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  1. Every month we put an U2 fan in the spotlights, the fan of the month December 2011 is user iTim.


    Tell us something about yourself, who are you and what do you do for a living?
    Well, as the username suggests, my name is Tim. For a living, I do nothing yet as I’m still a student, studying sound and video technology. I live in England and despite all of its shortcomings, it’s a great place to live.

    What is your earliest U2 memory?
    Pre-Beautiful Day, the only memories I have are of watching music channels on TV and seeing U2 videos. That was when I started taking an interest in the band. At the time I was into bands like Oasis, Blur, The Verve etc. on my own accord but a lot of my musical influence came from my Dad who listened to a lot of 1980’s music that he grew up with and that wore off on me and whilst U2 were there but my main source was the TV. Then 1980-1990 Best Of was released and I entered a phase of being a little U2 fan - it didn’t last though, which is a shame. After the hype of All That You Can’t Leave Behind I stopped listening to U2 because I wasn’t interested in music, would rather spend my free time playing football. When I finally started listening to music again, I’d revisit other bands or listen to new music. It was really when I started using the family desktop computer for the Messenger boom that I started to listen to U2 again. On there, all the CD’s had been ripped and I suddenly had 25 years of music to listen to and discover.

    What would you like to ask U2 if you got the chance to?
    “Will you perform All I Want Is you at my wedding?”

    Does anyone in your family or one of your friends like U2? If so, did they introduce you to U2, or did you "convert" them?
    My dad is a big U2 fan, so that’s probably the reason why my vague interest in U2 songs suddenly started to balloon. My brother is also a U2 fan, that came about between 2000-2004 but How To Dismantle An atomic bomb really got him going. My partner is also a big U2 fan and that was very much a conversion. When I first met her she was big into Oasis and we tried to convert each other really (even though I already kind of liked Oasis) but I guess U2 won. I think the deciding moment for her was when I played the Chicago DVD to her, surprisingly. Together we both went to Wembley on the 14th in 2009 and we were supposed to go Sheffield with my Dad but something happened that meant he had to pass his ticket on to my brother. Both concerts featured the same setlist, but both were completely different experiences.

    What does your U2 collection look like? What kind of stuff do you have and how is it organised?
    It doesn’t look half as big as the collections we see posted on here but it’s growing and it keeps me satisfied. I own all of the 1980 albums on 12” vinyl and they’re stored out of sight alongside the various tour programmes I own (Joshua Tree, Zooropa, Popmart, Vertigo and 360). I also own a few singles on 7” vinyl. My CD collection is almost the opposite. I own all albums, first pressing from Rattle and Hum through to No Line and they’re stored on a shelving unit with the DVD’s, blu-rays and video games. Since buying the remasters of Boy->The Joshua Tree I haven’t felt the need to go back and buy the missing albums, though one day I will. I own a large amount of CD singles from Achtung Baby-> No Line and they’re all on the shelf too, in chronological order. I’ve got all of the released DVD concerts and both U2 blu-rays. I also own two cassette albums, three books, one sealed VHS, an unofficial Zoo Baby wallet and a miniature Gibson Explorer.

    What is your favourite U2 bootleg, and why? Do you often listen to bootlegs?
    Tough question. A few spring to mind - Denver 1987, Dublin 1989, Rotterdam 1990, Vancouver 1992, Dublin 1993, Sarajevo 1997, Leeds 1997, South Bend 2001, Wembley 2009, Sheffield 2009. I’d probably settle on Sarajevo though. Playing in a war torn city like that, giving them the opportunity to just get lost in the moment and forget their past - it’s something that will be hard to top in the future of music. It’s made even more poignant by the fact Bono in particular had wanted to play there and on the night, his voice goes. If he, U2 or anyone needed any justification as to why that night happened, all they have to hear is Sarajevo sing stand By Me. As for listening to bootlegs - I listen to them a lot, mainly when I’m out of the house though. I don’t like hearing crowd noise when I’m listening at home, out in the busy city though, it’s great.

    What's your favourite piece of the whole Achtung Baby anniversary editions, if any?
    The Uber Deluxe version just oozes class. Everything inside it is pure luxury. If I had to pick one thing though, I’d have to opt for the Kindergarten disc. We’ve all heard the Hansa tapes and are familiar with the makings of some of the songs but I think Kindergarten was U2 saying “You may have stolen those tapes but in comparison to what we have, they’re nothing” - I think the Kindergarten mixes offer a great perspective on the early workings of each track. Some, such as Wild Horses and One offer a real breath of fresh air and though none quite live up to Achtung Baby, they’re all a great, unique alternative.

    What is your favourite U2 videoclip, and why?
    Tough one, I’m a big fan of the Desire video because it’s just great. Bono tapping the lady on the shoulder at the phone booth, his cheesy “Yeah!” at the start, him and Edge playing on the street - it’s just sums up what U2 are about. That said, I’m also a fan of Discotheque, Staring at the Sun (the alternative clip), Last Night On Earth, Please and Beautiful Day. So yeah, it’s probably between Desire and the alternate video for Staring at the Sun. The reason I like that Staring at the Sun video is that to me, it just portrays 100% a great summers day.

    You also spend much time here on Formula One, technology & soccer, what got you into these things?
    I’ve been a huge football (soccer) fan for as long as I can remember. Born to Manchester United supporting parents, hence the reason I support them and I’m now fortunate enough to call them my local team and I go to Old Trafford regularly. It was the mid-1990’s that I started getting the interest and Euro ’96 was the first major tournament I watched. From then on I’ve been hooked.

    I’ve been following Formula One since the 1998 season when F-1 World Grand Prix was released on the N64. In that time I’ve tried to watch as much as I can, went off it for a short while in the early 2000’s but now it’s a key part of the year and I hope one year to go to Silverstone to watch the British GP. Jenson Button recently raced around the streets of Manchester and to be 10ft away from the car as it ripped past is incredible. He wasn’t even travelling at full speed but the sound was immensely deafening and when he did a few donuts and raised the engines rpm, it felt like you were being punched in the chest. Amazing.

    Just like the sports, I got into technology at a young age. My first introduction to computers was a Pc running Windows 95. From then on I’ve been constantly expanding my knowledge and love of gadgets.

    What are your hobbies and interests away from U2, musical or otherwise?
    Well aside from the three aforementioned hobbies, I enjoy a wide range of things. Photography is a passion of mine so getting out and taking photos is always fun. As a result of this and the fact I’m a city boy, I have a keen interest in architecture (I even wanted to be an architect a few years ago). Photography also spawned an odd interest in weather too. I enjoy playing the guitar but that doesn’t necessarily mean I’m good at it. I’m interested in space, although I wouldn’t personally want to leave the Earth’s atmosphere; I’m still fascinated by anything that does. One day I want to launch a camera to the edge of the space to capture some snaps of the curvature of the Earth and the deep black of space itself but it requires a good amount of planning and research. I also enjoy travelling and again, I’m obsessed with all aspects of it. Film, gardening, cooking and video games are the remaining things that occupy my time.


    Thanks for this interview iTim!

    Note: Our crew members randomly pick fans of the month, you can't sign up for it.
  2. Nice interview tim
  3. Nice interview Tim! The same choice as me for favorite boot, Sarajevo

    Congratulations!
  5. I predicted in my head that you would be Fan of the Month for December

    Very very awesome interview, Tim! We really do have similar interests, and it was great to read about them.

    Congrats, Tim. You have joined the 'Fan of the Month December' club
  6. Originally posted by KieranU2:I predicted in my head that you would be Fan of the Month for December

    Very very awesome interview, Tim! We really do have similar interests, and it was great to read about them.

    Congrats, Tim. You have joined the 'Fan of the Month December' club


    Well, they do need festive characters to close out the year

    To be honest, I didn't have any idea I'd be fan of the month until Remy gave me the call. Never crossed my mind, I'm not really that much of a prolific poster here so it was a little out of the blue. Still, I'm not complaining.
  7. Originally posted by iTim[..]

    Well, they do need festive characters to close out the year

    To be honest, I didn't have any idea I'd be fan of the month until Remy gave me the call. Never crossed my mind, I'm not really that much of a prolific poster here so it was a little out of the blue. Still, I'm not complaining.


    We don't choose fans of the month according to post count, but to post quality

    Great interview, Tim. Really great. I specially liked this:
    Originally posted by Remy:What would you like to ask U2 if you got the chance to?
    “Will you perform All I Want Is you at my wedding?”
    Damn, that was brilliant. I would also ask that to them (in the strange and highly unlikely case that I could articulate any word at all).

    Congratulations, pal
  8. Hi Tim !!
    Nice reading !
  9. Excellent mate - great interview!!
  10. Great interview. Tim is certainly deserving thanks to his nice work here recently, particularly organizing the bootleg round table. Nice work all around.

  11. It was the last question I answered. If I did meet the band, I don't think I'd talk about them because there's nothing I want to know that hasn't already been revealed.


    Thanks patou2


    Thanks for reading

    Originally posted by lestertriplett87:Great interview. Tim is certainly deserving thanks to his nice work here recently, particularly organizing the bootleg round table. Nice work all around.

    Aww, how sweet. Bootleg Round Table is a pleasure to run, I'm glad everyone who's taking part is enjoying it. Don't forget to post your review this weekend though.
  12. Oh crap I missed this
    Sorry Tim ! Well deserved