I’m not sure who has seen this making the rounds on YouTube, but it’s a snippet of a documentary Michael Stipe did. This shows he and chef Mario Batali traveling to Toronto to catch one of the Vertigo Tour gigs. What’s neat is watching how they react during the show - there’s Mario taking photographs with his cell phone and there’s Michael hopping around and dancing. Who said that celebrities acted differently than the casual fan? (Also - never knew the back of the bathrobes had the Vertigo V on ‘em - man, when they brand a tour, they really do brand it, don’t they?) Check it out here.

This weekend, long-time rock critic for the Boston Globe, Steve Morse, wrote an *awesome* piece for the Boston Sunday Globe magazine. Here’s some of the U2-related tidbits from the article:

“And when I retired from the Globe last year, Bono showed up at my going-away party at J.J. Foley’s on Kingston Street downtown, just hours after U2 played the TD Banknorth Garden.” (Note: Bono did mention Morse during the 12/5 show and his retirement).

“I had covered U2 from the time they played the Paradise. Not every review was favorable (the night of my retirement bash, Bono told the crowd that I wasn’t afraid to “kick them in the arse” once in a while), but I always called a show like I saw it. The band’s Fleet-Center show in 2001 didn’t sustain its usual peaks, and Bono wasn’t attacking the songs. So I wrote that. Sometimes an artist might not talk to you for a few years after a bad review, but my paycheck didn’t come from the record industry. It came from the Boston Globe, and I always cherished that independence.”

Bono, seen in Dublin yesterday, has short hair. I consider this news. And now, for the first time in the history of U2, Larry has the longest hair of any of them.

In case you were wondering….news from Rocko (as on Rocko and the Devils’ website guest book) on April 3:

ROCKO CALLING! HERE I AM! SORRY I HAVE BEEN AWAY! I’M BACK!!!!!!!……OK everyone! Sorry I have not posted anything in the last couple of weeks, I have been at home doing something I seldom get a chance to do…. be domestic! I had forgotten how much pleasure I get from doing the most simple things around the house; spring cleaning, yard work, changing the oil on Bessie Mae the Devilmobile, and generally being a good husband. I have been on the road since January of ‘05 and there are many things I just can’t do until I am home for a while, so that’s what I have been doing. Now I would like to get down to answering questions!!! First of all, we have no information about the U2 family member illness. Please realize how important it is to allow U2 to have peace and privacy regarding this situation. Everyone’s prayers and well wishes for all the families of U2 band and crew are so important to us, and we thank you for all your help. Rocko and the Devils will still be opening for U2 in Hawaii!!!! The promoter is putting the last bits of information together before the official announcement of when the postponed dates will be rescheduled for later this year in Hawaii, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. You can expect an announcement on U2.com, as well as this web site, in the near future, so please stay tuned. Last week, Larry and I flew down to Nashville where we met up with Jim, Brent, and Scott for a long day of playing at a rehearsal studio called Soundcheck. It was a gas! The band sounded great together after practicing apart from each other so intensely for the last 2 months. We have decided that now that we have time before the gig, we will write some more songs and go into a recording studio and do it right. By the end of the day there we were all fired up to keep playing - my voice was shot but it was so much fun! I can’t wait until we get together again. There is a lot more things to be said, but I don’t want to spew too much just yet. I am going to Maui next week for 2 weeks vacation (…it was booked for right after the original show date, so I figgered why not go anyway!) but I will try to stay in touch via the web site. Stay tuned…. Love - Rocko

(By the way - the Larry mentioned in the message is not Larry Mullen…it’s Larry O’Connor….yes, there are other rockers by the name of Larry you know!)

The music community lost a legend today, and for my family lost a dear friend. For those of you who have been reading the news, singer Gene Pitney passed away today at the age of 65 while on tour in Cardiff.

I know this is a U2 website, and a U2 blog - but U2 share some of the same distinctions, including both being in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Most will read about his many musical accomplishments in the various news articles that are forthcoming from all of the news agencies. Many will also read about how he collaborated with such acts as Marc Almond, Roy Orbison, Ricky Nelson and others on songs like “Something’s Gotten Hold of My Heart,” “Today’s Teardrops,” and “Hello, Mary Lou.” His lyric writing on the Crystals’ “He’s a Rebel” and with Bobby Vee’s and Marty Wilde’s “Rubber Ball” will also be mentioned. He recorded with Phil Spector, wrote with Burt Bacharach and Hal David, all the while shaping the music scene in the 60s. Not to mention, he is attributed to helping the Rolling Stones break into the American music scene through his public endorsement and support. He even recorded with Mick and Keith.

After knowing him for my entire life, his greatest collaboration by far is his family. Family was the most important thing to Gene, and it showed. He made a thoughtful decision many years ago to reduce some of his musical commitments so that he could be home as his sons were growing up. His family is one of the most cohesive families I’ve ever seen, and that is a testamony to his love for them all.

I’ve had many opportunities to speak with Gene about a variety of things, but one conversation keeps at the forefront of my mind. The topic was on today’s music scene and how it has changed over the years. The main difference is in substance and melody and how so much of today’s music is lacking that. He spoke of artists like David Gray and Robbie Williams as having that special talent to have music with style and substance. (He covered Robbie’s song Angels when I saw him perform a year ago). He wished that more musicians and more people in the industry would place a higher value on the artform of the melody. (Yes, he did speak highly of U2’s music too - of course I asked him about U2!)

Gene also put my hometown of Rockville, Connecticut on the map of rock and roll. It was through his love of music that I became interested in it. He had the special quality to remain down-to-earth and humble, teaching me at an early age that it is possible to be a world-class entertainer and celebrity while at the same time being a supportive husband, father, and good friend.

His music will live on, as will his influence on musicians yet to come. And, like a rubber ball, he will continue to come bouncing back to us. Thank you for everything, Gene.

(I couldn’t resist the title. For those of you who are relatively new fans - Adam Clayton was once engaged to Naomi in the early 1990s.)

This from today’s Boston Herald:

Security guard spit on in another Naomi spat
By Inside TrackMonday, April 3, 2006 - Updated: 11:34 AM EST

Just months before her latest arrest, Naomi Campbell unleashed her world-famous temper on Madison Square Garden staff and spat in a security guard’s face, reports the New York Daily News.

The moody mannequin had perched herself upon a barrier during a U2 concert in October, and blew a fuse when a security guard asked her to kindly climb down.

“Campbell told the security officer that she was not going to get down and that he was a (expletive) (expletive),” a source told the News. “She then spat in the officer’s face.”

Not exactly model behavior for the world-peace-preaching band’s performance!

According to the source, the abuse was witnessed by two other security guards, and a senior Garden official was called in to intervene.

“(The official) explained to her that it is against Garden policy and the policy of the band’s security to sit on the barrier railing,” said the spy. After another heated exchange, the official threatened Campbell with ejection from the venue.

Attending the concert as a personal guest of Bono - the lead singer of the Irish rock band - “she replied that she would like to see that,” reports the onlooker.

The 35-year-old Britain-born beauty was not kicked out but the source said the guard filed a harassment complaint with cops.

Unfortunately, the case was closed without investigation because Campbell’s actions were considered more rude than harassing.

The cantankerous catwalker was cuffed Thursday for allegedly bashing her housekeeper’s head in with a crystal-encrusted Blackberry after accusing the maid of stealing a pair of $200 designer jeans from her Park Avenue penthouse.

The housekeeper, Ana Scolavino, 42, needed four stitches to mend the wound on the back of her head, according to police.

Scolavino’s lawyer has said that Campbell tried to cover up the incident by demanding the maid not go to the hospital.

Campbell is currently in South Africa, joining former President Nelson Mandela in promoting a children’s charity.