Dave Grohl caused quite a stir on social media this week with a video of his extravagant dad-dancing at U2’s final show of their Las Vegas residency. There were certainly elements of ridicule in many of the comments, which I found to be pathetic. If someone wants to enjoy themselves at a gig by dancing, then frankly that’s their own business. But it wasn’t just the ridicule directed at Grohl’s dancing, it was ridicule of his taste in music. How could he possibly like U2?
My guess is that it’s because U2 are one of great live rock bands on the planet and that Grohl is a fan of their music. However, for reasons that are beyond my level of understanding, U2 themselves seem to attract hate and loathing on a visceral level from a certain demographic.
I know there are those who resent the fact that Bono has opinions and often expresses them at length, particularly at U2 gigs. Those same people who dislike Bono expressing his opinions don’t have to attend the band’s gigs if they don’t want to. There are plenty of fans who would happily take the ticket instead, but I suppose some people like to have something to moan about. I don’t know if Bono has done much by way of sharing his views at their sold out Las Vegas residency, but given that the band is performing around 23 songs a night in just over two hours, I would suggest that fans are getting decent value for money.
I wonder what Dave Grohl fans would say if their hero attracted the levels of venom reserved for Bono? While I would not proclaim myself to be an actual U2 fan – I own just one of their records: the brilliant Under A Blood Red Sky live album from 1983 – I would far rather spend an evening listening to their music than the unthreatening generic adult oriented rock (AOR) offered by Grohl’s Foo Fighters. But if Bono turned up at a Foo Fighters show and dad-danced to the music, I’m not sure I’d take the piss or condemn his for his choice in music.
I suspect much of the Bono/U2 loathing is down to petty jealousy and that odd point of view we have that anyone rich is not allowed to have a liberal attitude to life and believe in stuff. In other words, if you are loaded, you should set aside the things you believe in and be like Donald Trump. A year or so ago, Grohl helped out in Los Angeles by cooking food for the homeless. No one had a pop at him for doing that, quite right too, but can you imagine if Bono did it? He’s a long time campaigner against poverty and in finding a cure for HIV/AIDS but he’s only doing that for self-publicity, right?
I’m trying, not always successfully, to be more tolerant about everyone. Well, when I say everyone, I’m struggling with religious terrorists, Donald Trump and Queen, but generally I want to be more tolerant. I don’t understand the loathing of Bono and U2 anymore than I understand the idolatry Foo Fighters enjoy, but hey, let’s live and let live, eh? And as for Grohl himself, keep on dancing.
