The release of Live in Chicago was absolutely massive for me — we watched that together countless times.
Tell us something about yourself, who are you and what do you do for a living?
I’m James, I’m 36 years old and I’m from the Lake District in the UK. I grew up there and moved to Liverpool in 2008 when I started university. I now live a few miles outside of the city centre working as a primary school teacher (and have been doing so since 2012). I live with my wife (also a teacher) and our baby boy who has just turned 3 months old.
How did you become a fan of U2, tell us how it happened?
My stepdad is a huge part of me becoming a fan. I remember him playing his copy of HTDAAB often in the car and the release of Live in Chicago was absolutely massive for me; we watched that together countless times and it was my first real experience really ‘taking in’ a band play live – I soaked it all up. At that time, Vertigo was a massive radio hit and I was at the age where I was first starting to get into bands. I was 15 then and it was perhaps considered a little unusual for someone my age to be into U2 (they were still popular but I’d argue they were on the fringe of being considered ‘Dad rock’ even then) but I didn’t let that deter me. Whereas bands like The Killers and Arctic Monkeys were the popular bands at that time in the UK, it was all about U2 for me.
I was also beginning to show some interest in learning an instrument around that time and Adam’s bass playing and tone in the performances of New Year’s Day and Electric Co from Chicago ‘05 definitely played a role in me picking up the bass in the summer of 2006. One of my biggest regrets is not being able to see the band live on the Vertigo tour as I thought all the songs on that album were excellent live (SYCMIOYO was my favourite). However, I did eventually see the band live at Hampden Park in 2009, two London dates in 2015, TJT 2017 and twice on 2018 so feel pretty content with what I’ve been able to see of their later touring days! At Hampden Park, I was desperate to hear Mysterious Ways and made a sign in the (admittedly very unlikely) hope the band would invite me up to play… needless to say it didn’t happen and the band left the song out of the set that night. You can imagine my joy when I finally got to hear the song live during the SOI tour!
What does your U2 collection look like? What kind of stuff do you have and how is it organised?
I’d say my collection is pretty minimal compared to others. I have physical copies of all their albums up until SoI and SoE (I just never got round to buying them). I own every live DVD and own an old cassette tape of The Joshua Tree/Rattle and Hum, which was a staple in my first car back in 2007. I own TJT and AB on vinyl and I’ve got all my tickets from the U2 shows I’ve attended in a box in the loft.
If you could go back in time, which U2-era would you like to be in, and why?
A very tough call. The Elevation tour sticks out to me with the band getting a new lease of life critically and commercially and it was bolstered by some exceptional performances. I can only imagine what those post 9/11 shows must have felt like. I’m not a religious person at all but they must have felt transcendent at the time.
Edge hands you his pedalboard for one song: which song do you shred and why?
Edge plays my favourite guitar line from my favourite song of all time in Where The Streets Have No Name so that one wins by a mile!
If you could slip one unreleased U2 demo onto a future reissue, what era would you raid?
There are so many to choose from but the early Pop demos are the most enticing to me.
Which U2 live recording still gives you goosebumps no matter how many times you hear it?
I could write you a list as long as my arm but I think I’ll have to go with Slane Castle and not just for Streets – the intro into Elevation still sends a shiver down my spine, as does Sunday Bloody Sunday and AIWIY.
What are your expectations of a future new U2 album?
I’m going to throw out a potentially controversial opinion here – I don’t think I need a new album from the band anymore. I have the utmost respect for them wanting to make new music and share it with fans but I feel it’s coming at the expense of time which I don’t think is really on their side these days. I didn’t start to see the band till pretty late on in their career and I just want to see them play a couple of times before they decide to call it a day. I feel like there’s a lot of different ideas being thrown around and the band are still yet to decide what the album is going to look like. If that’s the case, I’d happily take a couple of EPs from the band over the course of the next few years with each of them exploring a different style (the supposed rock album, Songs of Ascent etc.) whilst the band tour. Whatever it takes to get them back on the road whilst they are still physically capable of doing so at a high level.
How different is U2 compared to other artists that you like?
On the whole, I gravitate towards music on the alternative/heavier side of things but I honestly don’t have a genre of music that I won’t listen to. If the melody and instrumentation is memorable, I’ll listen to it. I’d say U2 fall on the softer of my rock tastes – my other favourite bands are Muse and Tool.
What are your hobbies and interests away from U2, musical or otherwise?
I’m really into fitness and spend lots of my time in the gym, walking my two dogs and continuing to play the bass a couple of times a week. My biggest hobby is playing videogames and I’m looking forward to introducing that to my son when he’s old enough, as my Dad did with me many years ago
I want to say a big thanks for the opportunity as well! I don’t often post on U2Start but this site has been a staple for me over the past 15 years or so. Looking forward to it getting busy again whenever U2 releases something new and go back on the road.
I knew you were a huge MUSE fan but I didn't know we also shared a love for TOOL. U2 are definitely among our softest tastes haha. 