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"Pop is often the oxygen of politics." -- Bono |
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"Pop is often the oxygen of politics." -- Bono |
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Column: off the record..., vol. 9-406
@U2,
April 18, 2010
I must have had Bono-on-the-brain this week, so please bear with me. Over the years, I've seen many photos of U2 by photographer Colm Henry, but I didn't know his name until an exhibition of his work was announced. I have always adored this image of an adolescent Bono (link will open in a new window), for the expression of sheer bliss on his face. Do you think the people looking on in the crowd behind him had any idea what would become of this kid? Do you think he knew? Sure, these boys were driven and had "delusions of grandeur" (his words), but did any of them really expect to achieve that grandeur? And did anyone expect that 30 years later, we'd still be talking about this young man? We all know how it turned out, but I love how this photo reminds us of a time when the world was still a place that this kid had yet to conquer. I hadn't read Joe's column until I sat down to write this column (sorry, dude), so I didn't know he had also been watching Under a Blood Red Sky. In an effort to help my country's ailing economy, just this week, I treated myself to a copy of the remastered DVD. I haven't seen the footage probably since the last time I saw it on MTV, which had to be at least 20 years ago. Forget the white flag; seeing that glorious mini-mullet fly in the wind brought me back to when I rocked my own femullet. Frankly, I found myself laughing out loud several times at Bono's um, "dance" moves. This is way before Mrs. The Edge was around to help with choreography. Put a melodramatic, hyperactive kid in front of a post-punk rock band, throw in some cameras and a few thousand voyeurs, and comedy ensues. I'm sure I thought it was genius when the film was first released, but now, why does it make me laugh until I cry? Of all the skills Bono has mastered over the years, dancing was something he never did well. At least he knows. A mere 10 years later, the kid is grown, and now a savvy, full-blown rock star. He's still melodramatic, but hardly self-conscious about it. I found sections of this interview (in two parts) to be hilarious as well. A smoking Bono (literally and figuratively) reveals the truth about his driving abilities, much to the chagrin of the interviewer. She admits that she heard he was a lousy driver, but she still got in the car with him. If you were interviewing Bono and he spoke to you as if you were alone on a date, drinking scotch in a private booth rather than backstage at a stadium surrounded by roadies, would you? Even the most jaded of journalists would find it tough not to get sucked in. In the Under a Blood Red Sky video and the interview above, he's doing the same thing: drawing people in. It's a talent (among many) that has kept him at the forefront for so long. There's still time to donate to the African Well Fund's Build a Well for Bono's Birthday fundraising campaign. This year, the AWF is aiming for $50,000 in 50 days, in honor of Bono's 50th birthday on May 10 (the last day of the campaign). What better way to pay tribute to your favorite frontman than to help someone in need? After you donate, don't forget to sign Bono's birthday card, which is delivered to him every year. Last weekend I saw a stellar show by Wilco in an intimate venue. They skipped hosting an opening act, and every album was represented as they played for a solid three hours. While checking out Wilco's website, I came across this cool program that was developed in part by Carnegie Mellon University, just a few blocks from the concert's location. If you look closely, you can see the titles of the books and CDs at the very back of the room, just by clicking on them. I'd love to see some photos from the 360 Tour take advantage of this technology. Imagine being able to pick yourself out of the crowd!
Until next time... © @U2/Maione, 2010.
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