"To see U2 live is my life-long dream. So, to be inside the Mumbai stadium to see U2 in person already exceeds my expectations. I expect the actual concert to be the memory to behold for the rest of my life."
Tell us something about yourself, who are you and what do you do for a living?
I am from Bangladesh. I live in Dhaka, the capital city. I am a doctor, specifically a skin specialist ( dermatologist ).
How did you become a fan of U2, tell us how it happened?
I first heard U2 in the local radio station. The year was 1987. The song was With or Without You. I found the song otherworldly, completely different from anything playing over radio. It got me hooked.
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?
Then one day I went to a friend's house and borrowed the tape of U2's Joshua Tree..... listened to the album from start to finish..... by the time the melancholic Running to Stand Still was pouring from the speaker with its haunting melody, I became a full-blown U2 fanatic. So, I consider that friend who kindly lent me the tape to be my U2-introducer. From that moment up to now, my constant goal is to make as many U2 fan as possible. I have converted my 10 cousins to be U2 fan ....... I have also introduced U2 to my 14 years old son and 11 years old girl and they also love U2. In fact, I am now the admin of U2 FAN CLUB, BANGLADESH facebook group and in constant effort to steadily increase U2's fan in Bangladesh.
What would you like to ask U2 if you got the chance to?
I would probably at a loss to ask anything if I get the chance to directly ask U2 any question . It would be too overwhelming !! Then if I could get past that, I would probably asked them :
" When will you put the song MERCY in all its raw glory on any album ? "
In your opinion, what has been U2's defining moment and why?
It's easy....... U2's performance of Bad in Live Aid. It was too powerful to ignore for anyone. I think this one performance helped U2 in the road of superstardom over hundred gigs before. Still now, seeing this gives me goosebumps.
What is it like being a fan in Bangladesh, does U2 have a big following there?
Sadly, U2 is popular here among only a small number of people. Other than bengali songs, people over here are mainly influenced by Indian hindi language music, english rap and metal music and the garbage pop songs that occupy the charts in UK and USA. U2 is mainly popular among those who were born in the 70's and 80's.
My job as admin of U2 fan club is way harder to influence listeners to become fan of U2 but I'm relentless.
What is U2's most popular music in Bangladesh?
Definitely, With or Without You is the most popular U2 song in Bangladesh. Even those who have never heard of U2 have heard that song and love it.
You will attend U2's show in Mumbai in December, what are your expectations?
To see U2 live is my life-long dream. So, to be inside the Mumbai stadium to see U2 in person already exceeds my expectations. I expect the actual concert to be the memory to behold for the rest of my life. I also expect to see the song " Little Things " performed. To me that song is among the best song of the last 20 years, if not the best. Also in my wish list...... Acrobat, Kite, Please, Love is Blindness , Mysterious Ways, Discotheque, Bad, All I Want is You , Magnificent, The Fly, Dirty Day, Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses. Among the Joshua Tree songs I am looking forward most to..... Exit, One Tree Hill, Running to Stand Still, Where the Streets Have no Name and With or Without You. Specially With or Without You will be an amazing experience live because it is also the most popular U2 song in India.
How different is U2 compared to other artists that you like?
I hear U2's music 90% of my listening time. So you understand what U2 means to me. There's simply no other band or solo artist like U2. U2's music sooths me like essential medicine. Without it, my hectic life would be unbearable. Bono's angelic voice, Larry's to the point drumming, Adam's groovy bass and above all Genius Edge's heavenly guitar solos and riffs catapult my mind to stratosphere. Most of U2's music and lyrics can be interpreted in several ways and everyone can relate to U2's meaningful songs one way or other. Yes, I also listened to many other band from time to time..... like Journey, Travis, Scorpions, Dire Straits, Pink Floyd, Rainbow, Deep Purple, Phil Collins, Eagles, Foreigner, Guns & Roses, Metallica and so on but they were all felt either one note or hard to relate to or too pretentious. Some of their songs I like so much but most of their songs bore me..... No offense to anyone who love those bands. U2 is the only band whose music I will take with me if I have to live in any deserted place.
What are your hobbies and interests away from U2, musical or otherwise?
My other hobby is seeing movies with high quality sorround sound....... I have a collection of 1000 movies in my library. I like sci-fi, thriller and mystery movies.
Thank you all for patiently reading my whole writing. Hopefully, I will write about my first U2 live experience in the future.
Thanks for this interview TRISTAN!
Note: Our crew members choose the fan of the month, you can't sign up for it.
Great read. Safe travels across India and enjoy the gig 