U2 frontman Bono has been awarded France’s highest cultural honour in recognition of his music and humanitarian work.
“Beyond notes and beyond words, you committed yourself and dedicated your fame and career to wage some of the greatest wars of our time,” French Culture Minister Aurelie Filippetti has said in a statement. “Not for charity’s sake but in the name of justice.”
Bono received the prestigious Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters at a ceremony in Paris on Tuesday (July 16th), and dedicated his award to the other three members of U2. “I’ve got the biggest mouth and the loudest voice but the music we make comes from each other,” he reflected.
Bono joins a number of fellow major showbiz stars to have received the prize since it was established in 1957, which include David Bowie, Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Patti Smith, Audrey Hepburn, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison and Bruce Willis.
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