U2’s Bono says activism takes a toll

LONDON —  U2’s Bono said he feared his commitment to campaigning against poverty would force him out of the group.

“They [the band members] are hugely supportive spiritually and financially of the work I do, but they are in a rock ‘n’ roll band, and the first job of a rock ‘n’ roll band is not to be dull,” Bono told BBC radio on Saturday.

“So we have to be very careful about just letting me go too far.”

With fellow musician Bob Geldof, Bono was one of the leaders of last year’s international Make Poverty History campaign and Live 8 concert, and he frequently makes onstage statements about global poverty during U2 concerts.

“When I do my rant on making poverty history, I have got Larry Mullen, our drummer, behind me looking at his watch, timing me.

“I thought we would wear our audience out, but it hasn’t happened. People are smart out there. They know what you are doing, they know the compromises you are making, they get it.”