Some would say that I've had some crazy misadventures in this life. I would tend to agree. From my days as a tank platoon leader to canoing the jungles of Belize and a backwards 400 foot bungy jump I've always enjoyed adventure.
I recently added a photo set to Flickr with some pics from the aformentioned adventures and more. Too bad that digital technology wasn't that great in the 1990s. Most of my pics from the best stuff are printed the old fashioned way. One of these days I'm going to hit the scanner hard and get lots more digitized. Til then enjoy this small sampling.
I was lucky enough to score a pair of tickets for an all day concert at Giants Stadium for the cause of Amnesty International. I was only 16 years old so I cared little about the global implications of the cause. I saw the event as an exciting opportunity to be a part of music history.
So many great acts played that day. Santana, Bryan Adams, Peter Gabriel, U2 and The Police were on the bill. I remember burning that day in the hot sun as act after act took the stage. The music got better as the day went on. As day turned to night it was U2's turn to take the stage. The sun disappeared and I felt some respite from the searing heat. Jeez I got sunburned that day.
U2 took the stage to the strains of a song called MLK. Bono started with, "Sleep, sleep tonight..." I had only heard a couple of U2 songs on the radio and didn't know this one. It was really chilling and moving. Just like that Bono screamed, "Pride in the name of love, ugh!" as Edge's guitar crackled. Over the next 30 minutes a serious U2 fan was born.
Since 1986 I've bought most of the music that U2 has ever made, including their work before The Unforgettable Fire. I've seen them in concert about six times, including in 2001 at Madison Square Garden. They are just about the top live act that I've ever seen. And that's coming from a huge Billy Joel fan who has also experienced a rocking Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band show. No, U2 is a band I would love to see live one more time.
U2 Performing Bad and Sunday Bloody Sunday At Amnesty International Concert
I've been reading a U2 biography recently and as a result have had a chance to ponder their music and what it has meant to me. The thing is that U2 is a band that has conveyed such shameless emotion in their music without it feeling forced or contrived in any way. Their music really defies categorization. Its part rock, part gospel and very classic even when its new. I don't like preachy rock music but I've never minded Bono's preaching. There's no slamming messages there. They just want you to know how they feel.
U2 Performs MLK/Pride (In The Name Of Love) At Amnesty International Concert
I keep finding myself going back to the U2 catalog and none of it is old for me. And so much of it is very moving. I'm an even bigger fan now that I know the extent of Bono and Edge's faith that guided them in a lot of this music. Its not any bit religious for me in the traditional sense. Its just great to know that rock can be fun, uplifting and honest all at the same time. No compromises for these men from Dublin.
Back in 2001 I saw U2 live at Madison Square Garden just a month and a half after 9/11. The city was still in a pseudo zombie-like state from what happened. These guys came to make it all better for one night. Bono, Edge, Larry and Adam hit all the right notes. Their new music was just right for the time. When Bono sang, "...and if you're glass heart should crack. And for a second you turn back. Oh no, be strong. Walk on." The crowd, all 18000, were with him. Later in the show U2 displayed the names of people lost on the crowd via a light show. There were no dry eyes in the house. Who else could have pulled that off?
So I think that U2 is one of the great bands (maybe the greatest) of the last 30 years and I wanted everyone I know to know that.
The videos above are from that night in 1986. I really do remember it like it was yesterday. It was great to find the videos on the web. And by watching them maybe you can see a little bit of what I experience d on that summer night in June 1986.
Some would say that I've had some crazy misadventures in this life. I would tend to agree. From my days as a tank platoon leader to canoing the jungles of Belize and a backwards 400 foot bungy jump I've always enjoyed adventure.
