- Tell us something about yourself, who are you and what do
you do for a living?
Greetings U2Start! I'm Blink, 26, and I live in Amsterdam. I'm currently studying for a MSc in artificial intelligence. I registered here about 8 years ago, time flies!
- How did you become a fan of U2, tell us how it happened?
It was around the summer of 2007, I was 17-18 at the time, after the HTDAAB era. I was on a Blink 182 message board, and someone posted I Will Follow (from the Milan dvd) and.... I liked it! I knew the band, knew some songs, but never was interested in them, or took the time to really discover them. I watched the whole show and fell in love with COBL.
The Milan show soon became the golden standard to which I would compare U2 songs (IWF, COBL, ISHFWILF, OOTS) haha. Things started rolling from there
. After HTDAAB, I got into Joshua Tree, AB, R&H etc.
I also remember liking Pop a lot 
. So yeah, unknown guy on the message
board, thank you!
- Did you ever have a special U2 experience like a live concert? Can you tell us something about it?
My first U2 live experience was on the 360 Tour in Amsterdam in 2009. I remember I wasn't able to get any tickets, but luckily I could buy one from Remy!
The show was awesome. And it was unreal to see them in person, kinda like seeing comic book characters come to life or something.
- What would you say to U2, or one of its band members, should you meet with them?
I think I would thank them for making music. I'm pretty sure I'd be waaay too nervous/self conscious to make some small talk. There's a fairly high chance I'd say something stupid lol. Maybe, I'd ask for a selfie with Larry
.
- In your opinion, what has been U2's defining moment and why?
Ah, this is hard! I'd say it's gotta be the release of the JT album. In my opinion, it solidified them as a stadium rock act while also upgrading their status to true artists. Edge perfected his sound, and lyrically Bono was at the top of his game. The record defines U2's magic.
- When you're forced to leave to a deserted island and you can take only one U2 album with you, which would it be?
This would have to be JT. I know, I know, very cliche! But this is one of the few albums where I don't skip any songs, and has the highest replay value.
I think it's because it's such a cohesive collection of songs, where each song triggers a visual image in my mind...bit hard to explain but, it gives me a very cinematic experience.
- What is your favorite U2 videoclip, and why?
Elevation! It is in fact the first music video from U2 I ever saw.....It was also the first U2 song I ever heard I think. I was around 11 or 12 at the time, and the music video really blew me away, you have Angelina Jolie, slow motion explosions, a flying Bono! And I suppose 11 year old me was very impressed with Edge's leather outfit lol.
- How did U2start (or other forums) influence your music preferences? Did U2 fans influence you liking other artists?
Well, not really. If anything, the site only made me MORE of a U2 fan!
- How different is U2 compared to other artists that you like?
I really like this question! Well, my musical taste started with the San Diego, CA, band Blink 182. They started out as a punk/rock band, then pop/punk and eventually evolved to alternative/rock. They really got me into music and made me wanna play in a band.
After Blink and U2, I discovered New York singer songwriter Fiona Apple. Her music is piano driven rooted in jazz/alternative/pop. So yeah, vastly different from U2 hehe. Fiona's voice is definitely an acquired taste, but this makes me like her even more! Her songs are highly personal, and lyrically she is very strong.
Around the same time I got heavily into film scores, which also led me a little bit to some classical stuff. It really showed me how endless music can be. I absolutely love this quote from John Williams (originally by Sergej Rachmaninov):
Music is enough for one lifetime, but one lifetime is not enough for music.
That says it all for me
.
And of course bands like, Led Zeppelin, Foo Fighters etc., I enjoy very much!
- What are your hobbies and interests away from U2, musical or otherwise?
I like to fitness/work out, and I bought a (crappy) guitar last year. We'll see how that goes
. And there's this rehearsal room for
bands in my neighborhood, I often go there to play drums! I also
used to have an unhealthy obsession with Natalie Portman (avatar).
Obsessions count as interests right guys?!
Greetings U2Start! I'm Blink, 26, and I live in Amsterdam. I'm currently studying for a MSc in artificial intelligence. I registered here about 8 years ago, time flies!
- How did you become a fan of U2, tell us how it happened?
It was around the summer of 2007, I was 17-18 at the time, after the HTDAAB era. I was on a Blink 182 message board, and someone posted I Will Follow (from the Milan dvd) and.... I liked it! I knew the band, knew some songs, but never was interested in them, or took the time to really discover them. I watched the whole show and fell in love with COBL.
The Milan show soon became the golden standard to which I would compare U2 songs (IWF, COBL, ISHFWILF, OOTS) haha. Things started rolling from there
. After HTDAAB, I got into Joshua Tree, AB, R&H etc.
I also remember liking Pop a lot . So yeah, unknown guy on the message
board, thank you!- Did you ever have a special U2 experience like a live concert? Can you tell us something about it?
My first U2 live experience was on the 360 Tour in Amsterdam in 2009. I remember I wasn't able to get any tickets, but luckily I could buy one from Remy!
The show was awesome. And it was unreal to see them in person, kinda like seeing comic book characters come to life or something.
- What would you say to U2, or one of its band members, should you meet with them?
I think I would thank them for making music. I'm pretty sure I'd be waaay too nervous/self conscious to make some small talk. There's a fairly high chance I'd say something stupid lol. Maybe, I'd ask for a selfie with Larry
.- In your opinion, what has been U2's defining moment and why?
Ah, this is hard! I'd say it's gotta be the release of the JT album. In my opinion, it solidified them as a stadium rock act while also upgrading their status to true artists. Edge perfected his sound, and lyrically Bono was at the top of his game. The record defines U2's magic.
- When you're forced to leave to a deserted island and you can take only one U2 album with you, which would it be?
This would have to be JT. I know, I know, very cliche! But this is one of the few albums where I don't skip any songs, and has the highest replay value.
I think it's because it's such a cohesive collection of songs, where each song triggers a visual image in my mind...bit hard to explain but, it gives me a very cinematic experience.
- What is your favorite U2 videoclip, and why?
Elevation! It is in fact the first music video from U2 I ever saw.....It was also the first U2 song I ever heard I think. I was around 11 or 12 at the time, and the music video really blew me away, you have Angelina Jolie, slow motion explosions, a flying Bono! And I suppose 11 year old me was very impressed with Edge's leather outfit lol.
- How did U2start (or other forums) influence your music preferences? Did U2 fans influence you liking other artists?
Well, not really. If anything, the site only made me MORE of a U2 fan!
- How different is U2 compared to other artists that you like?
I really like this question! Well, my musical taste started with the San Diego, CA, band Blink 182. They started out as a punk/rock band, then pop/punk and eventually evolved to alternative/rock. They really got me into music and made me wanna play in a band.
After Blink and U2, I discovered New York singer songwriter Fiona Apple. Her music is piano driven rooted in jazz/alternative/pop. So yeah, vastly different from U2 hehe. Fiona's voice is definitely an acquired taste, but this makes me like her even more! Her songs are highly personal, and lyrically she is very strong.
Around the same time I got heavily into film scores, which also led me a little bit to some classical stuff. It really showed me how endless music can be. I absolutely love this quote from John Williams (originally by Sergej Rachmaninov):
Music is enough for one lifetime, but one lifetime is not enough for music.
That says it all for me
.And of course bands like, Led Zeppelin, Foo Fighters etc., I enjoy very much!
- What are your hobbies and interests away from U2, musical or otherwise?
I like to fitness/work out, and I bought a (crappy) guitar last year. We'll see how that goes
. And there's this rehearsal room for
bands in my neighborhood, I often go there to play drums! I also
used to have an unhealthy obsession with Natalie Portman (avatar).
Obsessions count as interests right guys?!Thanks for reading people
I hope this was FOTM-worthy!
____________
Thank you again for this interview blink!
Note: Our crew members randomly pick fans of the month, you can't sign up for it.
