Oprah, Bono Get the Red Out

Fri., Oct. 13, 2006 3:12 PM PDT by Josh Grossberg

The two superstars and renowned do-gooders have joined forces to promote the U2 frontman's new initiative with major American brand names such as Apple and the Gap to sell a line of "Red"-branded products whose proceeds will go towards fighting disease in Africa.

Bono joined the talk show queen in Chicago Thursday morning to kick off the U.S. portion of his Red campaign, with the two of them taking part in a shopping spree on North Michigan Avenue's famed Magnificent Mile.

Per the Chicago Sun-Times, the twosome arrived in a cherry red Ford Thunderbird in front of a Gap store--with Oprah at the wheel and Bono riding shotgun. There, they bought bags of Red-labeled items before setting off for down the street for the Apple Store on a mission to find a spanking-new iPod Red.

"So, wow, this is the Magnificent Mile," he exclaimed, per the Sun-Times, before launching into an improvised version of the Monkees' theme song. "Here we come, walking down the street, get the funniest looks from...

"It's a beautiful mile," Bono added. "And it was a blessing on us today. It started to snow. It felt like Christmas."

Winfrey, who taped the tour for a segment airing Friday on The Oprah Winfrey Show, suggested the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and Nobel Peace Prize nominee should enlist Crate & Barrel to get involved in the campaign.

Thursday's trip offered a preview of various Red-labeled products, which also range from new Motorola RAZRs to apparel and accessories from Emporio Armani and Converse. The items officially went on sale Friday in the U.S. and each participating company is donating a percentage of the profits toward the Global Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to combating AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

Apple's support alone will go a long way--not only is the company offering up a special version if its mega-selling iPod Nano, but is also donating a portion of profits earned from a new $25 iTunes Red gift card.

"It's incredible to get these gigantic corporations to get involved in the fight against AIDS," said the "One" crooner. "We're not going to let 6,000 Africans die every day of a preventable, treatable disease. We're not going to do it. It's not American. It's not Irish. It's not English. It's not acceptable."

As they made their way from store to store, Bono and Winfrey were joined by a host of celebrity pals, including Kanye West, Penelope Cruz and supermodel Christy Turlington.

"I think everyone should get involved," West said. "It's important to everybody personally because AIDS is killing the world."

Along the way, Bono accepted an invitation to sip some pumpkin chai from a woman in front of the Armani store, who was delighted to see the musician drink from her red lipstick-covered lid.

By the time they finished their run, a Sun-Times reporter asked Winfrey what shopping with Bono was like.

"Euphoric," she declared.

Since kicking off in the U.K. last spring, the Red campaign has generated more than $12 million for the Global Fund.