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  1. Every month we put an U2 fan in the spotlights, the fan of the month June 2011 is user mario_bono. Mario is from Mexico and brought us three amazing recordings of the recent U2 shows in Mexico. Time to get to know more about him!


    Tell us something about yourself, who are you and what do you do for a living?
    My name is Mario Cuevas Cruz, I’m 42 years old and Ilive in Mexico City, I’m a single man recently dropped out for my girlfriend a few weeks after the U2 gigs in Mexico! :’( I work in Televisa, a TV broadcast network, I’m an audio engineer in live shows for about 14 years in that company,,I actually do love my job, it’s my second home sorrounded by good friends and co-workers

    How did you become a fan of U2, tell us how it happened?
    I discovered U2 in 1987, when “The Joshua Tree” went on sale, in that year there’s no Internet yet obviously and the CD still not mass marketed here in Mexico, in fact “the Joshua Tree” was my second cd that I bought. One day I was listening to the radio and I was petrified when the DJ played “I still haven’t found what I’m looking for” and I said “oh my God!!! Who is he? Who are they?” I love U2 since then. the voice of Bono, The Edge’s personal seal on guitar, Larry on drums and the cadence of Adam on bass caught me when I listened to the full album, alter that I searched and found the other recordings in vinyl or cassette.

    But “the Joshua tree” was the guilty that I become a fan of U2 ☺

    In your opinion, what has been U2's defining moment and why?
    A U2’ defining moment I think was when they performed in Band Aid and Live Aid, I say that from the point of view of a 80’s U2 mexican fan, because with that presentation U2 became an icon with the rebeld “sunday Bloody sunday” and the sublime “bad”, that was a clear example of what a rock band can give to their audience, no presumption, only interaction U2 with fans

    What would you like to ask U2 if you got the chance to?
    I always wondered something and I like to ask U2 that, maybe is a silly question hahaha but I think I have the answer, my question is… where is where the streets have no name? Where is that? I think I already found out where is it!!! I think where the streets have no name is in THE CITY OF BLINDING LIGHTS!!! Don’t you think so? ☺

    You taped all three recent Mexico shows and made them available on U2start, why did you tape them?
    First of all I taped the three shows because I want to have a vivid memory, not only in my head, I wanted something that made me remember those wonderful nights, when I listened my first recording on my way back home alter the first gig, I realized that it sounds great!!! So i decided to record the other gigs.

    When the U2 mexican dream finished, I edited my recordings and decided to upload for share with other fans, because one thing that I learned here in U2start is to share!!!
    That is my contribution to other people that also share their recordings

    Many people thanked me for that, unfortunately some other guys have copied my recordings and taken over

    Can you tell us something more on the equipment you used, how did you get a good quality recording with low-cost equipment?
    When we download a bootleg, it’s very important to read the included informartion on file, because the taper tell us about what he or she used to taped the concert, in a bootleg that I downloaded I figured out that the taper use an Ipod touch and a Blue mikey microphone, I realized that is the cheappest option to tape the gigs, because some other options are so very expensive here in Mexico, I already got the Ipod I only need the microphone that a nephew bought in San Diego, CA in the US

    I used the Rectools 2.0 software in my ipod to recorded and the rest is just, I don’t need to do anything else

    What's U2 like in Mexico? Is the younger generation still into them?
    U2 has become a bigger band in Mexico, through the years has become in an important band to the mexican people, there are so many fans here in mexico, older and young people loves U2, a few months ago I upload a photo in my Facebook profile, a ’92 Zoo Tv Fighter souvenir and a friendo told me “I was 2 years old in that year!” this friend was waiting for the 360º tour as I am

    What is your favorite U2 bootleg, and why? Do you often listen to bootlegs?
    My favorite bootleg besides mine, definitely is South Bend, Indiana, 2001-10-10 after 9/11, because they included some of my favorite songs and at the end of the concert appeared on stage firemen and policemen to sing Aleluya in “walk on” that was Amazing!!!

    Yes I do! I actually like to listen bootlegs, U2 bootlegs and many other bands

    If there would be only one U2 song you could hear the rest of your life, which one would it be?
    For a U2 fan, that's a tough question!!! Very hard to answer, select only one song is very dificult!!! But certainly it will be “where the streets have no name” everytime I listen to that song, I drawing a smile on my face and it makes me happy all day

    What are your hobbies and interests away from U2, musical or otherwise?
    I like to watch tv, listening to the music, I like gadgets, cell phones and Computers, I like to use audio software, I like MLB (baseball) Boston Red Sox and NFL (football) New Orleans Saints & New England Patriots


    Thanks for this interview mario_bono!

    Note: Our crew members randomly pick fans of the month, you can't sign up for it.
  2. I still say that recording a worldwide-spread concert with an iPod is LEGENDARY... Hands down on that

    Fantastic interview with some classic answers. Gracias y felicidades, Mario!!
  3. Great interview And thank you again for uploading and sharing these three awesome shows
  4. Fun interview! Good to hear that U2 is still big in Mexico
  5. Originally posted by Remy:
    If there would be only one U2 song you could hear the rest of your life, which one would it be?
    For a U2 fan, that's a tough question!!! Very hard to answer, select only one song is very dificult!!! But certainly it will be “where the streets have no name” everytime I listen to that song, I drawing a smile on my face and it makes me happy all day

    it's not that hard, isn't it?
    thanx for the interview and you're effort to share what you shared
  6. Great read, great recordings
  7. Well deserved, good read and great recordings.
  8. Great read!

  9. Great interview, and very much a deserved title!
  10. Top interview matey thanks for the recordings! Very appreciated.
  11. Gracias Mario!! Yo estuve en los conciertos del 14 y 15 de mayo, viajé junto con tres amigos desde Venezuela exclusivamente para esos conciertos!! Eres un tipo genial no sólo por haberte tomado el trabajo de grabar los conciertos, sino por compartirlos. Ese es el espíritu que necesita LA RAZA HUMANA ENTERA! Gracias de nuevo! Sígueme en @juliomarmol y con gusto te sigo de vuelta!
    GRACIAS GRACIAS Y MÁS GRACIAS
  12. Great interview! And thanks very much for these recordings! Just awesome that you can record from an iPod touch and get very decent results from them