DUBLIN — Aung San Suu Kyi and Bono joined forces Monday as the Myanmar democracy activist’s European tour moved from the home of the Nobel Peace Prize to the land of U2.
The pair spent more than an hour answering questions at an Oslo conference of peace mediators at the end of Suu Kyi’s four-day visit to Norway. Then they jetted together to the Irish capital, Dublin, for an evening concert in her honor.
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After meeting Irish President Michael D. Higgins, she arrived at a riverside theater to thunderous cheers and applause, with Bono and Nobel laureate poet Seamus Heaney walking alongside her down the red carpet.
Inside, Amnesty International organized a three-hour show of songs, poems and speeches in her honor featuring top Irish stars, and set against a backdrop of a wall of opened birdcages symbolizing her freedom from house arrest in 2010.
“Everybody’s here to sing for you tonight, but it’s your song that everybody wants to hear,” Bono said as he invited Suu Kyi onstage for a two-minute standing ovation.
“This has come as a surprise to me, and a very moving one,” said Suu Kyi, who got laughs by observing that the British used to consider the Burmese “the Irish of the east” — because they never gave the British any peace, both liked a drink and were very superstitious.
Bono, who also wrote the 2000 hit “Walk On” in praise of Suu Kyi’s long exile from her family, had never met her before. He admitted, during his first news conference alongside Suu Kyi in Oslo, that he found her a bit intimidating.
“I’m star-struck … but I’m managing to get over it,” said the 52-year-old Bono.
Suu Kyi, in turn, said Bono had hit the right note with “Walk On,” which was written from the point of view of her husband, Michael Aris. Myanmar’s military rulers refused to let him see his wife from 1995 to his death from cancer in 1999.
“I like that song, because it’s very close to how I feel, that it’s up to you to carry on,” said Suu Kyi, who turns 67 today.
“It’s good if you have supporters, it’s good if you have people who are sympathetic and understanding. But in the end, it’s your own two legs that have to carry you on.”
Satirist of hip-hop world dies in Miami Beach
MIAMI — Writer Erica Kennedy has been found dead in her Miami Beach apartment. She was 42.
Police confirmed Monday that Kennedy, whose full name was Erica Kennedy Johnson, was found dead last week. No cause was immediately reported.
Sarah Robinson, who is Kennedy’s aunt, released a statement that said, “We are devastated by this loss. Erica was bright, funny, talented, thoughtful, and passionate.”
According to a bio linked to Kennedy’s Twitter account, the former fashion publicist began her writing career as a special correspondent for the New York Daily News. She went on to write about fashion and entertainment for magazines such as Vibe, In Style, Paper and Elle UK.
She published the hip-hop satire “Bling” in 2004 with a book cover of her own design. It became a New York Times best seller and was optioned for film by The Weinstein Co. Kennedy’s follow-up novel, “Feminista,” was released in 2009.
Osbourne son suffers multiple sclerosis
NEW YORK— New father Jack Osbourne is facing a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.
The former reality star and son of Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne revealed his health crisis in an interview with People released Sunday. He told the magazine he was angry and frustrated when he found out, and he’s concerned about his family.
Osbourne and his fiancee, Lisa Stelly, had daughter Pearl in April.
Multiple sclerosis attacks the brain and spinal cord, and can cause somewhat mild problems or serious disability, such as paralysis.
Jack Osbourne gained fame as a teenager when his heavy metal father and his mother allowed the family to be profiled in the MTV reality show “The Osbournes.”
Tyson coming to Broadway
NEW YORK — Mike Tyson wants his next knockout to be on Broadway.
The former boxer announced Monday that he will team up with director Spike Lee to bring his one-man show, “Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth,” to the Longacre Theatre for six nights only, July 31 to Aug. 5.
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