Bono: Nashville or bust

Bono, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen are among the acts being mooted for a Johnny Cash tribute in Nashville's Ryman Auditorium on November 10.

Also being mentioned in connection with the gig are Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Steve Earle and Sheryl Crow.

Meanwhile, Bono has been talking about the new U2 album which is being assembled in their Hanover Quay studio. "We're nearly finished, we're in the home straight," he reveals. "There's only one reason for U2 to put a record out right now – it has to be a monster, a dragon, and this is."

Sending himself up, the singer says: "It's filled with big tunes and it's driven by a guitar player who is sick of the sight of me shaking hands with dodgy politicians. The anger is unbelievable. The Edge is the most gifted guitar player of his generation – that's obvious. He's driving (the album) and going, 'This is enough, if I see one more photo of you shaking hands I'm going to throw up'."

As reported during the summer in Hot Press, U2 are planning a major world tour to coincide with the release. "I can't wait," the singer enthuses. "It's a hard thing to explain but, next to being with my friends and family, the place I feel most comfortable in my life is on stage in front of 20,000 of my closest friends, or 150,000."

Not wanting to piss The Edge off any more than he has, Bono is appealing to Coldplay's Chris Martin to join him on his political mission. "It's me having to do a job I shouldn't have to. I feel somebody else should. Chris is very good at that. He's a fan of U2 but he's taken on the Fair Trade thing. He's an extraordinary singer and talent.

"I'm not handing on the baton," he concludes, "but I'm giving him another one and he can run very fast and I believe in him."