1. Every month we put an U2 fan in the spotlights, the fan of the month February of 2015 is user BigGirl. Read along for the interview we had this this U2 fan.

    "I first heard The Unforgettable Fire and that was the point of 'no return'. I believe I bought the record very soon after and played it over and over again. It really became an anchor for the rest of my life. A blueprint for my 'better' self"

    Tell us something about yourself, who are you and what do you do for a living?
    My name is Joyce, I live in the Netherlands and I obtained my master degree in Philosophy at the University of Amsterdam just last year. So I like to say that I am a philosopher now just to have a “designation,” you know. Something that other people may recognize you for and be able to say you are a “such and so.” But now, as a “lover of wisdom” (that is to what “philosophy” actually translates to), I have to say smart things and one of those smart things would be to say that no one is merely a “such and so,” not even a philosopher. This is because I think that we, as human beings, have the ability to change and we can be creative at all times. “I am not a fixed position,” that is what I would like to say. I try to be “open” to the future, but I believe I will always be someone who like to think things true.
    On the other hand I realize that such outings are part of the incompressibility and “bad name” philosophers have with some people. “They are avoiding the question,” some might say. “They are making things more difficult than they already are.” And I guess this is even true to some extent. I just like to think that my contribution to the world is that offering of a different perspective. It would be so boring when there is no room for doing things differently. In this respect I am equally a poet as a philosopher. I like words and how they can shine. And so far the universe has been kind to me: I married a wonderful husband who is able to provide for a living for the both of us.
    I did have jobs of my own though. The most interesting being the one at the PolyGram/Universal mastering department. A wonderful time with new U2 releases such as Zooropa, Pop, and ATYCLB arriving at our plant a month in advance of the official release (did you guys know that ever since Achtung Baby, the U2 music cassettes were mastered differently than the CD’s?). However, the last few years I attended to my study full-time and I am thankful I was able to that. My new ambition is to write a book, but I am not in hurry.

    How did you become a fan of U2, tell us how it happened?
    I think it started when my sister and I watched MTV and “Sunday Bloody Sunday” came on. The footage of the video-clip was from Red Rocks and we were momentarily excited by that unique sound and vision. This was when I first heard of U2. Somewhat later, during a school party in a big wooden community house, I first heard The Unforgettable Fire and that was the point of “no return.” I believe I bought the record very soon after and played it over and over again. It really became an anchor for the rest of my life. A blueprint for my “better” self, honestly!

    At the end of 2015 you will have visited around 25 U2 shows. Can you guide us through your U2 live journey so far and share your highlights?
    Well indeed, I much look forward to that “silver” show in Amsterdam! My first concert (ever!) was in Rotterdam, back in 1987. I remember being right up on the rail of the 2nd ring of the stadium, not too far from the stage. I screamed and shouted like a true teenybopper, certain that Bono could actually hear me! I was in complete ecstasy. My second U2 concert was only ten years later, missing complete on “Lovetown” and “Zoo TV” due to al sorts of personal reasons. But it felt really great to be back. Then “Elevation” came and with it my first U2 concert “on the floor.” I had some room to dance and I was totally “in” with the music – never had that before. This was the first night of the 3 Arnhem shows. The next day my (then) fiancé was able to buy seats for the last night and this was a complete different experience. I remember that for quite some time I just listened with my eyes closed. To me it was sheer beauty. But then the first notes of “Out Of Control” sounded and I completely went crazy and danced on my seat to the complete surprise of the people around me. In return I just had a big smile on my face that didn’t come off for the next couple of weeks!
    My highlights of U2 concerts most certainly came with the “Vertigo” tour when I was able to attended the opening shows in California. It was surreal to hear “An Cat Dubh” live for the very first time in San Diego, the messing-up of “40” on the 2nd night, and then the reversed set in Anaheim following the San Diego shows. I was with two of my American friends and the three of us came out crying with tears of emotion.
    But for me the best U2 shows were the two in Boston, December 2005. My husband and I had bought a package for those two nights and both nights we ended up in the bomb shelter. The first night thanks to random selection (my ticket went “beeb” – or something! – and we were given a wristband right away...), and the second night because I won wristbands in the vip-raffle before the show! The set lists of both nights were excellent with, between the two, almost every song you wanted to hear on the “Vertigo” tour (including “Crumbs” and “Fast Cars”!).
    At that point I had attended already 10 “Vertigo” shows but never in the bomb shelter of an (indoor) arena. What really impressed me and had not occurred to me so far, was that when right at the start of the 1st “old song” (e.g. “I Will Follow” or “Gloria”) this wall of very bright lights turned over the band as to render the bomb shelter into a small club for those of them in there. This because of the bright lights making it impossible to see outside the bomb shelter. It was magic! – but probably this effect was only achieved in the arena’s, at least I did not experience it at the stadiums in Europe were I was in the bomb shelter too.
    Seeing U2 play in an indoor arena beats (almost) every stadium experience. I therefore look very much forward to the 2015 part of the “i&e” tour!

    Which U2 song do you feel the most "attached" to, or means the most for you?
    Gosh... 1 song? Ok, then it must be “Where The Streets Have No Name”! It’s such a power track, but still subtitle...in a way. It’s clever build-up and accompanying lyrics makes me feel that really anything is possible (indeed, not think, but actually feel). It’s a song that opens up the whole universe while, at the same time, with a commitment of oneself to the other. It’s not escapist: we’re all in it together. Granted, the “go there with you” could be interpreted as going with one particular “you,” but for me it is the all-inclusive “you.”
    In U2 By U2 Bono says that he does not like the “you-too” reading of “U2,” but I think he’s playing (like a true artist should do!). “You too” is there and I think it represents everything that U2 stands for: You are not alone. Everybody is important and together we will make this happen. I am not very fond of those pseudo-esoteric Christian readings, it’s far more broader (and spiritual!) than that. It’s about the beautiful side of humans and humanity: empathy, creativity, freedom and joy. The being-open-to-the-future thing I spoke of earlier. To be “Where The Streets Have No Name” is a perfect balance of philosophy and poetry – or art, for that matter.

    Where do you most prefer to listen to U2?
    I think on my iPOD when traveling by train. I also still like to listen lying in my bed with headphones (and eyes closed) at night, but usually I fall asleep after 30 minutes or so...LOL!

    What is your favorite U2 bootleg, and why? Do you often listen to bootlegs?
    My first favorite U2 bootleg was Tear Down The Walls, a double vinyl with the almost complete 1987 Chicago “Rosemont Horizon” concert. I bought this back in the late 80-ies at the famous Amsterdam record store “Concerto”. Back in the days it was a fascinating business because these things were literally sold “under the counter”. I thought I had to ask very silently and so the guy behind the desk moved his head very closely to mine and said that he didn’t hear me well. So I repeated my question after which the desk-guy furtively looked over his shoulder and into the shop as to see if I didn’t bring along any law enforcers. Then I was invited to sneak behind the counter and to explore the cardboard box for U2 bootlegs. I still don’t know if the guy behind the desk was making a scene just to humour me, or that he was genuinely on the alert!
    Anyway, this “Rosemont Horizon” is still a fantastic recording featuring “Springhill Mining Disaster” and because I listened to it so much, I think it also, in a way, defined my standards for audience recordings. In 2009 the complete master tape (including New Year’s Day) surfaced and it once again proved how well this bootleg job was done.
    Another bootleg with great memories was the 1992 Lakeland opening night of the ZOO TV tour. I bought this on CD still in 1992 and it has such an incredible sound that my first listen was almost as having a private ZOO party in my “low-lit” room. And, mind you, this a actually an audience recording! Easily one of the best audience recordings of a U2 show ever... And although the show itself is not flawless, the “new” u2-sound was so fresh and exciting that it still works today – at least for me it does! It is just that the “boot” has such a dull title: First Night Of The 1992 World Tour, while ZOO TV has so much humor and irony... However, my best suggestion is to call this boot One Live, One Zoo. Still not the best title ever, nut at least it has some imagination and play. I like that.
    Apart from those, the 1982 Riverboat President, recorded on some kind of party ship sailing down the Mississippi river, is a huge favorite of mine. This was the first U2 concert that Anton Corbijn attended and he took some amazing pictures which, in combination with the recording, make such an impressive bootleg experience. Again a magic audience recording, especially with the new 2014 tape transfer.
    I really seem to favor good audience recordings over soundboards/mixing-desk recordings. However, during the last year of my study the 2009 Wembley broadcast (I named it Candy Floss Ice Cream) truly became another one of my favorite since it runs only 56 minutes, which took just about the time my travel to “uni” would take. Great choice of songs (“Get On Your Boots” as the ultimate bootleg-lover song!) and incredible performance all around. Good summer-feel!

    What is your favorite U2 book, and why?
    My favorite U2 book is, without a doubt, A Concert Documentary by Pimm Jal de la Para. It is really a guide through all of the U2 live shows up until the “Elevation” tour. For me it is basically how I enjoy U2: a big book of live recordings and A Concert Documentary is a way of navigating through those live concerts.
    Another favorite of mine is U2 By U2. I like the little stories through the eyes of the band members and how, for them, U2 is something they created for themselves. It is very inspiring and for me as a “wanna-be” Romantic philosopher, it is fascinating how the book offers a perspective in which the extraordinary (as U2 is for us; that is, something special) becomes something ordinary and plain. I mean, for Bono, Edge, Larry, and Adam, U2 is their everyday live. It is thus inspiring for us “common people” (and U2-fans!) because we often think that in order to make our lives special and meaningful, we have to do special things as well but it basically comes down to perspective.

    What do you think of Bono's charity works? Has it influenced you in some way?
    First of all I think it is important to notice that projects such as the One-campaign are in fact political projects rather than mere works of charity. It’s therefore a more structural approach to fight poverty (and, to some extent, injustice). In this respect I admire Bono’s dedication and perseverance and I have no problems when he brings his campaign into the U2 concerts. Charity as such I regard as a strictly personal business, but in general I think it is a good thing when (rich) people donate some of their money to those in need. The only problem is that not every well-meant charity project is effective in the desired way.
    I am not sure in what way exactly Bono’s political awareness has influenced mine (or “me”), but I think it is safe to say that I always felt connected to it emotionally.

    How different is U2 compared to other artists that you like?
    Wouw, this is really a difficult question to answer for me. I mean, U2 is different compared to a lot of other bands in the sense that they have been able to re-invented themselves over and over again, yet remaining quite true to themselves. That is why, I think, “I Will Follow” still matches with either “Streets”, “Mofo”, or “Invisible” (we have to find out about the last one, I know!).
    But one could say the same thing about Queen, although they were quite unfortunate of loosing their front man already in 1991. However, comparing Queen to U2 is like comparing Van Gogh to Malevich. Both were incredible artists, yet so completely different in terms of genius and craftsmanship.
    Why I find this such a hard question is also because I think that just this ability to progress is a defining feature of great artist. In this sense U2 is not qualitatively different than, for instance, the already mentioned other artists. What I would rather like to say is that U2 is art. But statements like these need full blown essays and discussions of how one would like to define art in the first place. A project that I hope to undertake in the (near?) future.

    What are your hobbies and interests away from U2, musical or otherwise?
    Musical: Queen, Springsteen, Santana, Golden Earring, Rolling Stones and Classic Rock in general. And also classic Soul and R&B...
    Otherwise: My 2 and 5 year old nephews, Philosophy, Taoist Tai Chi, bicycling, dancing, preparing Indonesian food, and watching the occasional movie on TV (or in 3-D cinema)...



    Thanks for this interview BigGirl!

    Note: Our crew members randomly pick fans of the month, you can't sign up for it.
  2. Wow Joyce, like a young Bono would say: what can I say, really? Very thoughtful and interesting interview. I'd love to know the authors you admire, in Philosophy or Literature. You are truly the fan of the month, with those remasters you gave us! It's a shame you couldn't go to the Lovetown or ZooTV shows, but I'm glad everything is okay now. I hope to one day read that book of yours in plans
  3. Originally posted by cesar_garza01:Wow Joyce, like a young Bono would say: what can I say, really? Very thoughtful and interesting interview. I'd love to know the authors you admire, in Philosophy or Literature. You are truly the fan of the month, with those remasters you gave us! It's a shame you couldn't go to the Lovetown or ZooTV shows, but I'm glad everything is okay now. I hope to one day read that book of yours in plans


    Thanks! That's really nice what you've said. I'm already planning a next wave of remasters later this month

    Authors I admire are, in no particular order, Gogol, Wittgenstein, Bulgakov, Friedrich Schlegel, Kierkegaard, Ton Lemaire, Richard Rorty, Zhuangzi, Plato ... just to name the first that come to mind

    015
  4. I have always been a big fan of your work Joyce, all the way back to the U2star days ( I think that's what the old site was called) I remember talking to you about going to the 2005 Seattle shows before. Great interview! Thanks for the insights.
  5. Nice reading this story.

    I became a U2 fan almost the same way.
  6. Really good interview!

    Also, always great to hear from a fan who's older than the biggest part of us. I'd love to have so many memories about my favorite band, specially during the Achtung Baby era...

  7. Truly a great interview It's amazing to read about your passion for philosophy and music (that should have been a truly great job, mastering at Universal/Polygram)

    Thanks Joyce! And welcome to the FOTM club!
  8. bump ...i want to read it because i m back ...but i need time
  9. great story
  10. you posted Denver... I cannot get some of the songs at the end... can you email me at dougbadams@yahoo.com as I am dying for the last few