1. Every month we put a U2 fan in the spotlight. The fan of the month for January 2019 is user Daviesweeten. Read along for the interview we had with this U2 fan.

    "I still remember to this day walking to work listening to my Achtung Baby cassette on my walkman and thinking....'This is amazing'! Never looked back since."

    Tell us something about yourself, who are you and what do you do for a living?

    Hi, I'm Davie. I'm 45 years old and live in Glasgow, Scotland. I am the father of two great children and love them dearly. I work for 'Glasgow Life' which is part of the local government authority and I am based in the Mitchell library, which is one of the largest in Europe. I have been in the same job since I left school in 1989!

    How did you become a fan of U2, tell us how it happened?

    It was really Achtung Baby and the ZOO TV tour which hooked me! For those two years I hardly spoke about anything else! Up until then I was a big Simple Minds fan. I still remember to this day walking to work listening to my Achtung Baby cassette on my walkman and thinking....'This is amazing'! Never looked back since

    You have seen U2 on every tour since the ZooTV tour except for Elevation, what is it like to have seen U2 evolve over all those years, is there anything different between now and then?

    It's been brilliant! I don't know where all the years have gone, but they say time flies when you're having fun! I did try to get to Elevation but if I remember correctly Glasgow was a late addition to the tour. In those days you called up and hoped to get through. I spent hours on the telephone....no luck. Obviously today's shows are more of a 'production' and less spontaneous....but the music is just as strong. The lyrics are still as powerful and relevant.The band have really embraced today's technology while some other bands have the usual two big screens and a small catwalk. Very standard.That's one of the things I admire about the band....the ability to evolve and try new things.

    What was your favourite of the tours you've seen and why?

    I don't honestly think I could pick one favourite. Every single one I've been to has a special place for me. I remember Celtic Park in 1993 (Sunday, Edge's birthday....that was a special gig) I also wore out my VHS tape of the Sydney show!!! As I get older I must admit I prefer arena shows. The view is better and it's a bit more intimate although I do recognise that would have been impossible for 360!!!

    You have seen more shows this year than during any other tour, why and which was your favourite?

    I honestly couldn't wait for this year's tour after 2015. Both were amazing!
    I'm also much more used to travelling now. The world is getting smaller and getting from A to B is a lot easier than it used to be (although in 2015 I did go to Paris from Glasgow on the Megabus) . My friends think this is hilarious!!! Dublin was special as it should have been the last night of the tour. The people around me were all really cool and we were standing right beside the section for friends and family, so I got to see Ali etc. Belfast, Berlin and Manchester were also amazing. I met a lot of new friends on this tour and have to give a shout out to SJ, Tim, Conor, Dean, Ulrike, Maarten, Mariana and Maaike....all u2Starters and all good guys!
    Any U2 gig is special!

    What does your U2 collection look like? What kind of stuff do you have and how is it organised?

    I'm not really a collector to be honest. I have the usual stuff. Dvd's, tshirts and some tour programmes. My music collection is digital. To me, the music's the important thing although I do have a couple of posters from this tour which I have framed. I also couldn't resist the limited edition HMTMKMKM tshirt from U2.com.

    When you're forced to leave to a deserted island and you can take only one U2 album with you, which would it be?

    Probably Achtung Baby. As I've said that started it all for me and has a special place in my heart. In truth it cold be any of them!

    Does anyone in your family or one of your friends like U2? If so, did they introduce you to U2, or did you "convert" them?

    I have tried to convert many people.....especially the kids! They aren't interested just now (they are 14 and 12) and are probably tired of me talking about the band!!!!! Some of my friends like U2 but not to the extent I do.

    How different is U2 compared to other artists that you like?

    I don't look upon U2 like other bands. I saw the Rolling Stones at Murrayfield this year. Don't get me wrong....they were good.....but they're not U2. In my eyes no one comes close to U2, but I do like listening to Noel Gallagher, Manic Street Preachers, Kasabian etc

    What are your hobbies and interests away from U2, musical or otherwise?

    Firstly, I am a big Celtic FC fan, and football fan in general. Growing up in Glasgow you cannot avoid football. I wouldn't want to. I have told many people my passions are my kids, U2 and Celtic FC. I also like movies. Psychological thrillers and comedies are my thing. I'm also into conspiracy theories and spend a lot of time reading about these and researching on the internet.Did man ever go to the moon?.....I'll let you decide!!!

    Thanks for this interview Daviesweeten!



    Note: Our crew members choose the fan of the month, you can't sign up for it.
  2. Nice interview Davie. Great that you mention my name as a real U2Start friend. Thank you. We (together with the other friends) had a lot of fun in Berlin last november. A really great experience. Maybe we go to Celtic one day.
  3. How long was the Megabus? 15 hours?
  4. Great nice reading
  5. Thanks guys. I honestly can't remember how long it took to get to Paris. With the change at London, Channel tunnel etc it must have been about 15/20 hrs. Madness!!! But good fun, and well worth it as 'Out of Control' is on the DVD/BLU RAY and I was there!
  6. Nice one Davie, my uncles first u2 show was the same zoo tv show at Celtic Park. It was great to meet up and attend the same E&I Berlin show more than 25 years later.
  7. Great interview Davie

    Good point about the band's embracement of technology and progress - we hardcore fans sometimes (more often than not I'd say!) are bored about the band playing 99% same songs night after night because of the (over?)use of technology, but I think we would be equally as bored if they did a bare approach with a naked stage with just two screens above... We tend to despise their current approach but we have to understand that if U2 got where they got is party because of their use of technology.
  8. Good interview. Near the Mitchell Library. Small world I'm from Anderston also support the Tic also Hail Hail mate
  9. It was nice to meet you in Berlin, Davie!

    Great interview too!
  10. Very good!!!
  11. Little bit late but last but not least: Great interview Davie! Thank you for explaining our little U2Starter group! Thank you Remy for your great job. I love it to stay in contact with all this lovely U2 fans.