U2 guitarist: It's the job of art to be divisive
U2 guitarist The Edge had "doubts" before they agreed for their album, 'Songs of Innocence' to be an automatic download.
The rock band caused a stir when they released their latest album, 'Songs of Innocence' as an automatic download for Apple users.
Now The Edge - real name David Howell Evans - had admitted that he was worried before they agreed to the deal with the technology firm.
Talking to The Observer's The New Review, he explained: "I absolutely had my doubts about it before we did it, and after, but it was the right thing to do. It was an opportunity that will only ever come around once for anybody. I don't think anybody would want to do it again."
U2 bass player Adam Clayton then added: "The plan wasn't to be controversial. In today's world there is so much chatter, so in order to get through the chatter I'm afraid we are destined to make a very loud noise ourselves."
When asked if the stunt had backfired on the band, U2's frontman Bono said: "No, no, no, that's the duality! Intimacies through large public address systems is what we do. That's what rock'n'roll is."
The 54-year-old musician then noted that he was used to being hated after enduring derogatory comments from the public for over 30 years.
He said: "We were already annoying people, it was already divisive, it was already, 'I can't stand them, I want to kill them'. It's the job of art to be divisive.”
