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"I write songs about high ideas and aspirations and I admire Martin Luther King and John Hume, peaceful people, but in myself I'm capable of aggression of a really brutal kind." -- Bono, 2000 |
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"I write songs about high ideas and aspirations and I admire Martin Luther King and John Hume, peaceful people, but in myself I'm capable of aggression of a really brutal kind." -- Bono, 2000 |
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Answer Guy: Did I see the Virgin Mary at a U2 concert?
@U2,
December 16, 2001
 From: John Hi-de-ho Answer Guy! I was fortunate enough to be in the heart in Chicago on October 15. Standing there looking up in awe at Edge, the Almighty, who was all of 10 feet away from me, I scanned his side of the stage. Upon his massive control console amid all the dials, switches, sliders, blinking lights, and what not, I noticed a conspicuously placed mini-statue of what appeared to be the Virgin Mary. She was about 6 inches tall and appeared to be made of that yellow-tinted glow-in-the-dark plastic. Can you tell me if there's a story behind this? Is it a gift from his mom? A good-luck charm? I have never been this close during a show to notice it before now. Are there any other reported sightings of Mother Mary watching over Edge's control tower? I mean, I have read reports of famous people making appearances at U2 shows but man, the Virgin Mary?! You know a band has some clout when the Mother of God makes an appearance at the show. Forget Bill & Chelsea, Harrison Ford, Salman Rushdie and company, move over Lourdes & Guadalupe: Mary's jammin' with U2 now! Perhaps she is now the latest (and likely only band-approved) U2 groupie? Dear John: With this question, you have officially become the askee-laureate of the Answer Guy. We all know that U2 is a band that has been touched by God, but just how long has the Holy Virgin (giggle, giggle) been on the bandwagon? That is an interesting question. Matt McGee (the "Holy Father" of @U2) and I were next to each other at the Portland show and noticed the Virgin statue as it seemed to glow with spirituality when the lights went out during "Elevation." We were told by a source that it was made out of a special space-age glow-in-the-dark material that laboratories in Kuala Lampur have been experimenting with. I don't want to start any rumors, but do we really think that Dallas and/or Edge have any idea what all those switches and pedals and boxes do? There must be a higher authority on hand to help with the adjustments between, and often during, the live songs. I swear I saw the statue smile one time when Edge nailed his solo during "The Fly." As you mention, any band can have starlets and athletes attend their live shows, but to my knowledge (as vast as it is), U2 remains alone in the category of Biblical Figures Who Have Attended Rock 'n' Roll Shows. At the Portland show, uber-geek-boy (and billionaire) Paul Allen was given a tour of Edge's rack (giggle again) before the show by Dallas. The importance of the Statue of the Holy Mother was evident when Allen made a motion to grab it and Dallas swung Edge's Stratocaster at the back of his knees, knocking him to the ground. Mr. Allen, and indeed all of us who witnessed it, learned our lesson that day. The order of importance in Edge's life: 1) Family; 2) Headgear at all times; 3) Glow-in-the-dark Lady of Perpetual Echo Statue.
From: Paul I am a huge Bruce Springsteen fan, and was VERY surprised when Bono was picked to hold the speech for my man's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in March 1999. The reason it took me by surprise was that I never had been aware of the fact that U2's lead singer was such a huge admirer of Springsteen. Apart from El Boss joining the band onstage in Philadelphia in 1987 to guest on a cover of "Stand By Me," were there any earlier hints of Bono's Bruce fandom? Dear Paul: Mr. Springsteen is A.G.'s third favorite artist, so he knows how you feel when you see one favorite performer inducting a second favorite performer. Several Notes:
I have no knowledge of any other duets between the two artists.
From: Jack Hey Matt -- this isn't a music question or a money question or a style question as you seem to have been getting lately. It's more philosophical/spiritual/historical. Remember in early U2 days, when the Shalom conundrum nearly killed the band? What, in a nutshell was it (Shalom) all about? PS: I know they're likely not church-going, but how do they practice their faith? And yes, I know Adam doesn't subscribe to much along spiritual lines like the other 3. Dear Jack: My name isn't Matt, it's Answer Guy. Matt's the boss, but Answer Guy does the work. I want to thank you for asking something with a bit more depth than "what kind of glasses is Bono wearing in Details magazine?" Having said that, with the exception of what I read in Eamon Dunphy's Unforgettable Fire (which has since been sort of dissed by the band, I believe), I don't know much about the spiritual battle three of the members have waged with themselves. It is true that there was a time when Bono, Edge and Larry actually turned in their resignations because being a Christian would not mesh with being a rock 'n' roller. I don't remember it being a "quasi-hippie commune" type of organization they were involved with. I picture it more like Young Life, an American high-school aged church group type of thing. As for practicing their faith, I would agree with you that Adam is probably seldom spotted in a church. I do know that when Bono is in the Bay Area he sneaks in the back door of San Francisco's Glide Memorial Church, which is one of those all-inclusive community churches that feeds thousands of people a day and stays open in a bad part of town. It's run by a guy named Cecil Williams who can be found in the VIP mixing board area at most Bay Area shows. I'd imagine that Bono and others (including the crew) find their way to a church of their choice whenever they find themselves in a strange city on a Sunday.
[Disclaimer: All questions taken from legitimate emails. Names have been changed to protect the innocent. Legitimate responses are usually sent via private email prior to getting the humorous treatment here. Sell before date stamped on carton. All times approximate. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment. Batteries not included. Some assembly required.] © @U2, 2001.
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