"Africa is a continent bursting into flames,' said Bono Thursday night speaking to the Economic Club of Grand Rapids, Michigan. 'And deep down, if we really accept it, that Africans are equal to us, we would all do more to put the fire out.'

Bono will also serve as Editor for the Independent on May 16th to boost his initiative to enlist corporations to join the anti-AIDS campaign "Red."

More Soundbytes:

Jarvis Cocker of Pulp will put out a solo album. Cocker, of course, famously jumped on stage to protest a self-indulgent Michael Jackson performance at the 1996 Brit Awards. Cocker said Jackson seemed to be equating himself with Jesus Christ, so he jumped on stage pretending to moon the crowd as he danced around. Very punk rock.

The new Guns N' Roses will play two shows with the Rolling Stones in July. They'll open the Nuremburg July 10th and Leipzig two days later. Axl promises to actually show up and play these and other announced gigs. Stay tuned...

George Michael's bathroom days are long behind him and he's looking forward to a "simple wedding" to partner Kenny Goss.

Courtney Love says she's embarrassed that she was high on crack the first time she met Coldplay's Chris Martin. Love says: "The first time I met Chris Martin I was on crack and I was an absolute asshole and I kept saying, 'Aren't you in TRAVIS?' to him. Love says Martin was a perfect gentleman despite her behavior.

Fiona Apple says that despite her brooding music, she's quite happy and doesn't deserve her man-hater reputation. Acknowledging why people might think those things, Apple says: "I'm light years better than I used to be." Fiona will kick off a tour June 19th at the Hard Rock Cafe in Las Vegas and will tour through August.

Labels: Bono