To update a story mentioned here a week ago (or so), Edge has announced he will donate 2 Gibson guitars and other personal items to the upcoming “Icons of Music” auction on May 31.

In an interview with the Associated Press by phone while the band was in the studio, Edge said, “No one could ever come close to repaying the debt of those who have established this form (of music) that we all take totally for granted, this hybrid of European melody and African-American rhythm that’s given us jazz and R&B and rock ‘n’ roll. There’s something powerful about musicians giving instruments they own to an auction to aid musicians who are going through a particularly difficult time.”

The AP story also said that Aaron Neville is scheduled to perform at the May 31 auction, held at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York City. Edge will host the auction.

If anyone is planning on attending the auction, let us know. We’re looking for special correspondents to cover this event!

For those who didn’t get what they wanted at auction last year will have another opportunity at bidding on items generously donated from fellow musicians…Julien’s Auctions is hosting the “Icons of Music” auction to benefit Music Rising. The auction is set for May 31 at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York City. There are a few locations hosting a viewing of the items:

Museo de la Moda in Santiago, Chile - March 25 thru April 18
Newbridge Silverware Vistior’s Center in Kildare, Ireland - May 2 thru May 14
Celebrity Vault in Beverly Hills, California - May 22 thru May 24
Hard Rock Cafe in New York City - May 26 thru May 30

Session 1 of the auction begins at 1 p.m. on May 31, with session 2 beginning at 6 p.m. The site is advertising a “Special Performance” at 5 p.m. that day. Who knows - maybe Edge will teach the winning bidder how to play the guitar they just won!

For more information about the auction, check out the official site here.

If you wish to order the catalog for $50, click here.

According to Multichannel.com, some of the items up for auction this year include: “a signed Miley Cyrus guitar, suits worn by The Beatles while promoting A Hard Day’s Night, a Miles Davis owned and used trumpet – 400 lots in all.” The site also mentions that, “Startup Auction Network, a Tulsa-based Web and cable network headed by a passel of former TV Guide Network executives in Oklahoma, will do a six-hour interactive Webcast of the auction, working with Julien’s Auctions of West Hollywood, Calif.”

So, if you can’t make it to NYC, you can still participate. Check your local cable operator to see if you get the Auction Network.

I know, I know. Shame on me.

Instead of staying home and watching Bono’s second appearance on Idol Gives Back, I opted to head to a fine Irish establishment in downtown Seattle with some friends to compete in pub trivia (if you’re curious, our team “Brown Sauce” came in third).

Since I missed the show, I was delighted to find this brilliant blog by Village Voice writer Tom Breihan. He offers a fair, if not somewhat sarcastic recap of the broadcast, moment by moment.

And now I don’t feel so guilty for missing it…

I just lost respect for yet another celebrity who is whining about Bono’s efforts in Africa: Stuart Townsend (notable more for his relationship with Charlize Theron, than for his acting, by the way).

Showbiz Ireland reports that the Irish actor is irritated that Bono’s energy is going toward African relief efforts instead of the campaign to save the historic Tara in his own country.

Here are my thoughts:

A) A man like Bono only has so much time in his day. Apart from being the biggest rock star in the world (and having commitments in the studio, etc.), he’s a businessman, a fashion mogul (via Edun) and finally a humanitarian. He has put all of his eggs in one basket, so to speak, to bring awareness to a place that is constantly ignored by the rest of the world. Cut him some slack. He’s doing a lot more than most celebrities, who are noted for their DUIs rather than their activism.

B) While Tara is undoubtedly a worthy cause (I’m not even from Ireland, and I added the ’cause’ to my Facebook page), its pending doom doesn’t include people dying. Africa does.

C) Just because Bono isn’t giving attention to this Tara campaign doesn’t mean he doesn’t care about his country. That’s like saying because Michael J. Fox is an advocate for Parkinson’s research that he doesn’t want a cure for cancer to be found. Bono can’t be every thing to everybody and his contributions to Ireland (in exports of CDs alone) are immeasurable.

My advice to Mr. Townsend: bring attention to the cause you support by making it about the cause. A lot more people will be on your side if you’re not busy bashing the world’s heroes, but instead bringing light to an under-represented topic.

@U2 readers who share Bono’s concern for Africa may be interested in this article by Bono’s friend and fellow activist Bob Geldof — a diary of his travels with President Bush in Africa, and Geldof’s unvarnished opinion, criticism and praise.

The Bush regime has been divisive — but not in Africa. I read it has been incompetent — but not in Africa. It has created bitterness — but not here in Africa. Here, his administration has saved millions of lives. – Bob Geldof

It’s a different kind of tour report…

On Saturday 16th February the Biography channel will be showing a programme at 9 pm entitled “Live Aid: how music changed the world,” which is bound to include a U2 mention, and then a biography of Bono at 10 pm.