Bono Interview by Bill Hybels (Leadership Summit 2006)

Posted on by

If you are a U2 fan, you may also be interested in my recent post, “My Top 10 12 Spiritually Significant U2 Songs.”

bono-hybels.jpgI was lucky enough to catch the interview with Bono Friday (11 August 2006) at the Willow Creek Leadership Summit. I thought the interview was amazing. Bono is very articulate — for a rock star 🙂

The taped interview by Bill Hybels was peppered with great footage from U2’s Elevation 2001 – Live From Boston DVD (Buy from Amazon.ca | Buy from Amazon.com), their Vertigo 2005 – Live From Chicago DVD (Buy from Amazon.ca | Buy from Amazon.com), and Rattle & Hum (Buy from Amazon.ca | Buy from Amazon.com).

I thought the interview was a great introduction to Bono, U2, and the various campaigns Bono is involved with, such as DATA and the ONE Campaign.

There were many highlights in the interview for me. Perhaps the most refreshing thing he said was in regards to his “celebrity” and how ridiculous the world is to pander to celebrities as it does. He sees his celebrity as currency, and he’s decided to spend it to raise awareness for important causes such as global poverty and the AIDs pandemic. Bono’s challenge to the church? Get involved! “‘Love thy neighbour’ is not advice; it is a command.”

I was going to type out a transcript of the interview, but instead decided to make an mp3 of it available for download (see below). I have edited out all of the music and down-sampled it so it is not too large a file. This is a personal recording I made of the interview and I am making it available for free for personal use only because I believe that Bono’s message needs to be heard and acted upon.

Bono and the Willow Creek Association are going to make the DVD available to churches, so make sure to bug your pastor to get a copy to show to your congregation!

Here is the link to the mp3 file of the interview:

  • Bono-Hybels_interview.mp3 (7727 KB; right-click to download)

The only question I wish Bill Hybels asked Bono was if the rumours that U2 is scheduled to return to the recording studio this September! That would be sweet!

UPDATE:  As you can see from the latest comment, someone over at Willow Creek (who didn’t even include their name in the comment!) thought that making this this personal recording available for download is some sort of copyright infringement. Of course, I’m not sure what a U.S. organization could really do to me up in Canada, but  I took down the mp3, though more because it was maxing out my download limits on my server. I find it a bit odd for a Christian organization (who said they were going to make DVDs available of the interview for churches for free) to be so uptight about this MP3 version — especially since it is a message that you would think they would want spread through whatever means possible. Such is life. If you really want a copy let me know and we can perhaps arrange something privately.


66 thoughts on “Bono Interview by Bill Hybels (Leadership Summit 2006)”

  2. I hope they stop making music because How To Dismantle was so freaking good, I fear there’s no possible way to beat it and everything from here on out will be downhill and disappointing.

  4. Tyler,

    Thanks for the great post every Christian should be aware of this; although I’m still trying to figure out who “Bobo” is from “Bobo-Hybels_interview.mp3”

  5. Thanks for posting this file. I hope to highlight it soon on James the Just.

    Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. James 1:27 ESV

  10. Glad you enjoyed the interview. I attend Willow Creek regularly & got to see it a couple weeks ago. Bono really has done his research & had some very good insights.

    BTW, Willow is not the one concerned about the copyright issues. U2’s label was/is pushing the issue because of the concert footage interjected between interview segments.

  11. I’m not bothered about paying to view the interview, just need to know where it’s available for purchase! Anyone know where to order a dvd?

  14. It’s a shame you had to taek downt he link – the interview is causing quite a stir on e groups and the blogosphere. I wold appreciate a copy, however no doubt you are being bombardfed with requests! my email is greg(dot)colby(at)uchunter(dot)org(au) thanks and blessings

    Greg

  15. Hi there. I only just caught the end of the Bono interview on a local radio station today because U2 are kicking off their Australia tour here tonight. I got all excited when I searched and found a link to the mp3 download on your site, only to find that it was no longer working. I would really love to hear the full interview and have a copy for my wife to listen to. Can anyone help out a desperate Aussie by emailing an mp3 file of the interview?? My email address is fandina72@yahoo.com.au Thanks.

  16. Dear Codex,
    I listened to your MP3 file before it was locked up and would really like a copy. I teach a course about the culture wars with an emphasis on the diversity of evangelical voices. I wanted to use a clip from the interview today (topic is “social justice”) but could use it in a coulple weeks too (topic will be “music”). I checked Willow Creek site and see interview is still “not available.” I can’t understand why — it was such a powerful exchange. Can you help me?
    Thanks, Susan Harding
    Professor, UCSC.

  19. Please Please Please email the mp3 of this to m! I saw it at church and was blown away. I have wanted so badly to share this with friends but have been unable to find it. I would be SO grateful!

    Sincerely

    Kurt

  20. Hi there, I watched the interview today at my church, I go to an evangelical church and it was mission sunday today and this is how they chose to give our word today. What an amazing interview and truly how disappointing that its not more widely available for people to see. I see it as a tool, a way for people to see how the church of today wants to live. Anyhow, just wanted to tell people that if they have to opportunity to watch it, to jump on it and take it for all that its worth. Its awesome!!!

  29. Hi and thanks so much for posting. I’d also really appreciate hearing the mp3. Please send me a link if you are still able. Thanks again.

  31. If possible I’d like to get a copy of that interview as well. I have a good friend who watched that interview and was in tears she was so touched by it. I was hoping to get it to her. If available can email me at Ebon_Fire@hotmail.com

    God Bless.

  32. I just saw the interview in church today and really liked what bono said especially about the church and his own struggle with the church. Can I please get the video I want to show it to some people.

    Here is my email

    derek_e_wilson@hotail.com

    Thank you and God Bless

  33. I would really love to have a copy of the mp3. Our church is showing the video this coming weekend. I would love to have a preview before I go.

  35. Can you please email me a copy as well. My church is showing this to the leadership group in a couple days but I will not be able to attend that showing.

    I’d also like my teenage sons and my small group to see this.

    Thank you very much!

    Rick Radcliff
    Indianapolis, Indiana

  36. Could I please get a copy emailed to me. Our church showed it during an ice storm so not all were able to attend. They said they have no plans to show it again but I really wanted to share it with some of my friends.

    Thanks,

    Amy

  37. Interested in a copy of the Bono/Hybels interview. Don’t need to repeat all of the above comments that apply, sufice to say it is powerful.
    Chris

  38. Very Interested in a copy of the Bono/Hybels interview. I tried the Seed Bookstore at Willow and it is not available. I am surprised Bono would not want the word spread….

  42. Bono specificly requested that the number of copies be limited to one per church for the church’s use only.

    His deal, not theirs. I personally think he wanted the church to be able to use it to bring people in and ultimately to the way of the cross!

    I’m lucky enough to get watch it frequently because I work media/sound at my church! It is an awesome DVD.

  47. Hey it sounds like our requests are alll the Same been in Perth Australia we all missed it i would love a copy via emial or any way possible!
    Its a shame as we have seen nothing or heard nothing of Bono’s interview been available to Church’s. We all love U2 Gr8 vband Gr8 musice gr8 entertainers.

  48. I saw the interview today in my church and it really impacted me. I would like to pass it on to some others. Please email me a copy if possible or let me know where I could purchase a copy of the interview. I would also like to show it at our Christian school. It is something everyone should be seeing!!

    Thank you.

Comments are closed.