Bono beleives that these days, there's a lack of 'young male anger' in rock music and that hip-hop serves as “the only place for young male anger at the moment”.
In the interview, he spoke of his children's music tastes.
“Jordan is a music snob, an indie snob,” Bono explained. “Eve is hip-hop. Elijah is in a band, and he has got very strong feelings about music, but he doesn’t make any distinction between, let’s say, the Who and The Killers. Or, you know, Nirvana and Royal Blood".
"It is not generational for him. It is the sound and what he is experiencing. He believes that a rock and roll revolution is around the corner".
When the interviewer asked did he also believe there's a revolution around the corner, the 57 year old said that “I think music has gotten very girly. And there are some good things about that, but hip-hop is the only place for young male anger at the moment – and that’s not good"
“When I was 16, I had a lot of anger in me,” he continued. “You need to find a place for it and for guitars, whether it is with a drum machine – I don’t care. The moment something becomes preserved, it is fucking over. You might as well put it in formaldehyde.
“In the end, what is rock & roll? Rage is at the heart of it. Some great rock & roll tends to have that, which is why the Who were such a great band. Or Pearl Jam. Eddie has that rage… It will return.”
His comments have been receiving a lot of criticism online this morning, with Twitter users claiming the use of 'girly' as an insult to be rooted in misogyny and a reflection of the singer's toxic masculinity.
People were also unhappy with his disregard for rap music, despite the 'young male anger' expressed in this genre being typically race related.

wow!! starting off 2018 by cancelling bono!! I’m glad you think labeling something as “girly” is an insult. bc the “young male anger” which you miss so much has obviously gotten us so far this year?? right??? https://t.co/s25o6l0N15

— elise jacqueline??‘? (@elisesoutar) December 27, 2017

.@U2 Dudebro, your most well-known song of the past two decades is a glittery anthem about it being a "beautiful day". And why is that bad? Also, since when are girls and women unable to properly express rage in music? Also, your new album is pandering bullshit. Do better. https://t.co/njAe7RYTQ8

— Charlotte Clymer?️‍? (@cmclymer) December 28, 2017

Bono thinks expressing emotions in a non-shouty way is 'girly'. It's not. This is just toxic masculinity through the lens of 'music' (I mean, if we're talking metal, U2 don't exactly cut it). Men: it is not 'girly' to express feelings without hitting things or yelling.

— Emma Kennedy (@EmmaKEdDev) December 28, 2017

Bono has been criticized for calling music "too girly." It’s OK, Bono. The music industry can survive With or Without You. pic.twitter.com/xrf4dGgyfy

— AJ+ (@ajplus) December 28, 2017

Where do you even start with this: The sexism? The racist stereotyping? The positioning of hyper-masculine aggression as a positive thing? Fuck off Bono. pic.twitter.com/6b7Z2PPTyh

— Roisin O'Connor (@Roisin_OConnor) December 28, 2017

This is so racist Bono you old dipshit pic.twitter.com/WnILaoDBQR

— The Feelings Haver? (@mmegannnolan) December 28, 2017