Never mind those world leaders meeting in Genoa. The globe's most potent ambassadors are often its traveling rock stars. With Madonna launching the U.S. portion of her Drowned World tour after a five-city European swing, Notebook looks at how rock's headliners are promoting--and pummeling--international harmony.
MADONNA On her new tour, the rock provocateur shows a film that depicts her as a battered woman. Some feminists have objected. In London, M cried, "God save the Queen!" but drew catcalls for her high ticket prices. For 85[pounds], a British paper quipped, "you'd expect her to lap-dance for you privately."
U2 The tireless...