Byrne v Bono: the gloves are off

David Byrne has criticised the amount of money U2 are spending on their current tour.

“Those stadium shows may possibly be the most extravagant and expensive (production-wise) ever: $40 million to build the stage and, having done the math, we estimate 200 semi-trucks crisscrossing Europe for the duration,” the Talking Heads man wrote recently on his blog. “It could be professional envy speaking here, but it sure looks like, well, overkill, and just a wee bit out of balance given all the starving people in Africa and all. Or maybe it’s the fact that we were booted off our Letterman spot so U2 could keep their exclusive week- long run that’s making me less than charitable?”

The quartet’s homecoming gigs at Croke Park were deemed a success, but the protest by local residents against the disruption caused by the convoy of trucks in the area loading out their set gained international attention, though the issue was resolved. U2 declined to comment.