It’s October 9, 1999, and Bono is about to go on stage at the Giants Stadium in New Jersey to perform in NetAid, an anti-poverty gig. Big cause, small crowd. Despite the U2 frontman, Sheryl Crow, Puff Daddy, Sting, and Slash being on the bill, ticket sales have been abysmal and the stadium is less than a quarter full. U2 manager Paul McGuinness is there, even though the band isn’t; just Bono, who is about to perform to “nobody”. “I spent my life making sure this never happened to you,” McGuinness says in the singer’s ear. “Look what you’ve done…

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