Every month we put an U2 fan in the spotlights, the fan of this month, July 2012, is our user Vetri.
Tell us something about yourself, who are you and what do you do for a living?
My name is Paulo Henrique Vetri Martinho, I'm from Brazil. I was born in São Paolo, but now I live in São Carlos, a very close city from SP. I have 21 years old. I was studying until recently, but stopped because of personal problems, but I intend to go back to school and into college.
How did you become a fan of U2, tell us how it happened?
I was in my living room on the night of February 20, 2006 when my parents told me they would pass a live concert of a band of their time on TV. At first I thought it would be annoying because my parents showed me several other bands of their time that I did not like and this should be just one more. But no. Quanso the show's Vertigo Tour in Sao Paulo started I was instantly on TV with my mouth open, completely mesmerized. I did not like music very much at the time, do not know why. I was 15 when this happened. But on that moment, when that little solo from Edge began, on City of Blinding Lights, something magic happened in my mind. That start of show stuck me on the sofa. I had never seen a shwo like that, even having never really liked the music I had seen several shows. But that was completely different. That sound I fell in love. One song after another drove me crazy. Bono shouted UNO, DOS, TRES, but I did not hear him say "Catorce" because I heard something even more chilling: the entire stadium shouted 'CATORCE" with such voracity that inhibited Bono and your amplifiers. On that moment i wish to say: Oh, my F*** God! lol. I kept watching the show, of course, that was magical. But once I fell in love with U2 when flags started to fall and rise on the screen and Where the Streets Have No Name began. It was music that I loved most in the show and still and always will be. I've never seen a crowd jump so much in my life. When the show ended I was in a state of grace. In the weeks following this I searched the internet all about this band and every discovery I fell in love even more and is now six years that this has happened. Every day the February 20 is very special to me, it was then that I was reborn, that's when I met something that keeps me alive, literally, today.
In your opinion, what has been U2's defining moment and why?
Of course, the defining moment of U2 in its history when it was launched Acthung Baby. Bono himself said that it's the reason why they exist today. It is undoubtedly one of the best albums of the band and in my opinion it is in the second better, still have a further fall for Joshua Tree. It was a time of reinvention of the band, as is today. And they did that in the best possible way. They could have finished but opted to rethink and renew, and it worked, to our joy.
When you're forced to leave to a deserted island and you can take only one U2 album with you, which would it be?
Without a doubt I would choose the Joshua. It leads me to a very happy moment of my life, and moreover it has the three greatest ever U2 songs for me: Streets, and Still haven't found You and With or Without.
What is your favorite U2 bootleg, and why? Do you often listen to bootlegs?
Yes, I hear. To tell the truth that I hear far more than their own albums. There are certain songs that I would rather hear the studio version, of course it all depends on the moment, but in general it is. The band itself says that they are better live and I agree. I often download many unofficial shows, both in audio and video, even myself do some of them. But as I said it all depends on the moment, there are days I prefer to hear One Tree Hill from the album and others that I prefer that solo live creepy, lol. My favorite bootlegs are form the 360º shows here in Brazil.
You have been working on multi-cam recordings of U2 shows. When you've been editing these, have you ever seen something unexpected? Is it worth the effort?
Lol, many times! lololol. Edit U2 makes you see things that of course you would not see in an official dvd. For example, I've seen Edge doing stretching exercises while Bono spoke before the Moment of Surrender, this happened on last show U2 show in Brazil from 360º, made a point of showing it in my multicam. I've seen also many times Larry losing his drumsticks during the song. This has become a classic, LOL. I saw he angry once, I saw Bono feeling very bad during the song Magnificent in Coimbra, but as he has a professionalism that is the envy he continued. You end up seeing many details of the production of the band too, and of course all this is worth it to me, I love movies, love editing and I love U2. Add it all at once give me a huge gift and feeling, I feel there in the show again.
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?
Well, find someone who hates U2 is hard, lol. Yes, like my parents like them, so much that it was they who introduced me to the band and was from my father that I had my first U2's album, because he already had the Rattle and Hum. So I stoled from him, LOL. My mom looooves Edge and her favorite song is Van Diemen's Land (but she dosen't know the name of the song ¬¬ lol), my sister loves One, especially if is that version with Mary J. Blige and also Kite. But there are many times that they all hate U2's when I can not stop listening (which happens often, lol). But they say that I got good taste in music, lol. In general, they like it.
What is your favorite U2 videoclip, and why?
It's definitely the video of Where the Streets Have No Name. Not only because it is my favorite song, but how it was done. It was too crazy. Filming in mid-afternoon on a U.S. city with all the controversies surrounding them. I think I never will see anything like that. It is no wonder they took their first Grammy for it.
How different is U2 compared to other artists that you like?
Well I love Michael Jackson, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Elthon John, Coldplay and many others, but U2 is unique in every way. You do not see their names involved in scandals of any kind. They help the world, preach it, their lyrics define my life, saved me from death, literally, the way they behave towards their fans is different. For example, many bands come with their luxury cars in front of their fans without even giving a Hi. U2 not. They stop their car, exit from it, greet their fans as much as possible and at the end they said "Thank You", which shows very humility and affection they have to us.
What are your hobbies and interests away from U2, musical or otherwise?
When I'm not listening to U2 I play drums, I pretend to play guitar, lol, I'm on the internet trying to see anything other than U2, which lasts a short time, lol. I watch very little TV when I see it is to watch some sport or some program that makes me laugh. But it is very rare you see me out of the "U2's World", lol. They are my life.
Thanks for this great interview, Vetri!
Note: Our crew members randomly pick fans of the month, you can't sign up for it.
What a great intwerview Not all of us are so lucky to know exactly where and when did our U2 fandom start... Yours is a very particular and worth-remembering situation
And I LOLed at the multicam thingie... Edge doing exercises during Bono's speech.... hahaha!!!!
It's been great to know you a little better, Paulo! Hope to see you around more often
. I am off watching some videos on your youtube channel 
Not all of us are so lucky to know exactly where and when did our U2 fandom start... Yours is a very particular and worth-remembering situation 
