Bono: 'People don't know what I do'

Bono has said that people who criticise his political activism are not actually aware of what he does away from music.

The U2 frontman told The Guardian that "a little information can do a lot of harm" when it comes to understanding his actions.

Bono said: "A lot of people don't know what I do so they think, 'He's just turning up in photographs with starving Africans or some president or prime minister'.

"[They think] 'We don't like that. Rock stars telling elected officials what to do and then they run back to their villas in the south of France. F**k 'em'."

He added: "If you look into it you think, 'This guy works two-and-a-half days a week at this, not being paid for it, and at cost to his band and his family, and doesn't mind taking a kicking'."

U2 bassist Adam Clayton backed the singer's decision to engage with unpopular world leaders in order to raise important issues.

He said: "I don't think being photographed with George Bush or Tony Blair is too high a price to pay."