Between Pop and Zooropa, something happened to Bono's voice.  Was that all from smoking or from singing too much?

it was smoking and Popmart tour started in Las Vegas,where one rare cactus grows,which Bono is allergic to.

Probably just age, mingled with his penchant for the finer things in life (smoking, vodka, red wine.)

Still sounds great, though. I think his voice has more nuance and character now...I'd like to see him really explore that on the next record. Not full on Tom Waits style, but, you know...

Smoking was a big issue, if I remember correctly... I didn't know about the rare cactus though! Weird.

i thing that bono try to change his voice from album to other
and smoking , don't forget age
but always still the best

Not sure I believe the "rare cactus" story.

same here m2, do you have a link or anything?

same here m2, do you have a link or anything?

You should be asking Disco for the link...it's her claim. 

same here m2, do you have a link or anything?

You should be asking Disco for the link...it's her claim. 

i was asking Disco

I've heard the cactus allergy explanation too... I've got a feeling it's in a book but can't remember which one.

I do know Bono has problems with allergies (one of the reasons for the sunglasses!) so it could have some truth to it.

But, age and smoking wouldn't help either lol

The band talked about Bono`s voice problems in "U2 by U2". Adam said there was a concrete factory near their studio and he suspected that concrete dust may have affected Bono`s vocal cords during the recording session.
About this "rare cactus allergy“": apparently he`s allergic to a desert weed (no specific cactuses/cacti named tho, lol). Bono also mentioned a condition called Desert Throat (I suppose it has something to do with dry air?) that singers sometimes suffer from in Vegas.
Plus he started smoking more often and didn`t give his voice enough rest (finishing the record and then starting the tour shortly after that). So it was a combination of all those things.

There`s a list of keywords at the back of "U2 by U2", it`s very helpful for finding specific information from the book

A peyote maybe? I didn't know it causes allergies, but it causes other things, lol. 

But they were just in vegas a month ago... Is he not alergic any more? PLus didn't he stop smoking? Like cold turkey?

But they were just in vegas a month ago... Is he not alergic any more? PLus didn't he stop smoking? Like cold turkey?

I guess now that he knows what he`s allergic to he can use medicine. And didn`t he have a minor surgery in the late 90`s? I don`t know if he has stopped smoking (I hope so), but he definitely sounds better now than he did during the Pop era. At some gigs his voice has been a bit tired but that`s what happens to every singer who`s touring for months.

he stopped because of a cancer scare i think...