Bono Leads 'Alexei Navalny' Chant at Vegas Sphere

Bono and U2 paid tribute to prominent Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny during the band’s residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Saturday, February 17.

Video captured by Stephen Pace shows Bono lead the crowd in a chant of “Alexei Navalny" as he and the Edge began an acoustic performance of the Crowded House song ‘Don’t Dream It’s Over’.

In other footage showing the moments before the chant, Bono spoke to the crowd about the upcoming two-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the people affected by the conflict.

“To these people freedom is not just a word in a song. For these people, freedom is the most important word in the world – so important that Ukrainians are fighting and dying for it. And it’s so important that Alexei Navalny chose to give his up,” Bono said.

“Apparently Putin would never, ever say his name,” Bono said. “So I thought tonight, the free people, from here, people who believe in freedom – we must say his name. Not just remember it, but say it,” he added, before he began a chant of “Alexei Navalny.”

On Thursday, Russian authorities reported that Navalny, 47, fell ill and died in the prison colony where he was detained. Credit: Stephen Pace via Storyful

Video transcript

[MUSIC PLAYING]

BONO: Navalny.

- (CHANTING) Alexei Navalny.

BONO: Alexei Navalny.

- Alexei Navalny.

BONO: Navalny.

- Alexei Navalny.

BONO: Alexei Navalny.

- Alexei Navalny.

BONO: Navalny.

- Alexei Navalny.

BONO: Alexei Navalny.

- Alexei Navalny.

BONO: Navalny.

- Alexei Navalny.

BONO: Alexei Navalny.

- Alexei Navalny.

BONO: Navalny.

- Alexei Navalny.

BONO: Alexei Navalny.

- Alexei Navalny.

BONO: Navalny.

- Alexei Navalny.

BONO: Alexei Navalny.

- Alexei Navalny.