Bono: U2 thought I would "destroy band"

Bono has admitted that U2 thought he would destroy them by talking too much politics.

The philanthropic front-man was responding to speculation that other U2 members were against his high profile charity work. "They were concerned I would destroy the band," he explained. "Not the band relationships, more that our audience would tire of me.

"It was a concern. But our audience feels they have a voice themselves through my big mouth."

Now though, says the singer, his band-mates are more accepting. "I think they like it when I'm not in the studio annoying them. I think I try to make the molecules in the room vibrate too fast for them," he continued. "The tension isn't what it was."