joe Kohen/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week) (credit:Getty Images)
Bono Visits The World Bank(04 of10)
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WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 14: Bono speaks during a visit at the World Bank on November 14, 2012 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Riccardo S. Savi/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
FRANCE-POLITICS-HOLLANDE-GATES-BONO(05 of10)
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Irish musician and humanitarian activist Bono (R) and Microsoft co-founder turned global philanthropist Bill Gates speak to the press after a meeting at the Elysee Palace on October 10, 2012 in Paris. AFP PHOTO / LIONEL BONAVENTURE (Photo credit should read LIONEL BONAVENTURE/AFP/GettyImages) (credit:Getty Images)
GQ Men of the Year Awards 2012(06 of10)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 04: Bono attends the GQ Men of the Year Awards 2012 at The Royal Opera House on September 4, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Ben Pruchnie/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
21st Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation's Oscar Viewing Party - Arrivals(07 of10)
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LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 24: Singer Bono arrives at the 21st Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation's Oscar Viewing Party on February 24, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu K(08 of10)
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Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi (L) listens to U2 singer Bono as they arrive on June 18, 2012 for a press conference at the Oslo Forum at Losby Gods in Lorenskog, Norway. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Suu Kyi has received superstar treatment and been cheered by crowds of many thousands as she visited Norway on her first Europe trip in a quarter-century after years of house arrest. AFP PHOTO / DANIEL SANNUM LAUTEN (Photo credit should read DANIEL SANNUM LAUTEN/AFP/GettyImages) (credit:Getty Images)
(RED) And Beats By Dr. Dre Kick Off (RED) RUSH TO ZERO Campaign(09 of10)
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NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 02: Bono attends (RED) And Beats By Dr. Dre Kick Off (RED) RUSH TO ZERO Campaign at Beats By Dr. Dre Store on June 2, 2012 in Soho in New York City. (Photo by Gary Gershoff/Getty Images for (RED)) (credit:Getty Images)
Prince Bernhard Culture Fund Awards(10 of10)
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AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - NOVEMBER 28: U2 singer Bono attends the Prince Bernhard Culture Fund Awards on November 28, 2011 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Michel Porro/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Continuing his lament, Bono revealed that in the same week he had been: “Booed on stage in Arusha, Tanzania, at the TED conference which I had campaigned long and hard to have in Arusha, Tanzania.
“I was booed by all the young entrepreneurs in the audience who thought I was peddling this idea of a supplicant Africa, which I happen to think could not be further from the truth.”
Despite (or in spite of?) his seemingly tireless charity work, it seems the 53-year-old just can’t catch a break.
In May he was reportedly branded an “ignorant, meddlesome fool” for his views on Africa by travel writer Paul Theroux.
In an interview with the Sunday Times, Liam Gallagher rejected guidance on Christianity from Bono, asserting: “What can Bono tell me that I don’t know? I don’t need his guidance. He’d talk a glass eye to sleep.”
There's also the matter of the singer's decision to move his extremely lucrative music and publishing business away from Ireland, thus allowing him to avoid taxes on record sales.
Oh and those bloody sunglasses. What are they, welded to his face?