Glastonbury Security Stifles U2 Tax Protest

Glastonbury Festival security guards managed to stifle a protest against U2’s tax arrangements before footage showed up on UK television.

As Bono and his bandmates took the Pyramid Stage for their headlining slot June 24, activists from Art Uncut inflated a 20-foot balloon emblazoned with the message “U Pay Your Tax 2.”

As the campaigners tried to release it over the main Pyramid Stage crowd, the security team moved in and wrestled them to the ground before deflating the balloon and taking it away.

The incident reportedly sparked a clash between security and up to three dozen protesters, but there were no arrests and Art Uncut apparently failed to bring its demonstration to a wider TV audience.

U2 and its frontman Bono are known for their global poverty-fighting efforts but Art Uncut has accused the Irish band of dodging taxes.
In 2006 the act was heavily criticised for moving its corporate base from Ireland to the Netherlands, where royalties on music incur virtually no tax.

“Taxes nestling in the band’s bank account should be helping to keep open the hospitals, schools and libraries that are closing all over Ireland,” said Charlie Dewar of Art Uncut.

Forbes magazine has estimated the band earned $195 million last year, mostly through its hugely profitable “360 Degree” world tour.
It’s not known how much personal income tax the band members pay in Ireland.

The festival opened with the heavy rain that so often accompanies the event but the weather improved throughout the second day, which was headlined by Coldplay.

Forecasters were predicting that the third day, headlined by Beyoncé, would see the UK return to British summer time.

Other acts on the Glastonbury bill June 24-26 included B.B. King, Paolo Nutini, Lady Gaga, Mumford & Sons, Elbow, Morrissey, The Gaslight Anthem, Plan B, and Paul Simon.