From the Beyond Parody category:
U2 drummer Larry Mullen believes rich and successful people are being unnecessarily humiliated when coming in and out of Ireland, describing this as “part of a new resentment of rich people in this country”.
“We have experienced [a situation] where coming in and out of the country at certain times is made more difficult than it should be — not only for us, but for a lot of wealthy people,” he said. “So it wasn’t personal. It was to do with the better-off being sort of humiliated.”
Go on…
“You see guys and they’re bringing a huge amount of money into this country and they do not deserve to be humiliated. Humiliate me, I can deal with it. I can kind of understand maybe a rock and roll band. Fine, OK, I can live with that. But when I heard and saw Dermot Desmond coming in with his family, what a thing to have done with him. He brought huge amounts of money into the country.”
When asked if this nastiness had made him think of leaving his beloved Howth, Mullen said: “I certainly thought that if… if this is what they experience, how can I tell people, how can I fly the Irish flag and tell people ‘come to Ireland because it’s great’?
“And I just think it is so, so Paddy, it’s like Paddywhackery, you know you’re going to get the guy — what is all that about? Because we are so beyond that.”
You’re meandering a little, Larry, but I think I get your drift.
Mullen also praised the entrepreneurial and developer classes for their charity work and for all they have done for the country.
“Love them or loathe them, all those rich wives, all those rich guys with all those balls, all those women that you see organising this and organising that, without them we’d be in a very, very different state than we are now.
“A lot of people who are well off in this country make huge contributions with their time and with their money.”
But not a huge tax contribution, eh, Larry?
He also expressed his sympathy for restaurateur, Town Bar and Grill owner Ronan Ryan, after the recent Liveline programme, saying he had heard it while he was in and out of the shower. “He got eaten alive,” he said.
Speaking of restaurateur Jay Bourke’s admission he would be forced to close Eden in Temple Bar unless the Government got real on rent, Mullen said: “It’s my favourite restaurant. I love that restaurant. It’s been consistent and I’ll be broken-hearted if that goes down.”
Other members of the band also expressed concern that this was becoming a difficult country for entrepreneurs.
Adam Clayton, whose sister has lost her job due to the downturn, thought we needed better governance and support for entrepreneurs, while Bono cautioned against Irish people becoming “sour”.
“Melancholy and bile are not our greatest traits,” said the singer.
Aw, diddums. Personally, I think these bastards shouldn’t be allowed back into the country until they agree to pay some taxes, you know, to help fund the progressive policies U2 support. But I suppose that’s just my chronic melancholy and bile showing through.
Splintered Sunrise 
Mark P said,
June 22, 2009 at 10:37 pm
I’m less startled by the fact that the second stupidest member of U2 is a right wing wanker than I am disappointed that Eden may close down.
Rustbelt Radical said,
June 22, 2009 at 11:16 pm
this is enough to make one all dewy-eyed and nostalgic for a bloody 15th century peasant revolt. where did I put my torch and pitchfork….
Andy Newman said,
June 23, 2009 at 12:13 am
But I also note:
“U2 drummer Larry Mullen has admitted he “cringes” when he sees Bono associating with “war criminals” George W Bush and Tony Blair.”
Government gives £3m to climate change activist « Mac Uaid said,
June 23, 2009 at 12:24 pm
[…] report comes from the BBC and Splintered has something equally outrageous from Bono’s homunculus Larry Mullen. Charles Windsor has to […]
hidflect said,
June 23, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Get ready for the “you’re just jealous of them coz your not rich” meme that idle people incessantly smear in the face of anyone not bootlicking the obscenely wealthy…
charliemarks said,
June 23, 2009 at 9:59 pm
When you look at what’s happened to the Romanian migrants in Belfast, you wonder why super-rich Larry Mullen is moaning.
Madam Miaow said,
June 24, 2009 at 4:06 pm
That’s a hilarious interview, Splinty. Nuthin’ like keeping on digging when you’re in a hole.
anglonoel said,
June 25, 2009 at 6:45 am
I remember about 20 years ago U2 made a big deal about how they stayed in Dublin and paid their taxes etc. How times have changed…and their music has gone down the pan as well!
Men of the People « The Cedar Lounge Revolution said,
October 20, 2009 at 4:02 pm
[…] Music. trackback Just because they don’t like paying tax on their enormous income and are annoyed by the herd’s ressentiment of the successful, doesn’t mean they aren’t still men of the people. For they have decided to grace 16 […]