Mark Peterson / U2TOURFANS / Mark Baker
New York: Mark Baker known to many as the Mirror Ball Man or as U2BROTHR has been to at least 35 concerts and we should get an update to include the few he has attended this year.
One show Bono said "Catch me" and as Bono jumped into Mark's arms you just knew Mark's would catch him. Mark is a big guy, standing about 5.10 and coming in at 240 pounds this was not going to be an issue for him.
Mark Peterson / U2TOURFANS / Mark Baker
So who is Mark Baker ? Well from what we know. Mark is a father, husband , school teacher and yes a musician that happens to have a cover band dedicated to U2 music. It was back during the Zoo TV tour that Mark created Mirror Ball Man and while he really was the only black man in the front row at most U2 shows this alter ego proved to be just the thing that Bono could spot easily in the audience.
Toronto filmmaker Michael Corbiere chronicled Baker’s quest to join the band on stage during U2’s 360° Tour in the 2013 online documentary U2 BROTHR. (The film’s name, incidentally, is based on Baker’s personalized licence plate, which he also wears around his neck at concerts.)
Mark Peterson / U2TOURFANS / Mark Baker
To say Mark Baker is a huge U2 fan is an understatement. Mark had an idea. His dream was to be pulled up on stage by U2 during a show. He needed an idea. A long time ago, Bono used to hit the stage under the moniker of the Mirror Ball Man.
The Mirror Ball Man was a character Bono played on the 1992 Zoo TV tour dates in Europe and North America. He was dressed in a silver suit and cowboy hat. So with the help of Betabrand’s Disco lab, Mark decided he would be the Mirror Ball Man 2.0.
Mark is a huge fan of U2, even building a ‘shrine’ to the band in his basement. After winning a car in a contest held at the radio station, Mark’s girlfriend bought him a personalized license plate that reads U2BROTHR. Easily one of the biggest U2 fans around, Mark received plenty of friendly teasing from others, but Mark’s passion for the band, and his dream of being pulled up on stage during a U2 concert, was the building block for Michael Corbiere’s documentary, U2 Brothr.
Mark Peterson / U2TOURFANS/ Mark Baker
During one of the tour stops something amazing was about to happen to Mark and his fellow musicians Acrobat, a U2 tribute band that’s been performing for two years was about to be pulled up on stage to perform with Bono and the boys.
They knocked it right out of the venue with Desire to the point the band got off the stage to watch Mark and his band perform. A special evening that included Mark's parents in the audience.
Now Mark arrived to the final show in New York and had no idea that he would be again have his chance to be on stage. Bono reach out for him and Mark jumped up and joined the band on stage. Our photographer Mark Peterson captured the whole experience. The end of the North America tour and Mark can say to all Dreams do come true.