Bono tells court wearing stetson was his idea

U2 frontman Bono gave evidence in the High Court appeal launched by their former stylist to keep the Stetson hat she claims the band gave her.

Lola Cashman says she was given the hat and other memorabilia as gifts during U2's Joshua Tree tour in 1987.

But the band successfully sued last year for the recovery of the hat, a pair of metal hooped earrings, a green sweatshirt and a pair of black trousers, which they said she took without permission.

The stylist was ordered to return the items, estimated to be worth €5,000, to the band within seven days.

But instead she has launched an appeal, which will leave her facing a substantial legal bill if she loses.

Ms Cashman, who left the band in 1988, was hired by Bono personally to replace their stylist, who was on maternity leave. Dressed in a chocolate brown suit and wearing rose-coloured tinted glasses, Bono — real name Paul Hewson — brought a touch of glamour to the court.

He said that Ms Cashman had been found by his management company through an agency. "It was a very big moment in the band's career," he said. "Everything had come right for us. We had a lot of songs on radio around the world and particularly in the US we had a couple of number ones singles."

Bono said Ms Cashman joined the 150-strong entourage at a tense and exciting time, when the group was moving out from playing in arenas to outdoor stadiums.

He admitted styling wasn't the band's strength, and they were grateful to Ms Cashman for her input.

"I am trying to think of her exact moment of entry but I can't," he continued.

"She had a very good eye. She had a lot more experience than us.

"But it was very clear on almost immediate arrival she wasn't a good in dealing with personal relationships, and initially put a lot of people's noses out of place."

Bono told the court his trademark Stetson hat had been his idea, which he had had since before Ms Cashman's arrival. He said the image was used to represent American iconography.

"It was always part of my idea of how I wanted to present myself to the world in an ironic sense," he said.

The court heard that Ms Cashman was responsible for the transport of all wardrobe items. Bono stressed it was important to the band, and their manager Paul McGuinness, to keep record of their memorabilia to either archive or donate.

"We thought it would have some importance of the history of the band," he said.

"We hoped we would be around long enough to be part of that."

In 2000, Ms Cashman put some of her memorabilia, including a signed album cover, up for auction at Sotheby's. She said there had been no objections until she placed the remaining items for sale at Christie's in 2002, when she received two letters from U2 lawyers seeking their return.

Ms Cashman claims the letters are defamatory, and has started proceedings against the band in the High Court in London. She maintains the band's claim was brought to stop the defamation case.

PA