I’m writing this after reading an article in The Daily Telegraph this week, in which a world class artist who was afraid, yes afraid to be named, stated that he or she had been instructed not to criticise George Bush from on stage at Live 8. I do not know if the Irish papers carried the story.

Is this true? If so, it is alarming. Artists need in these times, to be very sure of who and what they are, and of what their role is in this world, as opposed to the role of politicians, who never ever say the word love.
Before I go on, I need to state that I have nothing but the hugest admiration for the work that Bob Geldof and Bono, along with others, are doing for Africa, whose people have been so long left with their wounds undressed by those who are supposed to care. And who else of us can say that we got off our arses to do anything? So what I am writing now, is not meant as any insult to those two kind but imperfect (like the rest of us) men, but as guidance for artists of all kinds the world over, present and future – including those two.
I also need to state that for the purposes of this article I am making a distinction between artists and entertainers.
Most of the world’s problems are in fact spiritual problems. And trying to solve a spiritual problem with politics is like throwing water in the hole of a sinking ship.
As I have stated, politicians never say the word love. They never suggest solving the world’s problems in loving ways. The theology of the world’s problems escapes them. And so they think war is how you fix things. And then they wonder why their school kids are shooting each other.
Since politics is useless and full of lies and unloving, as it has been from time immemorial, the job of artists is to speak the truths which politics would like to hide. Which is why the first thing most dictators do when they take power is kill off or suppress the artists. It’s also why during times of war ‘Give Peace A Chance’ is banned from the airwaves.
I think it’s dangerous territory, if I may use a crude metaphor, when artists are sucking politicians' cocks. We are supposed to be a voice in the wilderness – which we cease to be if we are to be found wining and cheesing at Downing Street. Suddenly we are one of them. And part of their system. Because they played on our vanities. Politicians are very clever. They try to control artists. Now they have artists controlling artists. And we all have so much politician cock in our gobs, we couldn’t speak if we tried.
An example I think suits well is Elton John turning ‘Goodbye Norma Jean’ into a song for Diana. The system playing on his vanity and he going along with their false image of her as a weak, crazy woman, instead of the strong, powerful force that we all in truth know she really was. She must have turned in her coffin and he should be fined. For crimes against art and Diana...
What Bob and Bono are achieving, they don’t need to be sucking politicians' cocks to achieve it. Indeed music would have achieved it. And Bob and Bono coulda' done it anyway with or without sucking politician cock, because they had the will to do it, for which I truly do admire them.
Obviously Bob and Bono had to sit with politicians but I argue that instead of artists going to politicians' world and premises, politicians should fuckin' come to our world, and our premises. And instead of us having to plamass them, they should listen to the truth of what we have to say.
Bob Geldof has no right before God, to say that speaking against Bush would be bad for Africa. If that’s what Bob did, it’s a mighty and dishonest trip to place on any artist. And I congratulate whomever the artist is for alerting the world as to the fact that this happened.
If George Bush pulled out of helping Africa because he was critiscised at Live 8 by an artist, then he’s a fucking wanker, as Bob might say. And if he dropped even a penny of aid because of being given some truth, by someone who has every right to speak, then he’s a fucking wanker. And, we all know he’s a fucking wanker anyway.So fuck him. And fuck Geldof or anyone else telling artists to be silent.
So let us be clear about this in advance. Are artists free to criticise George Bush at Live 8? Are they free to criticise Tony Blair? Are they free to criticise politicians about what has been done – or not been done – in Africa?
Are they free?

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Bob Geldof responds:
A LOAD OF BOLLOCKS
Reports in UK newspapers notwithstanding, Bob Geldof has dismissed suggestions that Live 8 artists have been told not to criticise George Bush from the stage. On the contrary, the Live 8 organiser says, artists are free to say precisely what they like at what is shaping up to be the biggest ever event in rock history.
"That's a load of bollocks," he told Hot Press, in characteristically straightforward terms. "There's no truth in the suggestion that we are in any way limiting people. I couldn't give a shite what anyone says."
With the gig only a matter of days away, Geldof admitted to being tired. But with what looks like another logistical triumph at hand, doubtless he is looking forward to next week – and a decent night's sleep for the first time in weeks...