POP/ROCK - Nov. 17, 1987

Canadian sculptor Armand Vaillancourt, who designed the San Francisco fountain spray-painted by U-2’s Bono following a free concert in the city’s financial district last week has no hard feelings about the incident. The Quebec-born artist said Bono’s action, writing “Stop the Traffic, Rock ‘n’ Roll,” was a legitimate form of self-expression. Ironically, Vaillancourt spray-painted the fountain with the slogan “Quebec Libre” at its unveiling back in 1971. Police didn’t find that action or Bono’s more recent spray painting to be very funny--in Bono’s case, they’ve filed a charge of misdemeanor malicious mischief against the rock star and summoned him to appear in court Dec. 16.