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"I don't really like hanging out with musicians. [I]t's hard to really talk about anything. Sitting and talking about Peavey amps is not my thing." -- Adam |
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"I don't really like hanging out with musicians. [I]t's hard to really talk about anything. Sitting and talking about Peavey amps is not my thing." -- Adam |
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@U2 QOM August 2010: What if U2 broke up?What would you do if U2 were no longer together as a band (for any reason)?
@U2,
August 31, 2010
(Each month, @U2 puts a spotlight on U2 fans with our "Question of the Month." We pose a question to our readers and invite answers of 200 words or less. If you're interested in taking part, check our home page to see if the current question is still open. If not, check back shortly after the beginning of next month and we'll have another question ready to be answered!) Thanks again to Allegra for this month's question!
B85: Easy, I'd be following four instead of one! Rose: I'd feel like there was no line left on the horizon. I'd feel lost under a blood red sky. I'd be in shock, and not feel complete for quite a little while. I'd miss them night and day. I'd go crazy, every night. I'd feel bad. And then I'd play their music like I always do, thinking of their concerts. Replace them with another fav band? No way! Never!!! No more U2???!!! Are you insane? They got a legacy that cannot be ignored. They won't be forgotten. Their music will live on. Michele Butler: If U2 were no longer a band, for whatever reason, I would still listen to them because U2's music is forever! As for my tribute to them? If one of them passed away, (which I can't even think about without getting a sick feeling in my stomach) I would have a beautiful heart tattooed next to the U2 tattoo I already have on my inner arm. I pray I never have to see any hearts around my tattoo. Allegra: For many years after seeing my first live U2 show, in the back of my mind I've always thought of the worst case scenario. What would I do if U2 was suddenly no more? Well I can tell you that from 2001 to 2008 I would have been totally devastated. The reason being that I loved no other band like U2. There was no other band out there that would even touch the feelings I had for them. To me there was no other band that had their heart or soul or even their love for their fans. Also I thought there was no other band out there that I would like their whole catalog of music. What band in the world could even come close to that? What backup band could I go to just in case I suddenly got the rug pulled out from under me? For many years I didn't have the answer. I just knew I was going to go into some deep mourning, but I didn't want to be that person. I decided that in the spring of 2008 that I need to be on the lookout for a band that I could fall back on. I didn't want to mourn for U2 for the rest of my life. I knew I needed to open my heart to other bands. At first I was overwhelmed. I didn't like anything new on the radio at all. I didn't like anything that had come out in the last eight years. The only thing I could find was the return of older bands like The Police or the Eagles. But I knew I needed to find a band that was younger and not older. I needed a band that was going to carry me on for possibly the next 10 to 20 years and who could come close to filling the shoes of U2? Who in the world could that be? Then one day during the first week of June 2008, right there in my living room out from my TV set, it hit me! It was the latest iPod commercial. It totally grabbed a hold of my soul! Who was it? The song was "Viva La Vida" from a little band called Coldplay. Now I know half of the U2 fans out there reading this are going "Pffffft!" I know you're saying they copy U2 all the time...and they stole Brian Eno. Well...what better person could you ask for to give Coldplay their new sound? There's now a little bit of U2 hidden in every Coldplay song. What better band to fall back on? After seeing Coldplay live for the first time in November 2008, I was hooked! Not only did they have a B-stage like U2, but they took it a step further and created a C-stage for the fans in the back of the arena. How sweet is that?! Not only that, the Coldplay stage crew went up to the top-most balcony an hour before every show and handed out the first 3 rows of tickets to random people and sent them to the floor right in front of the stage! WOW! Coldplay loves their fans too!!! I too got lucky when they came back for the summer of 2009 where they held back pit tickets and sold them a month before the show. So like in true GA form, I brought my chair on the day of the show, was first in line for GA, and I got a spot on the rail front and center, right under Chris Martin himself! I also watched him sign stuff while on stage too. It was so cool! They even took the cowboy hat I threw up on stage, and they didn't throw it back! So right then and there I was sold! Yeah, Coldplay is like U2, but at least they have admitted that U2 is one of their huge influences. At least Coldplay is trying to carry on the tradition. Jeff Ebbing: What would I do if U2 ceased to be a band? Funny you should ask. Remember when Larry quipped, "one crap album and you're done?" That's also when pretentious critics started dissing POP. What if the boys succumbed to the negative press? Could it happen? I was woefully unprepared and set to create a contingency plan for just this tragic scenario. Here is my WOWOU2BMWOU2 (With or Without U2 But Mostly Without U2) Plan:
Lisa Andrus: If U2 as a band came to an end, well -- life goes on. Children grow up, relationships change (and sometimes end), parties eventually aren't fun anymore, and even the best driving roads either turn off in another direction or stop at a cliff. I would miss them as a band of course, boring my husband, kids, friends, and future grandchildren with tales of their greatness & follies, playing Achtung Baby & Pop to anyone I could catch unawares. Woe is me! But I would follow each one's individual career paths, ask God to bless them and keep them safe, as I have for years, and wish them & their families well in this crazy world we share. More power to Bono in his quest to end world poverty, to Larry in his attempt to conquer the silver screen, to Adam just being Adam, and to fellow Leo The Edge in whatever he chooses. Go boys go (imagine the strains of "I Will Always Love You" in the background...by Dolly Parton, not Whitney Houston...or is that too much?)!! Elsha Stockseth: It is really hard to imagine something like U2 not being together but I would not lock myself in a room for the rest of my life. I would definitely listen to their music probably even more than I do now. I can't say that another band would take their place either because nobody else would even come close to my love of those guys. My next favorite band is The Killers so I would probably travel to see them more often but it would not be like going to see U2. There is something special about U2 fans and I would miss meeting up with them before the concerts. In the end I don't think we need to worry about U2 not being together because they have been together this long I don't see anything that would break them up, and that is a great thing. Carla: I would try to find another reason to believe that the world can be a better place. But, to be frank, I can't even think about it. Tim: Mourn the fact that it happened first of all; then probably go on a long stint of listening and remembering special memories related to the band's music and events that were happening in my life at the time. :) They would still have a strong place in my life though; can't let go of music that touches the soul!! Fans till death. ;) Erin Wefel: My answer: Simply, I'd really, really miss them. They have given us such great music. I could never find a replacement for them. Their music is in my heart. To me, they are the "best" rock-n-roll band ever. I will forever play their music in my home or car. Maria Dorio: First and utmost, it would be a very sad, sad day for the world (especially U2 fans). There would be a void in my life, an emptiness that would not be able to be filled by anything else. I would still listen as often as I do presently to their music; that would never change. There is absolutely no band that could ever replace the respect, love, and gratitude I have for U2 and the music, unreplaceable 100%. I would reflect as I do now on all the joys over the many years they have provided me with their presence, and music, and smile with each passing moment. My love for them would never die.
(c) @U2/individual contributors above, 2010.
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Ben McCarty: If U2 disbanded for any reason, I would go through a mourning period, then accept the situation by saying, "At least there won't be another NLOTH!" Then I would re-discover my favorite band in the world by starting from scratch and slowly listening and watching through their entire catalog of albums and concerts until it completely sunk in that there won't be any new material. After that, I'd go on listening as I always have, because in my heart I don't think any new ground can be reached that would match or exceed where U2 has already been. They've been practically everywhere already! Regardless, the place that U2's music occupies in my heart and mind could never be usurped by another band.