Orange Goblin slam U2 stunt

Orange Goblin singer Ben Ward has blasted U2 for releasing their album Songs Of Innocence free via Apple – calling the stunt a “violation of freedom.”

Over 500million iTunes users had the tracks added to their account free of charge last week – whether they wanted them or not. As a result of negative reaction, the computer giant set up an online tool for deleting the files.

Ward tells Bravewords: “From what I’ve read, it’s gone against them. A lot of people refuse to listen to it and don’t want anything more to do with the band. It just stinks of typical Bono pretentiousness – I don’t like it. You wake up one morning, open your iTunes, and it’s there. I know a lot of people can’t believe it. There’s some people whose devices are bordering on the brink of capacity memory.”

He believes users should have been given the choice of whether to download. “Don’t just stick it in there and force it upon people,” he says, adding: “I think U2 in general are a violation of people’s rights. That’s just my personal taste.”

Orange Goblin will release eighth album Back From The Abyss on October 6 via Candleight Records. Buckcherry guitarist Keith Nelson this week also criticised U2’s stunt, which is believed to have cost Apple $100m.

Latest in
Foreigner at the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in 2024
Foreigner will complete their Historic Farewell Tour with four different singers – and one of them has recorded Spanish versions of their hits
Linkin Park 2024
Linkin Park launch "the best song we've ever made" Up From The Bottom
Vera Farmiga in 2021
The Conjuring star Vera Farmiga announces debut album with her heavy metal band The Yagas
'Emo' Ed Sheeran busking
Watch Ed Sheeran cover Chappell Roan's Pink Pony Club on the New York subway while disguised as an emo busker
A close-up shot of the Marshall Major IV on-ear headphones on a turquoise, blue and black background.
I’ve never seen the Marshall Major IV headphones this cheap before - get them for half price in Amazon’s big spring sale
Evanescence in 2025
Evanescence release new song Afterlife from Devil May Cry TV series soundtrack, have their next album in the works
Latest in News
Foreigner at the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in 2024
Foreigner will complete their Historic Farewell Tour with four different singers – and one of them has recorded Spanish versions of their hits
Linkin Park 2024
Linkin Park launch "the best song we've ever made" Up From The Bottom
Vera Farmiga in 2021
The Conjuring star Vera Farmiga announces debut album with her heavy metal band The Yagas
'Emo' Ed Sheeran busking
Watch Ed Sheeran cover Chappell Roan's Pink Pony Club on the New York subway while disguised as an emo busker
A close-up shot of the Marshall Major IV on-ear headphones on a turquoise, blue and black background.
I’ve never seen the Marshall Major IV headphones this cheap before - get them for half price in Amazon’s big spring sale
Evanescence in 2025
Evanescence release new song Afterlife from Devil May Cry TV series soundtrack, have their next album in the works