1. Every month we put an U2 fan in the spotlights, the fan of the month September 2011 is user PEDRO67.


    Tell us something about yourself, who are you and what do you do for a living?
    My name is Peter Maloy, I'm 33 years old and live in Edinburgh, Scotland. I work as a Project Manager for a Investment Management company. I've been married to Louise for 3 years.

    How did you become a fan of U2, tell us how it happened?
    My first memory of U2 was watching them a Live Aid. I was 7 at the time and remember the day fondly as I sat in front of the TV with my older brother and sister. I developed into a 'fan' between the age of 10 and 11 when I got hold of Rattle and Hum on cassette. I listened to the album non-stop and by the time Achtung Baby came round (and I was 13) I was completely obsessed.

    In your opinion, what has been U2's defining moment and why?
    Achtung Baby. For me it's the best musical 're-invention' ever as well as the greatest album of all time. It's hard to explain the feeling of excitement I had when seeing the promos and TV adverts back in 1991. The commercial of a Japanese man saying Achtung Baby as a trabant car falls behind him and smashing into pieces will live with me forever!! From the first sound of Zoo Station, I was hooked - that album changed my live forever.

    What would you like to ask U2 if you got the chance to?
    I actually managed to ask them a question, via a TV host, on VH1 in 2001. I asked whether the forthcoming tour would be indoor or out and it got a quick 'you'll have to wait and see' from Bono!
    If I met them in person, first one that springs to mind would be 'what are you drinking?!' I would love to buy the lads a pint!

    We know you're an avid collector of U2 items and memorabilia. How did you start to become interested in that? Can you tell us what's your favorite U2 memorabilia (on your collection or not)?
    I became interested in collecting was when my good friend Tony Pearson (first UK named contributor to U2 Live by Pimm Jal De La Parra) told me all about the boxes of stuff that he'd saved over the years. It wasn't even memoribila as such, it was just a vast array of cassette bootlegs and paper/magazone clippings. From there I started picking up bits and bobs until EBay came along and then it was open season! My favourite item is probably my copy of ATYCLB. I received it from Island Records 2 weeks before it was released. It came around as I had won a radio competition to go to a launch party onboard a Blimp. The event was cancelled at the last moment due to weather warnings and the album was part of my 'compensation' from Island. I also got tickets, travel and accomodation to one of the shows at Earls Court so that will always be close to my heart.

    What is your favorite U2 bootleg, and why? Do you often listen to bootlegs?
    I listen to bootlegs as much as possible but not as much as I should. As my only online access is via my work laptop, I'm wary of downloading so luckily for me, there are fantastic people on U2Start such as Sergio and Kieran who have taken the time to burn shows into CD and give them to me which keeps my bootleg collection relatively healthy. My favourite bootleg at the moment has to be Glastonbury, Not only is the quality excellent, it will ensure that the show stays fresh in my memory forever. It is the most unique U2 show that I have (or probably ever will) attend and I have it to cherish forever.

    Where do you most prefer to listen to U2?
    I literally listen to U2 everywhere. It starts in the shower in the morning and continues on foot to work before listening to the throughout the day at work when i'm not meeting clients. Returning from work is no different and then a bootleg gets slapped on when I'm home. The car is full of U2 CD's too. My wife is demented!!

    If there would be only one U2 song you could hear the rest of your life, which one would it be?
    Easy. Streets. Not a day passes when I do not listen to it.

    As far as we know, you're also a big football fan. What's your favorite team and why?
    I support Celtic, I'm season ticket holder and have gone to matches since I was 7 years old. I used to follow them home and away every week but have slowed that down in recent years as I am now married and live in Edinburgh so that has calmed me down a little. I guess I followed them as I was born into a Celtic supporting family. My mum, dad and brother were fans so with hindsight, I didn't have much choice!

    What are your hobbies and interests away from U2, musical or otherwise?
    Football takes up much of non-U2 spare time. As well as going to see Celtic, I play football 2 nights a week. Apart from that, I play golf although the weather in Scotland means that I don't play as much as i'd like to!


    Thanks for this interview PEDRO67!

    Note: Our crew members randomly pick fans of the month, you can't sign up for it.
  2. Great read my fellow scot.........go on the HIBS, sorry couldn't resist
  3. Congratulations! Nice interview!
  4. great read ......
  5. "It's hard to explain the feeling of excitement I had when seeing the promos and TV adverts back in 1991. The commercial of a Japanese man saying Achtung Baby as a trabant car falls behind him and smashing into pieces will live with me forever!! From the first sound of Zoo Station, I was hooked - that album changed my live forever."

    I can only imagine how great that moment must have been!!! I envy you for that memory...with I was not 5 years old back than Great read..!
  6. Ahh, very well deserved! Congrats, Peter, great interview!

    I actually had the pleasure of meeting this guy over a month ago to give him his bootlegs. In return, he gave me numerous posters, some of which are on my wall right now. Great man, very kind.
  7. Originally posted by KieranU2:Ahh, very well deserved! Congrats, Peter, great interview!

    I actually had the pleasure of meeting this guy over a month ago to give him his bootlegs. In return, he gave me numerous posters, some of which are on my wall right now. Great man, very kind.

    Amen. I didn't have the pleasure to meet the man, but I had a similar experience a few months ago: http://www.u2start.com/topic/3561/331181/#331181

    I will be eternally grateful to this man, and I want to share a pint with him so badly. Congratulations, Mr Maloy
  8. Originally posted by Remy:My favourite item is probably my copy of ATYCLB. I received it from Island Records 2 weeks before it was released. It came around as I had won a radio competition to go to a launch party onboard a Blimp. The event was cancelled at the last moment due to weather warnings and the album was part of my 'compensation' from Island. I also got tickets, travel and accomodation to one of the shows at Earls Court so that will always be close to my heart.


    Very cool. Great interview!

  9. Congratulations!
  10. Congrats on the fan of the month honor Pedro. Something I always wish I could have experienced was the media hype and press around U2 from 1987-1993 but especially around the time AB came out. Must have been an incredible time.
  11. Nice interwiew
  12. Great interview Pedro. You mention in a gig review that you have a bootleg CD of the Parkhead gigs in '93 that include the confessionals. I'm afraid that I am the guy with the Rangers v Celtic banter. I was filmed on the first nite and they also used me on the second nite. I was standing one from the front as I was shown on the screen. There was a big guy in front of me wearing a Celtic top with a Tricolour draped around his shoulders. He was booing and swearing at me. I was worried that he might recognise me so I started booing and calling myself a few choice words as I swore at the screen too. The Sat nite is probably my fav U2 gig as, like you, AB is my fav album. Unfortunately I missed U2 when they toured AB in Glasgow the year before. It was the same nite that Scotland beat the CIS 3-0 in Norkopping, Sweden at Euro92. I was at the match instead of at U2. Boo.