News

Miami Showband member calls for Bono apology over 'attack on music' remarks

Surviving Miami Showband member Des Lee has called for Bono to apologise
Surviving Miami Showband member Des Lee has called for Bono to apologise Surviving Miami Showband member Des Lee has called for Bono to apologise

ONE of the surviving members of the Miami Showband has described comments by U2 lead singer Bono about the Paris concert hall attack as "scandalous".

Des Lee said he was appalled to hear Bono say the Paris attackers had made a "direct hit on music" when they targeted a packed venue full of young people enjoying a rock concert.

The musician said Bono had failed to remember the attack on the Miami Showband in 1975, which killed three members of the popular group.

Fran O'Toole, Tony Geraghty and Brian McCoy were shot dead after their band minibus was flagged down by a UVF gang at what appeared to be a military checkpoint after a gig in Banbridge.

Mr Lee and guitarist Stephen Travers survived the tragedy, despite being shot.

Following the attacks in Paris on Friday, U2's two planned concerts in the city were called off.

The band visited the scene of the Bataclan concert hall shooting on Saturday and left flowers in memory to those who died.

Bono later told RTÉ's 2fm: "If you think about it, the majority of victims were music fans".

"This is the first direct hit on music that we've had on this so-called war on terror, or whatever it's called," he said.

"This, and the cold-blooded aspect of the attacks, are what are really upsetting, it could have been any of us."

But Mr Lee questioned whether Bono had forgotten the Miami victims.

"I think what he said was scandalous, has he forgotten about the Miami Showband, has he forgotten about Fran O'Toole, Tony Geraghty and Brian McCoy," he said.

"He even knew Fran, they were all in beat bands at the same time, so for him to forget him, I'm appalled.

"He needs to apologise to us, he needs to apologise to the families, he should be doing that at least."

U2 are due to perform at the SSE Arena in Belfast tonight and tomorrow with fans urged to wear white to show solidarity with the 129 victims of the Paris attacks.