Speaking at the premiere in central London, the singer said he was a fan of the film’s director, Julie Taymor, and admired her work in the theatre and directing films such as Frida.

He said: "I wanted to learn from her."

The singer added: "The fact she let me go and play with her actors shows she’s not 100 per cent sound, but we got away with it."

The film, a love story set in the 1960s, features 33 songs by The Beatles including Hey Jude, I Am The Walrus, and All You Need Is Love.

Of the Fab Four, Bono said they "mean everything".

He added: "They built the road that bands like U2 travel on."


Painting of Bono up for auction - Sept 25 2007
A painting showing U2’s Bono receiving an honorary knighthood is to go under the hammer.

The oil painting by Irish artist David Nolan is expected to fetch up to 3,000 euro (about £2,090) in a sale of contemporary art on October 2 at James Adam auctioneers in Dublin.

The image is based on a picture taken by Press Association photographer Julien Behal, captured as Bono declared he accepted the knighthood on condition nobody called him "Sir".

The Irish rocker was awarded the honour in March in recognition of his contribution to music and humanitarian work in a ceremony at British Ambassador to Ireland David Reddaway’s official residence in Dublin.

Bono, like other Irish recipients of an honorary knighthood, is technically not entitled to be called "sir" as he isn’t a British citizen.

But on the day he received the honour, Bono was taking no chances.

The 46-year-old told reporters: "By the way, you can call me pretty much anything you want, except sir."

He added: "You can call me lord of lords or a demi-god..."

Fellow band members The Edge and Adam Clayton joined the singer’s wife Ali and the couple’s four children for the reception.

At the ceremony Mr Reddaway joked that Bono’s family and friends might be disappointed that there were no swords or kneeling involved.

But in a nod to his egocentric reputation, the star put his hand on the ambassador’s shoulder and remarked: "Please, I wasn’t expecting you to kneel."


Sarkozy calls Bono over Africa aid - June 4 2007
New French President Nicolas Sarkozy has phoned international rock star Bono to discuss development aid for Africa at the forthcoming G8 summit.

Sarkozy "shares Bono’s fight" as an advocate for African development, and understands that Europe’s and Africa’s futures are linked, the president’s spokesman David Martinon said.

The French leader, who plans to meet Bono at the summit starting on Wednesday in Heiligendamm, Germany, said that "if Africa faces a crisis, it’s Europe that will be affected," according to Martinon.

Bono, the frontman for U2, co-founded the group Debt Aids Trade Africa five years ago, to work with religious groups on global disease and hunger issues.

Pet Shop Boys Slam Bono - May 25 2007
The Pet Shops Boys have apparently taken a pop at Bono - saying they are not sure whether U2 feel comfortable with him using his celebrity powers.

The flamboyant pop duo have just returned from a year-long world tour - and have also voiced their doubts about benefit concerts.