Every month we put an U2 fan in the spotlights, the fan of the month July 2009 is user wangmaster.
Every fan of the month has an interview with us, you can read our interview with wangmaster in this topic:
Tell us something about yourself, who are you and what do you do for a living?
well, *deep breath* my full name is Daniel James Whiteley, (but you can just call me Dan ) and I was born on the 26th of January 1993. I'm from England, and live in Barnsley, near Sheffield.
I'm currently just finishing off my GCSE exams, and looking forward to a long and warm summer! I don't do anything for a living, since I'm still at school, although my parents are already pushing me to get a summer job. as far as the future goes, I'd love to be a musician for a living, although I also have a keen interest in Journalism.
Did you ever have a special U2 experience like a live concert? Can you tell us something about it?
no, actually, as I've never attended a U2 show as of yet. on 20/08/09 I'll be popping my proverbial "U2 cherry" at Don Valley, however, and it looks like it's gonna be one of the highlights of my summer.
I'm one of the only people in my family to have never attended a U2 concert, since my Uncle and Auntie caught them on the Vertigo tour, my Mum saw them on the Joshua Tree tour and my Dad saw them many times on the Joshua Tree and Zoo Tv tours.
The new U2 tour: how does your tour schedule look like?
I'll be attending the 29/08/09 show in person, which I'm massively excited about. I'll also hopefully be on top of any bootlegs that surface, since it's the first tour of theirs I've been a proper fan for. my original plan was to not listen to any bootlegs, look at any setlist news etc. until after the concert so I didn't spoil it for myself, but like most people the excitement got too much and I decided to take the other direction, and watch any and all updates like a hawk.
What would you like to ask U2 if you got the chance to?
I'm not sure, actually. I'd probably ask them how they see themselves in the grand scheme of music history, for example how they think their longevity and staying power compares to bands like The Rolling Stones, Aerosmith or R.E.M.
I'd also find it interesting to ask them whether their favourite U2 albums are necessarily the most successful, eg. whether they prefer something like Zooropa over Atomic Bomb.
also, being a budding guitarist myself, I'd obviously love to ask The Edge for a few guitar playing tips.
Which member of the band would you most like to share a pint with?
well, being 16 and therefore underrage, and not liking the taste of beer all that much, I'd rather share a coffee or something. haha
but to answer the question, I'd say Bono, just because he seems like such a deep and fascinating person, and I'd like to ask him about the inspiration behind their most lyrically touching songs, eg. Ultraviolet, Lemon and IGWSHI. I'd love to have a drink with any of the guys, though, because I bet the stories they would be able to tell and the wisdom they'd be able to impart on me would be great.
If you could enjoy dinner with three other people, living or dead, who would you choose and why?
tough question, this one. I'd go for:
Jesus (assuming he existed, for argument's sake) - who wouldn't like to share a Shepherd's pie with the son of God? I'd like the idea of sitting down at a table with God's representative on earth and having a good heart to heart.
Billy Connolly - he's my favourite comedian, and a really funny, warm, charismatic character. He'd be entertaining and I've wanted to meet him for ages. some of his viewpoints he expresses about things are very similar to mine, albeit his way with words is superior. but above all, he'd be a good laugh.
Jim Morrison - a legend. there's really been no one quite like him before or since his passing, and his unique outlook on life fascinates me.
Where do you most prefer to listen to U2?
I get the most out of U2, I think, when I'm alone. I often go for walks on an evening and take my iPod with me. I enjoy nothing more than some time to myself getting some nice, fresh air and listening to U2, among other things.
I've often listened to Elevation whilst swaggering along on the pavement, or played Ultraviolet when I'm out after dark. it can get quite emotional at times, in a good way.
If you could go back in time, which U2-era would you like to be in, and why?
the 90s, no question. AB/Zooropa in particular. it's the time, I feel, when they were on top of the world, so to speak. Their 3 albums from that decade are the best trilogy ever released by anyone. Also, I'd have loved to have experienced the shock of seeing the roots rock, bluesy U2 of old come out of nowhere dressed in leather playing The Fly on MTV for the first time, as well as attending the groundbreaking Zoo TV and PopMart tours as opposed to experiencing it only through mp3s and DVDs.
When you're forced to leave to a deserted island and you can take only one U2 album with you, which would it be?
Achtung Baby. although Pop is very close second.
it's been my favourite album ever for years, ever since I got it for Christmas '07. I remember the first time I heard EBTTRT on The Best Of 1990-2000 compilation, I loved how cool and different to anything else it sounded. That compilation was one of the first albums I bought, when I was about 12. I bought it after hearing HMTMKMKM on the Batman Forever soundtrack and hearing Beautiful Day on the radio.
The strength of the AB songs on that compilation compelled me to ask my parents to buy it for me years later, and after first listen I found it to the most personal, consistent, melancholy album I've heard, and the whole era is a gem, for me. It really sold me on U2.
What are your hobbies and interests away from U2, musical or otherwise?
I play guitar, as I mentioned earlier. I've been doing so since I was 12, and it's how I occupy most of my time. I think it's the most versatile instrument there is. I'm in a band, and although we only have a few songs written I'm pleased with how it's going thus far. I still can't tempt any of the other members to cover U2, though.
I dislike sport. I find it quite monotonous and could never get into it. Being at an old fashioned grammar school that prides itsself on sport, it doesn't make it easy for me. haha
In general, I'm just like the usual teenage boy. I like music, doing things with my group of close friends (which I feel very happy and privileged to have) and generally enjoying myself.
Thanks for this interview wangmaster!
Note: Our crew members randomly pick fans of the month, you can't sign up for it
Just reading this makes me feel old, and I mean I'm only 19 but like, when you say you've finished your GCSEs etc. I think back to those heady days with a wistful mind...dear me!
Just reading this makes me feel old, and I mean I'm only 19 but like, when you say you've finished your GCSEs etc. I think back to those heady days with a wistful mind...dear me!
indeed, just remembering the hot summer of 2006, with the world cup and waiting for the GSCE result good times, but probably wasted aswell
indeed, just remembering the hot summer of 2006, with the world cup and waiting for the GSCE result good times, but probably wasted aswell
Well done Daniel, great read
World Cup 2006 opened on my birthday, I remember it well, not to mention England vs. Paraguay took place on the day after and I was being an usher at a friend's wedding...wow, brings it all back. In fact, I remember WC 2002, watching England lose to Brazil in the quarter finals - the entire school came in at 8am to watch it in the main hall...man, memories huh?!
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"If you're a rock star and you need 25,000 people telling you they love you then obviously you must be a very insecure person."
- Bono
. I like your name, wangmaster 
I was FotM for May 
