Coming Full Circle - 360 Adventures!

I'm back from my 360 tour experiences. A little sad, a LOT nackered and VERY poor! But it's been a wonderful time. I've had so much fun and wish it didn't have to come to an end. But all good things do.

I will be blogging about it all but in the meantime you can check out The Crystal Gazer blog by using the link on this page. Sue is more organized than me and is already blogging.

In the meantime, here are some pics of our meeting with Bono on Saturday 15th August. We were lucky enough to catch him as he arrived for the soundcheck at 3.30ish (maybe it was 3:33 and the numbers had fallen off the clock face!)

It was a short but very sweet meeting. There were about 8 or 10 people there and myself, Sue, Julie and Dianne were at the end of the line. You could tell that Bono clocked us right away - that he recognized us - and he eventually made his way down to us. As he stood talking to the man next to me he reached out to take my hand and held on to it while he talked to the guy. Then he was in front of me and he asked how I was and we chatted, along with Sue, about the sound from last night's show (he thought there had been problems and he wanted our opinion). I told him that his voice had been superb (it had!) and he said "Yeah, I thought I had been singing well".

He wanted to know where our seats had been so we told him and he seemed pleased that we had not noticed any real problems with the sound. "Good," he said. "I was worried."

Here are the pics. The handsome grey haired guy in the pictures is Bono's security guy, Brian Murphy.

I will be musing on my feelings about the tour in the coming week. For fantastic reviews and write-ups of our travels though, please visit The Crystal Gazer.

It's 2009 - Do You Know Where Your Soul Is?

Bono sat in the "Op-Ed Guest Columnist" chair again at the New York times yesterday. Read his piece - and all the comments it provoked - here.

One thing is for sure. People love him. People hate him. But he always gets them talking.

Oh and I do wish people would get off the "Bono tax dodger" bandwagon! It is sooooo boring now. Whether Bono is dodging paying exorbitant taxes or not (and who would NOT try to dodge that?!) has no bearing on the work he does nor does it influence the poverty or otherwise of the countries he is trying to help.

Eyeliner on the horizon....

Come July, I will be seeing the above vision in real life! Hope so anyway... hope that Bono does not decide to ditch the eyeliner by then.

So far we have tickets for Nice, Dublin, Wembley and Glasgow.... more to come tomorrow with any luck. Sue will be doing the honours again :) Wish her (and me!) luck!

Next time, it's for real....

Just got back from a whirlwind trip to London to see the Brit Awards. Sue and I had a strange and interesting time, watching a red carpet event at close quarters for the first time. We had time to wait for a while and watch the stars arrive... although by the time we had to go and pick up our tickets, Bono had not arrived, or else he had gone in the back door. I am yet to read or see any reports of the red carpet, so he may well have made a grand entrance.

We had a great spot (eventually - we moved a couple of times) right on the front of a barrier. We were not on the spotlit side where the artists did most of their schmoozing, but several nice people came over to us poor relations, causing the cameras problems I am guessing as the line was not lit for TV! :)

The first to arrive was Tom Jones... looking good for a man of his age. His grey hair suits him a lot better but he needs to lose the tan now to flatter it more. A whirl of celebs arrived in a stream of limousines... most of whom we did not know, but the young kids waiting screamed a great deal, so they were obviously popular (showing my age now!).

The hosts (James Corden and Matthew Horne) arrived together and ran over to us on the other side. They seem like nice boys... very funny young men. I forget the order in which people showed up, but we saw Kylie, Katy Perry, Alan Carr, Gok Wan, David Hasselhoff, Girls Aloud, Kings of Leon, Duffy, Simon Pegg, among many others. Quite a mix of personalities, with comedians being well represented. Was this the Comedy Awards?!

We got excited when our Edge arrived. His car stopped right beside us as there was a hold up in front, and I saw him through the window. I thought he would be with Bono, but he was the only band member in the car and indeed that we saw arrive. He did the red carpet thing and then stopped at the top of the stairs for a chat with Sarah Cox, who was doing the meet and greet.

I tried to take pictures, but the light was not good (and as I said, our side of the road was not lit). I got some blurry shots, and some not so blurry, but none really brilliant.

We eventually had to drag ourselves away, which was not hard since it was getting very cold and we were fed up! We went to get our tickets, and thought it would be a nightmare, but it was very well organised and we got them in minutes. Our seats were great, up high and right near the stage. We had a great view, and there was a giant screen right in front of us too where we could watch.

Everyone performed so well tonight. Aside from U2, who did a great job (more of that in a minute) Coldplay's set was particularly memorable, culminating in a shower of "leaves" lit by red and blue light! It was very effective. Chris Martin bounced around as he always does, so full of energy.

A particular highlight for me was Kings Of Leon, who did a stonking version of "Use Somebody".... that Caleb's voice is amazing. They won both their categories... Best International Group and Album, and well deserved I say.

Take That emerged as if by magic in a very PopMart like "spaceship" high up in the air, right below where were were sitting. Curiously, they were all wearing spectacles that looked like 3D glasses.... a bit geeky looking. I am sure if you are a Take That fan it all makes perfect sense. They were brilliant though.

The whole show was very enjoyable, much better than the Meteor Awards we went to in Dublin a few years ago. I liked most of the acts at this one. The time went quickly, which is a good sign.

And now onto U2's performance. After the worry of the Grammy's, this was a hundred times better. The sounds was spot on, and it was so great to actually be seeing them onstage for the first time in 4 years. The only iffy part was "Let me in the sound", which seems to be something they need to work on for the live shows. Edge does all the work with the singing, with Bono contributing very little. I have to say though, that since watching the TV show today, you can hear Bono more than I remember hearing him last night, so maybe it was a sound issue at the venue. Still, this needs work, and hopefully the few awards shows that they are doing will iron out the creases in this song.

Bono looked so good all dressed in black with a jacket with sparkly lapel. His eyeliner has been joined by full eyeshadow, which is just plain sexy. I'm all for it. Make up is not for all men... you have to have a certain something to carry it off. Bono has it.

I took a couple of pictures off the giant screen since the band were a little dot when using the camera pointing at the actual stage.

I felt so excited to be seeing them, and strangely proud that our band were opening the Brits. It's weird to be opening a show and still being the main event, but I felt they were. A headline act at the head of the show. They are still the band to watch and I don't really think that is in dispute.

After the show we headed out and checked out the entrance again. Stars were leaving in quick succession in their cars, but you could not see into many of them, so who knows who was passing us by? We were entertained by a couple of security guards who were like a comedy double act (maybe they should have presented an award tonight!).

Two men stood out for me tonight after hours. One is - surprisingly - Louis Walsh. Who would have thought that this man who I've never really given much thought to, could be impressing me? But he did. There was a woman there who - to put it delicately out of respect for her - is a little "over zealous" in her obsession with him, and maybe known by certain people for all the wrong reasons. Louis came out to go to his car and she was hysterically screaming his name, and crying. He came over to her (he knows her situation it seems) and gave her a kiss and was very kind. It made her night and she went home so happy!

And someone who made my (and Sue's) night, was Dermot O'Leary! He came over and we had a few words and he posed for photos and signed my book (you'd never know the squiggle was him, but, oh well). He was so sweet, and when my camera was not working and I was worried I was holding him up, he was so patient and told me not to worry. He was such a gentleman.

And so, our little "rehearsal" for the coming U2 tour madness came to an end. Next time we do this, it will be for real.

Take these boots, they're going nowhere....

My, U2 are testing us lately. I am exhausted with all the hiccups and "reasons" why this and that is not finished, or why it's delayed etc. And amazed at all the faux pas they seem to have made. For a band of their stature to be embroiled in artwork copying and copyright scandals is ludicrous. I wonder if they have been so "hands off" lately for whatever reason (time, mostly, while people who will remain unnamed are busy doing something else for 99.9% of the time), that they are just relying blindly on people who do not know, or do not care, what they are doing.

I just got an email from u2.com telling me to "click here" to watch the video premiere of Get On Your Boots, and ten minutes later, it is still stuck on 46% loading!

Oh well, I've seen it anyway. And don't even get me started on U2.com!!!

I really admire Bono for what he is doing with his time. I understand why he has to do it, and why he wants to carry on doing it. It's essential work and important that he does it. I respect that. But there must come a time when all that has to be weighed up against the fact that U2 are a band. Musicians. Do they still want to do that? I suspect that they do, but appreciate that it must be so hard.

And yes, I was getting impatient for a new U2 album... last September when myself and three of my friends were enjoying a week in Dublin, we had long conversations about it. It was about then that we had learned of them scrapping it all and starting again, and that they had 60 songs to try to get through. It didn't sit well with us. We were getting itchy feet. How can a band be out of the public eye for so long and survive, we mused. We were loyal and devoted fans who had stuck with them for years, and probably always would, but there were surely the lesser devoted who would get bored and turn their backs. U2 needed to act fast.

Maybe they thought that too. And maybe they acted too fast.

Because depsite my impatience about the album, I would much rather they get it right, than offer something up that is not up to par. Maybe, on some level, they think that too. Maybe they are getting nervous about just what is on that album.

I'm just musing and speculating. I don't know. All I know is that it is very weird, all this.

But amongst the confusion is hope and optimism. Deep down I feel it will be worth it, and that the very reason that there is all this confusion is because our guys want to give us all that we want.

And the tour.... that's something to look forward to. My friends and I are already dreaming about a sun-drenched French riviera, and gourmet food and good wine along with the music of the band we love!

It will all come out in the wash, as the saying goes!

My boots are finally on!!!!

The day has come at last. We have all heard the new single by now no doubt. I had to wait until I got home from work and have been home about half an hour and listened to it about 8 times!!! LOL

The first thing that I am struck by (and I know I will have it in my head all week!) is the fantastic riff at the beginning. It really draws you in, and shows that this is the perfect choice for the introduction to the new album, and will make a fantastic show opener.

The lyrics are fast and furious but I managed to get them down and have put them at the end of this post. Some great Bono-isms and the the pace of this is energetic and sexy. Love Bono's voice and the almost casual, throw-away attitude of the vocal. Pure rock and roll.

This song sounds like U2 and yet doesn't, if that makes sense. When you get into it, it is undeniably them... but the overall feel of it is new and fresh.

I officially approve.

It is acceptable!!!! LOL

Oh and Dave Fanning said that they will tour the world starting in June "or thereabouts". Oh God!!!

Get On Your Boots - Lyrics

The future needs a big kiss
Winds blow with a twist
Never seen a moon like this
Can you see it too?

Night is falling everywhere
Rockets hit the fun fair
Satan loves a bomb scare
But won't scare you

Hey...Sexy Boots
Get on your boots
Yeah

You free me from a dark dream
Candy floss, ice cream
All the kids are screaming but the ghosts aren't real

Here's where you gotta be
Love and community
Laughter is eternity
If joy is real

You don't know how... beautiful
You don't know how beautiful you are

You don't know
You don't get it do you
You don't know how beautiful you are

If someone starts to blow it up
We're into growing up
Women are the future
All the big revelations

I got a submarine
You got gasoline
I don't wanna talk about
Wars between nations

Not right now

Sexy boots
Get on your boots yeah
Sexy boots

You don't know how... beautiful
You don't know how beautiful you are

You don't know
You don't get it do you
You don't know how beautiful you are

Sexy boots
Get on your boots
(I don't wanna talk about the wars between the nations

Let me in the sound
Let me in the sound
Let me in the sound, sound
Let me in the sound, sound
Let me in the sound

Let me in the sound
Let me in the sound, down
God I'm going down
I don't wanna drown, down
Let me in the sound

Let me in the sound
Let me in the sound
Let me in the sound, sound
Let me in the sound, sound
Let me in the sound

Get on your boots
Get on your boots
Get on your boots

Yeah hey hey hey
Yeah hey hey hey

Repeat to fade.....

Dreams Part 2

I had another night of mad dreams last night... some bizarre.... some nice (I dreamed that I was brushing and stroking my cat, who has been dead over two years now, and I remember the feel of his fur and the weight of his head against my shoulder as I held him), and some unrepeatable. LOL. I dreamed of Bono, but I could not possibly divulge the details!

Dreams

This last week I have been blessed with two great dreams about U2. The first one, on Wednesday, was about going to a U2 concert on the upcoming tour. I think I had it in my mind to wonder about what format the gigs would take, and where U2 would take us this time. So in my dream I was at the concert, and remember being near the front, and Bono was doing all kinds of weird things. It was more like a play than a concert, with Bono doing lots of soliliquies and being quite theatrical.

In the Q interview, Bono says that they can't talk about the live shows, but that what they have planned for outdoors is groundbreaking. That reminded me of another dream I had about the shows a few weeks ago. They had a moveable stage that could be lifted by giant cranes to any part of the stadium, so that every one of the audience had a chance to be "at the front".

Anyway... back to my second dream this week, which happened to be last night. I was in town and passed by a pub and Bono was sitting outside at the tables there, surrounded by a film crew, singing. He was using an "experimental" style and sounded so different to how he usually does. Same voice, but with a different tone. But his mannerisms were very Bono and he was rocking back and forth in the chair (I got that image from the latest Rolling Stone article!). The filming was drawing a crowd, so the directors suggested moving to inside the pub. There was a room at the back. I was allowed to follow them in, and the filming of the song continued in there. In between shooting, Bono was chatting away to Adam, and signing the occasional autograph.

I know all these dreams are due to my speculating about the tour and the album... and I hope they continue.

It's gonna be a long, hot summer, let's get undercover!!

I think the ground is starting to shake!!!! News is starting to seep in of the U2 single and tour and I am getting so excited!!!!

We already know that the album will be released on Monday 2nd March, and myself and my two friends Sue and Dawn have already planned a "release party". In honour of the title of the album (No Line on the Horizon), our party is going to be called "More Wine on the Horizon".... and there will be some of that around, I am sure!

Latest news from fans who met Bono and Adam in Dublin at HQ this week, is that the single will be released to radio stations on Monday 19th January, and that the tour will start in Spain in late June/July.... and will reach the US in late September/October.

Oh My God!!! I can hardly believe that it's happening again after so long. Reasons to sit in front of the radio and the TV to catch the song or video. And the tour madness starting.

That shaking beneath my feet is going to become a rumble... then a tremour....

Bring it on.

Oh, and incidentally.... this year is going to be a great summer. Sue figured out that every time we have a tour, we get a load of sunshine (and sunburn).

So get out your Factor 50, because U2 are gonna burn up 2009!!!

I am he as you are he as you are me and we are altogether....

I got the DVD of "Across The Universe" today as it was nice and cheap.... just £5. I figured I would enjoy it because I love "Moulin Rouge" and I knew that this film was like that - a surreal musical with lots of humour and a human story behind the glitz.

I wasn't disappointed. The love story running through this film is moving and poignant. It's the story of a young Liverpudlian lad who goes to America to find his father, a man who left home before he was born. Having a university address for the man, he expects him to be an educated man, a professor, but he turns out to be the janitor.

While in the school, he is befriended by a student and falls in love with his sister - who has lost her boyfriend in the Vietnam war.

Against a backdrop of war and love lost and found, this film is wonderful, with lots of Beatles songs sung very well by the cast!

I love the lead actor who plays Jude (a guy named Jim sturgess) and he has a lovely voice.

Bono's part in this is not bad at all. You think that he would be struck with the curse of the "singer turned actor" that historically never works out well. Most musicians who take this path turn out to give a wooden performance, but Bono's is funny and his comic timing excellent. Love the bit near the end of his scene where he gets all petulant about someone not being there to meet him.... his expressions are priceless. His accent is great too, but then Bono has always been a good mimic and is great with different voices and accents.

I was really excited when I knew his scene was coming up, and despite the fact that he is made up to look like some ageing, hairy hippie (nothing attractive about that moustache at all), I felt really proud of him. It sounds funny, but I think of Bono sometimes as you would a close family member! You know, when you feel that pang of pride when they do something, and you support them no matter what and feel fiercely protective!

His rendition of "I am the Walrus" is brilliant. His star quality shines out in the film and his status as a class act amongst the other performers is apparent. Well... it's Bono isn't it? :-)

I think some of the meaning went over my head initially.... when Bono's character, Dr Robert says "You're either on the bus or you're off the bus", I thought he just meant that literally. He had a psychedelic bus and had people travelling with him.

But apparently, it's beat generation lingo for "creative tripping".... so I guess this film had lots of that kind of thing that might not be initially apparent. At least to me.

Despite this though, and all the dancing and singing amid "trippy" colours... the theme running through it is one most people can identify with or at least understand. A "normal" love story with all its angst, and the difficulties facing young men drafted into the Vietnam war.

There is a fantastic sequence near the beginning when one of the characters is drafted, and goes to sign up. Just so cleverly done. I won't spoil it in case anyone decides to watch it.

And one of my favourite people, Eddie Izzard, is in this, and his scene and song is hilarious!

Oh... and the highlight for me, Bono-wise? Hearing him sing the words: "You let your knickers down" during his rendition of "I Am The Walrus"!!! Something a bit naughty about Bono saying "knickers"!!!! LOL

Staring at the Sun!

You know when sometimes you see something so beautiful you have to capture it forever? This is the sight that confronted me when I looked out of the aeroplane window on my way back from Dublin on Tuesday. The day had been gloriously hot and sunny, and the feeling that summer is here was very much with me. The sunset was breathtaking. I paid a price for this shot though... I had dark spots in my vision for literally hours later. Burnt retinas are no fun! I think they are just about back to normal though.

Dublin was fantastic. It was so good just to go there for the day, although that felt so weird as I had never done it before. It was exciting to have so much to do and so little time to do it... kind of a challenge. As the quote goes though, the "best laid plans of mice and men" were changed at the last minute, and we spent most of the afternoon down at Hanover Quay. We paid a visit to U2's place... saw all the band arrive, and lots of staff, technicians, musicians, producers, directors, come and go. But no luck with talking to any of the guys this time. Everyone is so busy at the moment and we understand that. We got a few words from Brian Eno though.... not about the record, unfortunately. He popped to the Spar shop for something and on the way back he just nodded and smiled and said how nice a day it was.

Bono peeped his horn at us as he drove into the garage, but never made an appearance. And we know there must have been a good reason for that.

So.... we ambled up the street to Milano, a lovely Italian restaurant, where we had a delicious dinner with a bottle of wine. A much welcome end to our whirlwind trip.

You can read Sue's account of our day here.

Shooting Peacocks Up The Arse!

As promised, here are links so that you can download the interview that I did with Bono in June 1997. It is in 2 parts.

I'll just give you some background to set the scene. This was at about 9pm, and my co-editor and I were in my living room, drinking the first of two bottles of red wine, staring at the telephone. When the phone rang, we jumped about 3 feet in the air. As you can hear, we were excited and nervous to start with, especially when we heard Bono's many "Helloooos". I was convinced that it was a friend of mine winding us up - because many of our friends knew we were expecting Bono to call, so I thought someone had thought it would be a hoot to "hijack" the phone!!

Anyway, it turned out to be the real Bono, and once he calmed down we got on okay. He was phoning from Chicago, and the time there was about 3pm, but I think Bono had not long got up!!

We were so thrilled to get almost 40 minutes of his time. He seemed really to enjoy the chat, and even though we thought when he said "Hold on, someone at the door" at the end of the first file here, he was going to use that as an excuse to leave, we were delighted when he came back and carried on chatting for ages after. The pause for the door was a couple of minutes, but of course I have cut that out.

Lots of wonderful, quotable Bono-isms in this, including the title of this post. Lots of gems.

A few embarrassing things came out of my mouth, but hopefully you will all be too polite to even notice them!!! At one point I tried to say the word "technologically" but it's hard to do when you have the best part of a bottle of wine in ya!!! LOL I think I got away with it.

For anyone confused by the the two "interviewer voices"... mine is the first voice on answering the phone to Beth. I say "yes we're here." and I think my speech is faster than my co-editor's. I've always been a motormouth!!! I also tell Bono that there are some questions from subsribers to the fanzine that we will drop in from time to time.

He he, I also tell him we are drinking wine, which causes a nice reaction from him. He had no wine.... he was munching bananas!

But anyway, I digress. Just download and enjoy. And please let me know what you think.

As I said, I may get a transcript up here soon, which may pick out anything you might miss on the sound.

So anyway, here are the files

Real Thing Interview 26th June 1997 # 1

Real Thing Interview 26th June 1997 #2

Oh, and it's been a long time since I listened to this all the way through. I just did so today and had to laugh at the excited squealing we did when Bono had hung up the phone. Well, at least I hope he had hung up!!!!

Down a big black hole...

This last week I have been uploading songs to my iPod ready for my holiday, which is coming up on June 14th. On looking through all my CDs to decide what to put on there, I came across the CD of my interview with Bono, which took place on 26th June, 1997. God, that was so long ago, but I remember quite clearly the way I felt during the time I was negotiating getting the interview.

I was doing the fanzine "The Real Thing" with co-editor, Jackie Harper, and had written to Principle Management asking them if there was any chance. I can't even remember what date we originally asked, but I do know it was a long time before we actually got the interview.

On July 26th, 1996, something quite amazing happened. I picked up the post from my doormat (remember when you used to get REAL post?) and there was a letter from Dublin. I opened it and almost died on the spot! This is what it said...

I unfolded the enclosed letter with great excitement. Below is a scan of it, and, for anyone not used to Bono's scribble, there is a transcript below it.

"Debbi

Just a note to say that we're down a big black hole at the moment recording the U2 album.... hoping to come out of it soon.... with some digital light and a bunch of new tunes.... meanwhile we're not making much sense and incapable of talking to anyone excluding each other....... comminicating by grunt..... feedback and drums might not make for a good chat.

See you down the road.

Bono"

As you can imagine, I was so excited to get this letter, and it put my mind at rest that at least Bono actually knew about us trying to get the interview. It gave me hope.

However, it was to be almost one year until we finally got the interview. Of course, the album that had the band down a big black hole was Pop, and when we talked to Bono they had already started the Popmart tour in America.

Once I figure out how to do it, I will be posting the interview, and maybe a transcript, time permitting.

Time Flies...

I'm a bit late posting this, because I meant to post on Bono's birthday. Not just because it was his birthday (though that is a good excuse) but because exactly one year ago on that day (May 10th) I was in Dublin with my friends, enjoying the luxury of the penthouse suite at The Clarence and sipping much champagne!

You can read about my exploits here, here and here!

Enjoy

Just Because....

I just had to post this photo. I love it!! Bono doing a little shopping in Monaco.

Enjoy...

Edinburgh Here We Come

Today was a miserable day weather-wise, and the rain drizzled down for most of the time. We got a taxi into town and I went to get some money from the bank before we headed to the bus stop. Sue had been told that the fare to Edinburgh was just £10 return, which seemed incredible, so we were ready to pay more. As we suspected, the fare was not £10..... it was actually £9.90!!! Incredible. But the journey was not the most comfortable, and it lasted 3 and a half hours. Torture!

We got there in one piece though, and got a taxi to our hotel, the Travelodge Haymarket. It was a lovely old building and our room, termed an "Ample Family Room", was indeed ample! We were gawping at it and saying it was the biggest room we had ever stayed in, until we suddenly remembered the Penthouse Suite at The Clarence. Duh! How could we have forgotten that!

We unpacked and got settled in, before it was time to head off to dinner. Sue had booked us a table at Vittoria's, a lovely Italian restaurant near to the Liquid Rooms. The food was gorgeous and we had a lovely bottle of wine too. The interior reminded us of The Clarence, with all the wood panelling and the laid back atmosphere. Well, it was laid back until a family at the next table had some quarrel with the staff! Something seemed to be wrong with their order, and the father of the family kept on glaring menacingly over at the kitchen pass. Everyone was handling him really well, but we reckoned he was just after a free dinner!

While we were in the restaurant, I got a text message from Alan (Boner from NU2) saying that the soundcheck had been a disaster because he could not reach the high notes. He had been suffering from a potentially deadly strain of man-flu (!!) all week, and now when he reached the higher registers, his voice disappeared! I tried to re-assure him that it would all be okay, but I was worried about Julie and what she would think. She had come all the way from Southampton and this was her first every NU2 show. Sue and I had been telling her how fantastic they were! Gulp!

But as it turned out, all was well. Boner was struggling a little at the beginning, it is fair to say, but as the gig wore on, he warmed to it and his voice held out very well. This band never disappoint, and they all work so well together, and work hard! As I always do, I marvelled at how accurate they are to U2, and Alan's voice is so close to Bono's it's spooky! Sometimes was stunning. Wild Horses was a nice surprise. And Discotheque rocked.

I had requested Ultraviolet through the forum and was eagerly awaiting that. However, it appeared in a very surprising and unique way! The Fly started, and Alan dedicated it to "the people from England".... A great version followed, and when he got to the Achtung Baby part, Alan changed it to Achtung Debbi, which made me smile! Then.... they sneaked Ultraviolet in there, which was amazing, and really a wonderful touch as it blended very nicely back into The Fly to finish! Great stuff.... and now known as Ultraviolet Fly!! It would be great to see U2 do that!

The crowd were wonderful, and the usual Airdrie lot were there. They really are dedicated NU2 fans and dance and sing along (drunkenly, it is fair to say!) to all the songs. It's obvious that the lads like them being there too. How great to always have that support. A little taste of what U2 feel when they look out and see the familiar faces in their audience.

Sue took some great pictures of the night, which can be found here, and towards the end, I crept to the front of the stage, taking he camera and capturing these two, one of Adam (John) and one of Alan.

Adam Claypole and Boner

After the gig, which we thoroughly enjoyed, we went outside and waited for a while to see if we could arrange somewhere to go and meet the guys. John came outside and said that Finnegans was a good place to go, and it was only two doors away, so we went there for a drink and eventually, Alan came and we had a brief chat. He had lots of people who wanted to talk to him, so eventually we decided to drift back to the hotel. We needed to get a train before midnight anyway... or else it would turn back into a pumpkin!!!

We said our goodbyes and headed back. On getting to the station we realised we would have over half an hour wait for the train, so we got a taxi instead, and ended the night with a nightcap in the bar of the hotel.

A great night. Thanks to NU2... Julie's first impressions of them were very high, despite Alan's worries.

I've made a re-discovery!

Lately I have been listening a lot to All That You Can't Leave Behind... I think because I remember how it felt to be waiting for that album, and I am feeling the same now as I wait for the next one.

There are some wonderful songs on ATYCLB, like Walk On, Peace on Earth, and this one here - When I Look At The World. I am obsessed with it at the moment. The lyrics are stunning. I've copied them here. They make me hungry for Bono at his best, and I am excited by various reports and rumours that Bono's lyrics are really going to be fantastic on this next album.

Fingers crossed!! When he is on form there is no one to match him, and his words have the ability to knock you off your feet. Just simple words that he puts together so well and in his unique way.

When I Look At The World - Copyright U2. Lyrics by Bono.

When you look at the world

What is it that you see

People find all kinds of things

That bring them to their knees

I see an expression

So clear and so true

That changes the atmosphere

When you walk into the room

So I try to be like you

Try to feel it like you do

But without you its no use

I cant see what you see

When I look at the world

When the night is someone else's

And you're trying to get some sleep

When your thoughts are too expensive

To ever want to keep

When theres all kinds of chaos

And everyone is walking lame

You dont even blink now do you?

Dont even look away

So I try to be like you

Try to feel it like you do

But without you its no use

I cant see what you see

When I look at the world

I cant wait any longer

I cant wait til Im stronger

Cant wait any longer

To see what you see

When I look at the world

Im in the waiting room

I cant see for the smoke

I think of you and your holy book

When the rest of us choke

Tell me tell me

What do you see

Tell me tell me

Whats wrong with me?

Bono is a Colm and Jim Jim Fan!

Who are Colm and Jim Jim you may well ask. Well, they are the guys who do the 2FM Breakfast Show in Dublin. Our Bono listens to them during the school run and on Tuesday morning - obviously as Bono was driving the kids to school - he heard them talking about a statement from Clannad (who are embarking on a tour) that he can no longer hit the high notes he reached on their hit "In A Lifetime" and they would be using someone else.

Incensed, our Bono phoned the show and put them right.

Okay, he wasn't incensed. He obviously just wanted a laugh!

Hear it here - it's really funny. Our B even does some of the show's jingles, proving that this show must really be a favourite of his.

(De) Bono's Thinking Hat?

After writing my Blog last night, and also after looking back at some pictures of our Bono at Hanover Quay recently, I noticed that he has been wearing a green hat a lot lately. Of course he has worn many hats over the years, but this one seems to be his favourite right now, while he is recording the album. It got me thinking about a theory of Edward do Bono's that I read about a few years ago. De Bono is famous for his lateral thinking, and has this to say about the wearing of different colour hats. Read into it what you will. I'm just quoting it here for fun.


The White Hat calls for information known or needed. "The facts, just the facts."

The Yellow Hat symbolises brightness and optimism. Under this hat you explore the positives and probe for value and benefit.

The Black Hat is judgment - the devil's advocate or why something may not work. Spot the difficulties and dangers; where things might go wrong. Probably the most powerful and useful of the Hats but a problem if over-used.

The Red Hat signifies feelings, hunches and intuition. When using this hat you can express emotions and feelings and share fears, likes, dislikes, loves, and hates.

The Green Hat focuses on creativity; the possibilities,alternatives, and new ideas. It's an opportunity to express new concepts and new perceptions.

The Blue Hat is used to manage the thinking process. It's the control mechanism that ensures the Six Thinking Hats® guidelines are observed.

Since Bono seems to be wearing a green hat a lot during the creative process of the new album, maybe he thinks there is something in it. Here is more about the "Green Hat".

Green Hat Think of vegetation and rich growth

The green hat is for creative thinking.
The green hat is for new ideas.
The green hat is for additional alternatives.
The green hat is for putting forward possibilities and hypotheses.
The green hat covers provocation and movement.
The green hat requests creative effort.
We need some new ideas here.
Are there any additional alternatives?
Could we do this a different way?
Could there be another explanation?

The green hat makes it possible to ask directly for a creative effort. The green hat makes time and space available for creative thinking. Even if no creative ideas are forthcoming, the green hat asks for the creative effort.


Mmmm... interesting.

When Mr B met Mr B!

On Tuesday my good friend Alan, aka Boner from the Scottish tribute band NU2, was in Dublin and since U2 are in the studio at Hanover Quay, he decided to go down and chance his arm. I gave him the benefit of my (not too extensive) wisdom and experience (ahem), and it paid off because he finally got to meet Bono!!! I was in touch with him via text message throughout it all and I was so excited it was like I was there myself! Afterwards, Alan phoned me and gave me a brief synopsis of the meeting but, as I know from experience, it is hard to remember a meeting with Bono in full until a little while later, when your stupid grin has faded a bit and your excitement has settled. Tonight, I got an email and this is what happened, in Boner's own words:

After walking from Grafton St for what seemed like hours (and crossing the Liffy without realising) I eventually reached HQ.

I was struck by the contrast between the swanky restaurants and chic buildings at the Quay and U2's somewhat dilapidated studios. However this did make me chuckle at U2's defiance of Dublin City Council. Who runs Dublin anyway? Bono does!

When I arrived at about 1.30pm there was a group of 5 girls - one from Brazil or Argentina - not quite sure, 2 from France, a Dutch girl now living in Dublin, oh yes and a Polish girl with her maw! Is that 5?

I sought some reassurance that something U2-like was gonna happen but they seemed not in the know and when I mentioned the thing about the garage door and the posts they looked at me like I had horns.

It then became quite boring with only the constant stream of workmen retunring from lunch with their builder bums saluting me as they passed.

After about an hour and 10mins the garage door went up and a bloke with a big mouser came out and looked up the street. (Deb's Note: I just realised that a "mouser" is a moustache and that Boner is talking here about Sammy O'Sullivan, U2's famous mouser sporter!) Two minutes later the Edge arrived in his car and drove straight in. The door went down but 5 mins later went up again. Bono drove up the street in what I think was a big Merc and drove in. Door down again.

Debbi texted me to say Bono would come out in 10-ish mins and lo and behold the Exit door opened and he strolled out smiling and rubbing his hands. Three Irish guys had arrived about ten minutes earlier with CDs, books and birthday cards to sign. All I had was a crappy O'Callaghan Hotels map. I stood back a bit and let the foreign girls talk to Bono first as they had been waiting hours before me. One girl asked Bono to phone her sister but he declined saying "I'd rather not do the phone thing".

The Polish girl introduced her mother and Bono smiled a yelled "MAW" and kissed her hand. Class!

He asked where everyone was from. He was genuinely interested in why they were all in Dublin. The Dutch girl said she was working in Dublin, Bono said "It's always good to work in Dublin" I said "I'm being paid as we speak" and he grinned at me.

The South American girl was seriously overwhelmed and was almost moaning and trying to get him to read this long note she had with her.

The Dutch girl said can you get Adam to come out. Bono said "I have never had any control over what Adam does."

The Irish guys produced more stuff, a flyer for Bonovox amongst other things and Bono laughed out loud.

More photos followed and I thought I better make my move as he was making noises to go.

I muscled in and said Bono - a photo please. "Sure" He put his arm round me (crikey). I gave my phone to the Polish girl and started chatting to him. He was standing on a step and I was at ground level, he crouched down a wee bit

"I am in a U2 tribute band from Scotland y'know"

"Really, that's great" said Bono

"You know who I am?...YOU!!" I said

Bono turned his head and looked me up and down, smiled then looked me in the eye but did not speak. His look basically said "Seriously??"

I then looked at the Polish girl who had my phone round the wrong way and was about to take a photo of herself. I said no no, turn it round.

Bono said "I'm gonna give ya a peace sign" and she took the pic.

He then said "I gotta run now" shook my outstretched hand and turned round and went back in.

Awesome.


And here is the money shot! Boner and Bono... united at last!!!