Bono has apologized for the automatic download of U2’s new album, Songs of Innocence, to iTunes users’ playlists.

The automatic download provoked intense irritation from many of the 500 million people who found the album automatically popping up on their iPhones and iPods without having requested it.

On an interview posted on Facebook today, Bono was asked, “Can you please never release an album on iTunes that automatically downloads to peoples playlists ever again? It’s really rude.”

“Uh…. Oops. I’m sorry about that,” Bono replied. “It was a beautiful idea, but we got carried away with ourselves. Artists are prone to that kind of thing. Drop of megalomania. Touch of generosity. Dash of self-promotion. And deep fear that these songs, which we’ve poured our life into these past few years, mightn’t be heard.”

“There’s a lot of noise out there. I guess we got a little noisy ourselves to get through it,” Bono said.

However other posters defended the band. One said, “What an absolute joke moaning and complaining about something so petty. I'm glad I got it. Here is a thought sad people out there - delete it.”

Another posted, “I appreciate the freebie of some of your best work. There are always going to be haters.”