Bono apologizes for U2 album's automatic iTunes download

(MyFoxBoston.com) -- U2 frontman Bono has apologized for the automatic download of his band's latest album, "Songs of Innocence," which was sent to more than 500 million iTunes users across the world.

Along with the announcement of the iPhone 6 and other new gadgets last month, Apple declared it would give away U2's latest songs for free to all users. Not everyone was pleased with the announcement, however, and many people were surprised when the songs appeared in their music library.

In a question and answer video session on Facebook Tuesday, a user asked the band to "never release" another album that automatically downloads on iTunes. "It's really rude," the user said.

"I had this beautiful idea and we got carried away with ourselves," Bono replied. The singer said the band's impetus for the move came from a "drop of megalomania, touch of generosity, dash of self-promotion, and deep fear" that the songs they spent so much time working on would not be heard.

Before the apology, singer Iggy Pop criticized Apple and U2 for the move, saying it was "stealing the listener's choice."

Cox Media Group