Blackwell Not a U2 Fan
Chris Blackwell, founder of Island Records, has admitted he was not a fan of U2 when he first saw them live in a London pub.
The label boss was reminiscing in a wide-ranging interview with US radio network NPR’s show ‘Weekend Edition’ on Saturday Blackwell said: “I didn’t love the music. It was a little rinky-dink, but I believed in them.”
Thankfully for the Irish group, Blackwell followed with his instinct and signed them, sticking with them through some lean times until they secured global fame. Nowadays, though, the industry veteran mourns the loss of identity for today’s labels.
“I don’t know what record labels there are now that mean what they used to be to me when I was a fan,” he said. “For example, Blue Note Records was a guarantee of quality. They signed great musicians, and they recorded them absolutely brilliantly. That can happen when you’re independent. When it’s a major company, they can’t do that in the same way. It’s changed really a great deal, because also people don’t even see a label.”
For new artists, Blackwell advises they show patience and own rights to their music. “They can sell their music; they can market themselves on the Web. Takes a long time, because it’s sort of going bit by bit, but they can promote their concerts and they can gather email addresses or Facebook pages … and grow like that,” he said. “They don’t need to give that up to a record label, which happened in the old days.”
U2TOURFANS Collecting Donations
U2TOURFANS annual fundraiser is underway. Every year we come back around to let you know that we pride ourselves on providing the total U2 experience which includes access to Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and of course on website.
Our team of dedicated workers combined with the support of some amazing people help fund this project. We are fully aware of the tuff times around the world and ask that you consider a small donation to help us keep our experience going.
We fund tickets, photo gear, video gear, severs, as well as maintain the site with your donations. We are totally non profit. Our 2011 plans include a trip across america by car, a view from the rear view, which some lucky fans may have a chance to win tickets to the North America Leg. All of this again is possible from our support team.
If your company is looking to for a way to sponsor us we have a great program for you too.
Thanks for considering us. We wish you a blessed and happy season.
Bono Says He Is A 'Pain In The ASS'
Bono admits he can be a “pain in the ass”.
The U2 frontman, charity campaigner and activist admitted at the conclusion of the Australian leg of band’s 360 Degree Tour - which wrapped up in Perth on Sunday (19.12.10) - he can sometimes appear sanctimonious.
Writing about his band’s relationship with Australia in the country’s Daily Telegraph newspaper, he said:
“Sydney 1993 was a low point in our long career: the only time one of us didn’t turn up for a concert. Adam Clayton probably hasn’t forgiven himself until this tour.
“Australia forgave us that and other indulgences. Among them my sanctimony. I know I can be a pain in the a**e. I have an annoying gene; it’s in my DNA. I even annoy myself.
“When righteous anger turns to self-righteous, projectile vomit is the right response.
All I can say is that you can become traumatised as well as inspired by the lives you meet along the dirt road of extreme poverty.
“Sometimes I forget that I’m an artist - but I shouldn’t, because that’s what I am, a working pop artist in a big F-Off rock band.”
The 50-year-old vocalist - who was nominated for the Nobel peace prize in 2003, 2005 and 2006 for his charity work - also talked about the band adding rare 1980s track ‘Love Rescue Me’ to their set in Australia for the first time since 1990.
He added: “In Sydney we played ‘Love Rescue Me’ for the first time in 20 years. It was a broken version, but it made a strong case for continuing with our new practice of rehearsing in real time.
“On this tour we’ve played songs that we haven’t yet recorded: In Brisbane, ‘North Star’, in Melbourne, ‘Mercy’.”
Bono oh no to Ophra
Chat show queen Oprah Winfrey has revealed that she offered U2 rocker Bono his very own TV show, but he declined.
She invited Bono to join the ranks of celebrity presenters on her new network, as she was sure his philanthropy work would make for good TV.
Winfrey has recruited several stars for her own next year - including Jenny McCarthy, Rosie O’Donnell and Ryan and Tatum O’Neal, as well as Hollywood actors including Julia Roberts, Forest Whitaker and Goldie Hawn to develop their own documentaries for the network.
“(I asked Bono), ‘Would you like a TV show?’ I look at everything now through the prism of, ‘This could make a very good TV show!’” the Daily Express quoted her as telling New York Times.
Rock royalty U2 moment to remember
Rock royalty U2 delivered a massive musical moment last night.
In the first of two Perth concerts, supported by hip-hop and music heavyweight Jay-Z, the unique stage set-up, a back catalogue of huge hits and Bono’s charismatic rock star status combined to provide the around 60,000 fans who packed the stadium to the brim with an unforgettable night.
The world class performance and huge “claw”, which combined masses of speakers and a mesmerising video screen facing 360 degrees, though was juxtaposed with the almost third world conditions of Perth’s biggest stadium, with fans having to wait in mammoth lines if they wanted to enjoy a drink during the concert
he concert drew a crowd that was ready to party from the minute U2 strutted oh-so-cooly onto the stage. Older, young, it was a case of even those in the reserved seating areas spending most of the night on their feet dancing to classic rock tunes like Pride (In the Name of Love), Mysterious Ways, Sunday Bloody Sunday and Walk On.
UK rock band Muse – playing in Bassendean tonight – were there to rock on, as was politician Julie Bishop, all glammed up for the occasion, Dennis Lillee and Adam Gilchrist – who got a mention from Bono as the rock star compared his band to the cricketing champions in town for the Ashes.
After Jay-Z had revved up the crowd with his bouncing hits, the crowd entertained itself by starting a huge wave that eventually roared right around the venue, over and over after those sitting on the western side realised just what was going on.
U2 kicked things off with a rendition of Beautiful Day, on this beautiful warm night with the moon glowing overhead.
When Bono lead the crowd in any manner of audience participation, whether it be hands in the air or a mega-singalong, everyone obeyed.
U2’s 360 tour will go down as the biggest ever, and this was the biggest, and most impressive concert Perth has seen. It was visually epic, with Bono at one stage wearing a laser jacket and many cameras hidden all over the alien-like claw capturing every moment while he and The Edge strutted a range of catwalks allowing the masses to get up close and personal with the stars.
One lucky lady, who told the crowd her name was Emily, will never forget her close encounter with Bono, after being pulled up onto the stage only to have him lay in her lap as he sang the romantic In A Little While. While she looked suitably stunned, he slow danced with her, only to leave her with a kiss on the back of the hand.
Bono threatened to end the night’s festivities multiple times, but kept coming back for more before the band left in true rock star style, leaving behind a very satisfied audience.
U2TOURFANS Annual Event
Dear U2TOURFANS - Every year about this time we review our budget and expense for next year to see how we plan to provide the great level of information and support to you the fan as we have the past couple of years.
We have tried the advertising route with very little success, we have tried the sponsorship route that that has turned out to be very helpful to us. Next year 2011 will be a busy year for us. As you can guess we have some great new stuff coming your way.
Here is what we desided to do for 2011 - We have a fundraiser goinng on right now on our site. You can click and make a donation and support our little project and help us be funded for the whole year with one sponsor matching the funds. Amazing what we can do as a team.
Yes we understand its the holiday season and we know that most of the world has been under a lot of pressure however we believe that if every person helps a little bit we can achieve our goals.
Next year will be the most amazing U2 Tour year in a long time, help us report every show, provide vidoe for every photo and tweet the setlist for every show. We have street teams in place and ready to ride out to the shows.
We thank you in advance for your consideration. Happy Holidays from the U2TOURFANS Teams
U2 Rarities To Be Played On The Vinyl Experience
U2 fan and author John D. Luerssen will bring his extensive collection of U2 rarities to New York’s WRXP this Sunday when he is the special guest of “The Vinyl Experience” host Paul Cavalconte.
Among the goodies that NYC area listeners can hear on 101.9 FM (and stream live via www.1019rxp.com) this Sunday include U2’s 1978 demo “Street Missions,” a 1979 track from the group’s CBS Eire debut EP Three, the band’s long disowned 1982 A-side “A Celebration” and more.
In a special segment of “The Vinyl Experience” dedicated to Luerssen’s new 450+ page book, U2 FAQ: Anything You’d Ever Want To Know About The World’s Biggest Band And More (Backbeat), Cavalconte and Luerssen talk at length about the accomplishments of U2 and the impact the Dublin band has had on the rock world since it first came together at a non-secular arts high school in Dublin in 1976. The show airs Sunday at 9 a.m.
“This is a rare opportunity for me as a fan to highlight some of the awesome lesser known songs in the U2 catalog,” says Luerssen, a Westfield, New Jersey resident who listens to the radio station loyally. “What a thrill to visit the ‘RXP studios and chat with Paul.”
Other rare songs from U2’s catalog slated for the segment include the original version of “Sweetest Thing,” a 1987 Joshua Tree B-side that the band reworked into a massive hit in 1998, U2’s rendition of Lou Reed’s