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  1. Originally posted by LikeASong:[..]
    That is some really powerful story right there, Richard. Thanks for sharing it with us. I really became a part of your life for a few minutes. Your dad's illness and departure, you taking shelter in music, becoming a little obsessed over The Joshua Tree (who wouldn't?), then the epic Save The Yuppies mini-concert at a privileged position and then the proper JT stadium show with you not knowing almost anything about rock concerts... Wow. Thanks a lot, seriously.


    I became a fan in my mother's womb. My parents were and are U2 fans so my path was already set before I was born I don't have exciting stories of discovering U2 like you all - I have just grown with them.


    LikeASong, thank you so much for reading my post. I'm glad you enjoyed it. That was a such a transformative time for me. Kudos for remember the name of that free concert (Save The Yuppies). I remember thinking, why did they call it that? Why do Yuppies need saving? Awesome show.

    Your path to U2 fandom, was a fine one. I can just imagine rocking out to Joshua Tree in my mother's womb. However, I'm sure you have an interesting story or two. We all do.

    -Rich.
  2. Originally posted by sparko:Becoming a fan....I can tell you how U2 came into my life and how they came to stay. THE fan I became maaaaaany years later. but this band has always played a huge part in my life.

    When I was 5, my brother watched a music show on west German TV (I was born in GDR). That was 1986 and they showed the SBS clip of Red Rocks and I was completely fascinated by how angry that young man was and mostly be the drumbeat. (I did not understand him of course.)
    One and a half year later, being a first grader, I came home from school while my brother was coyping a vinyl to cassette and I just stood there and heard one of the most beautiful things I ever heard. I still haven't found what I'm looking for is still one of my evergreens when it comes to U2.

    I had no idea of course, that this was the same band and on the cover I just saw 4 angry, quite ugly dressed men.
    Years later, after the change, my brother again popped into the door with a CD in hand, that showed a Trabi on the cover.
    For no particular reason I knew it was U2 and a little after we got MTV and after all these years I saw this Red Rocks clip again. ANd I knew, it was U2 and I knew the songtitle.
    In 1993 I bought TJT, AB and Zooropa on vinyl (whcih I lost later). I had posters on my wall and swore to myself: whenever they come here and play, I'll be there.
    Which has been the only case in 1997 - never again and before they played in any other East German city. There I was, 16 years old, completely alone at the ticket counter on the day, the presale started and the seller looked at me like an alien when I asked for a U2 ticket.

    I took me 13 years to get to another U2 show then. It was actually NLOTH that brought me back to this band - of course I listened to them all the time, but that was the final hardcore fan call. Without NLOTH I wouldn't do multicams today, I wouldn't know any of you and would have missed quite some lovely peeps in my life. And 8 amazing U2 shows since.

    The one reason, U2 have always been there was simply - they had the perfect song for any mood. Whatever happened to me, U2 had a song that helped me through. And there were quite some hard times.
    Til today, their songs make me smile, when I'm happy and let me cry, when I'm sad. These songs, they are the anchor you just need sometimes. They don't ask, they don't judge, they are just there for you. And no other band can do that like U2, Edge's play and Bonos lyrics.

    Ooops, a bit more text. Sorry


    Sparko, thanks for sharing your story. I'm sure being a fan in Germany made things a little harder because the band might not have toured in a city near you.

    Like you (even though I way older) I saw their tour at Red Rocks and thought the same thing, these guys are angry. But, I didn't understand why. It wasn't until many years later that I did.

    I was lucky enough to see 4 shows of 360 (1 in Dallas, Tx, 1 in Oakland, Ca., 2 in Anaheim, Ca.) and it was the concert I've seen. It was absolutely incredible.

    And you are absolutely correct that they have a song for every mood. I guess that's one of the many reasons why we love them.


  3. That was a great concert. You could tell Bono was still dealing with the passing of his father.
  4. August 1993 watching Numb on TV...
  5. Originally posted by germcevoy:The first 3 songs on the Joshua Tree. Must have played my mums CD dozens of times before letting it play through. Was always aware of the bands current stuff at the time (Elevation era) so bought Slane. Game over.


    Similar to mine - hearing our school's basketball coach play "Beautiful Day" every day the summer of 2001 at a basketball camp I attended...then discovering my dad's "Joshua Tree" CD and listening to the first four songs over and over again.
  6. Originally posted by AchtungNinja:I've been feeling quite nostalgic lately as I realized I've been a fan for nearly 30 years. It's been a long and amazing trip and I'm so glad I've followed them.

    I'm wondering what was the album or song or concert that did it for you. What turned you into a fan? And why?

    I detail the beginning of my journey on my blog (AchtungNinja.com) and why they made my life a little better.


    Forgot to add my own. The Joshua Tree and "Where The Streets Have No Name". That did it for me; I was hooked.
  7. Originally posted by dulique:Actually, I know the exact date of me becoming a U2 fan: 1 January 1990. The New Year's concert in Dublin was namely broadcast live to a couple of post-Communist countries, including my home country Czechoslovakia. So just about six weeks after the regime ended in my country, I was able to listen to U2 on the radio (I hadn't known their music, just had seen a photo of them in a magazine and thought they might be interesting). I nearly fainted when I heard Bono say my country's name in Pride.
    I still have the tape I made on that day, awful quality by today's standards but it has priceless emotional value for me.
    So I was over the moon when I managed to get a ticket to a U2 concert in Dublin's 3Arena last year - the exact place where my devotion to U2 started back in 1990.


    What a moving story. I always have great admiration and respect for fans in countries where it is not so easy to listen to their much or go to a show. Here in the United States, it isn't very at all (even though ticket prices continue to rise). So when I learn about fans who have to travel far, spend lots of money (or both) I just think, these folks put me to shame.

    dulique, we became fans around the same time. For me, summer of 1987. The Joshua Tree Tour put me into orbit and I've been a fan ever since.
  8. U2 at Milan DVD (2005) Specifically, I will Follow and COBL

  9. Originally posted by blueeyedboy:[..]
    Was at both nights at the Sporto! Great shows, but seeing them graduate from Sunrise Musical Theatee to the Sportatorium I knda felt like I lost "my band" to the rest of the world...


    Wish I would have been at both nights. You are quite lucky. My brother-in-law was at that Sunrise Musical Theatre show for the War tour. He actually waved the white flag for Bono as he was front row.

    Favorite high school memory (other than TUF show at the Sportatorium): writing the songs of Boy and October on our black chem lab tables in pencil eraser marking. I did the first song, a person in the class after mine did the next, and so on. Never met them but their U2 knowledge impressed me back then. Yes, it was better than mine! Getting lost in UABRS, Boy, October, War and then trying to digest the new and cutting edge sound of TUF. Those were the days.
  10. Originally posted by AchtungNinja:[..]


    What a moving story. I always have great admiration and respect for fans in countries where it is not so easy to listen to their much or go to a show. Here in the United States, it isn't very at all (even though ticket prices continue to rise). So when I learn about fans who have to travel far, spend lots of money (or both) I just think, these folks put me to shame.

    dulique, we became fans around the same time. For me, summer of 1987. The Joshua Tree Tour put me into orbit and I've been a fan ever since.
    Well, you know music from the "West" was not officially available in Czechoslovakia before 17 November 1989. Most of it was actually prohibited and unless you had relatives living e.g. in West Germany who were able to bring you some, it was rather difficult to listen to it. From today's perspective the live broadcast of the U2 concert is just incredible - but I don't think I was thinking about it that way because I was just 14 and ignorant and took all the social and political changes for granted.
    And travelling from afar to concerts? Do you know the saying about Muhammad and the mountain...? I still dream of U2 playing in the Czech Republic again but unless they stick to the arena concept and use the O2 Arena in Prague, I doubt it. However, it's not a problem as long as there are low-cost airfares to London/Dublin/whichever European city.
  11. Originally posted by dulique:[..]
    Well, you know music from the "West" was not officially available in Czechoslovakia before 17 November 1989. Most of it was actually prohibited...

    Remember story of my older sister - in 1987 when Joshua Tree was released she got the information the album is going to be sold in Supraphon (local music store). So she went queuing couple of hours prior to store opening. Was third in the row, there were three pieces available for sale, everything seemed to be alright. But one of the guys in front of her bought two of them...she went home in tears
  12. i was already a fan before any shows but it was 07/11/21011 toronto that got me into liking them more!!
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U2start is run by fans for fans. Help us reduce personal costs. Consider to make a donation to support us.
U2start is run by fans for fans. Help us reduce personal costs. Consider to make a donation to support us.