Russia to investigate U2 album cover for “gay propaganda”?

A Russian law-maker is calling for Apple to be fined, saying it broke Russian law when it uploaded U2’s Songs of Innocence, to iTunes customers worldwide last September.

Alexander Starovoitov, a parliamentary member of the rightwing LDPR party, says the album’s father-son cover is “two men engaged in a manifestation of non-traditional sexual relations" and “gay propaganda among minors." He is demanding the country’s Prosecutor's Office to investigate.

If found guilty, Apple could be closed in Russiafor three months or face a fine of up to 1 million roubles (A$25,000).

The artwork in question was a photo of U2 drummer Larry Mullen Jr. embracing his 18-year-old son Aaron Elvis while both are shirtless. U2 have explained that the image depicts "in the visual language, how 'holding on to your own innocence is a lot harder than holding on to someone else's.'"

This is the latest clash between Russian authorities and western celebrities. Madonna had a US$11 million lawsuit filed against her for denouncing the country’s gay “propaganda” law on stage during a St. Petersburg concert. Similar comments by Lady Gaga led to her promoter being fined and calls for an investigation if she violated immigration or tax laws. Cher and Blondie turned down offers to perform at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi citing intolerant laws. There was a call for cross-dressing Eurovision winner Conchita Wurst to be banned from playing Russia.

This is not Apple’s first clash with Russian authorities over a sexuality issue. Last year a monument to Apple and its late founder Steve Jobs was removed from a St. Petersburg university after Apple CEO Tim Cook revealed he was gay.

Neither Apple nor U2 have made any comment on the latest episode.

Meantime, while U2 are about to start its Innocence and Experience tour, Bono revealed says he has not recovered from his bike accident last November. He fell off his pushbike in New York’s Central Park and fractured his shoulder, elbow, left hand and eye socket. He needed five hours of surgery.

The singer told the New York Times he can’t play guitar and might not know if he'll regain all of the feeling in his left hand for another 13 months. He can’t bend some of his fingers and another part of his left hand "is like rigor mortis."

He said,“I really used to think that my head was harder than any surface it came in contact with, and I don’t anymore. I didn’t come off a Harley-Davidson. I came off a push bike and smashed myself to bits. There is no glory here.”