Bono has paid tribute to the Italian opera singer Luciano Pavarotti, who died this morning.
In 2003, Pavarotti teamed up with the U2 frontman for a charity concert to raise money for Iraqi civilians affected by war.
Speaking on RTÉ 2FM's 'Gerry Ryan Show', Bono said the singer had never forgotten his own humble roots.
He said Pavarotti's life was like an opera and said his interpretative skills were what made him unique - he lived his songs and when he sang them he brought you to that place.
Hailed by many as the greatest tenor of his generation, Pavarotti was 71 and had been suffering from pancreatic cancer.
His manager said he died at his home in Italy, surrounded by family and close friends.
The world's most popular tenor was born in Modena, Northern Italy, on 12 October, 1935, the only child of his baker father and tobacco factory worker mother.
He was training as a teacher when he decided to opt for a musical career, making his professional opera debut in his home country in 1961.
His first big break came in his twenties at the Royal Opera House in London's Covent Garden.
In 1990 Pavarotti became an international celebrity when he sang 'Nessun Dorma', an aria from Puccini's 'Turandot', as the theme song for the World Cup.
Over a 40-year-career he released more than 100 records, selling more than 100m albums worldwide and won five Grammy awards as well as the prestigious Grammy Legend award.
Pavarotti was diagnosed with cancer of the pancreas in July 2006 and underwent emergency surgery to remove the tumour.
He was married for 35 years to Adua Veroni, the mother of his three adult daughters.
However in December 2003 he married his assistant, Nicoletta Mantovani, who was half his age, following a 10-year affair.
The couple had one daughter.
To read a full biography of Pavarotti, click here.
Paddy Kehoe of the RTÉ Guide talked to the tenor in 2003. Click here to read the interview.
