1. Every month we put an U2 fan in the spotlights, the fan of the month June of 2013 is user kris_smith87. Read along for the interview we had this this U2 fan.


    Tell us something about yourself, who are you and what do you do for a living?
    I'm Kris, and I live in Newfoundland, Canada (bonus points if you've ever heard of it! haha). I'm a substitute high school teacher.

    How did you become a fan of U2, tell us how it happened?
    I owe my love for U2 to the movie Batman Forever. The movie came out in 1995 when I was 8 years old and was obsessed with all things Batman. (I'm still a huge fan). I instantly loved "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me" simply because it was in the movie.
    I had no idea at the time how huge U2 was and when I heard "Staring At The Sun" on the radio a few summers later I thought "Oh cool! That's that band from Batman Forever!"
    It wasn't until "Elevation" though that I became a U2 superfan; I instantly fell in love with it the same way I did HMTMKMKM and bought All That You Can't Leave Behind as well as The Best of 1980-1990.
    Over the next 4 years, I collected the rest of U2's discography. It was in the fall of 2005 (my first year of university) that I bought Achtung Baby at a fleamarket and it quickly became the soundtrack to that time in my life as well as my favorite album ever released.

    Where do you most prefer to listen to U2?
    It really doesn't matter where I listen to U2. As long as I'm in the mood, I can listen to them anywhere. I have hundreds of U2 songs (studio versions, live versions, remixes) on my iPod, I have specific U2 songs on my gym playlist, I can listen to them in any situation really.

    Did you ever have a special U2 experience like a live concert? Can you tell us something about it?
    I've been fortuneate enough to see U2 play live twice on the 360 tour (both times in Toronto). I really fell in love with the city upon visiting there, and I was so pumped to see the band live. My parents paid for both trips as my convocation gifts for my two degrees. I often build things up in my head and they can't live up to the hype so I was afraid that U2 would be no different; I'll never forget hearing "Soon" blast over the PA and Larry's drums begin "Breathe"- my excitement levels were through the roof and the band did not disappoint. I keep telling people too that NOTHING compares to hearing Streets live. Nothing.

    If you could go back in time, which U2-era would you like to be in, and why?
    It would have to be the 90's since Achtung Baby is my favorite album. I would love to have been old enough to appreciate the music upon release and the awesomeness of ZooTV and Popmart. (I'm a big fan of Pop actually. In my top 3 U2 records). To be able to attend concerts during those tours and be able to go buy the albums on the day they were released would be something that I would have liked to experience. (No Line was the only U2 album that I have been able to do that with so far so guys...please release a few more albums?)

    If there would be only one U2 song you could hear the rest of your life, which one would it be?
    I might get some flak for this but I think I'd have to pick "Elevation". It is really hard to pick just one U2 song for me and I'll admit that "Elevation" is not their best technical song, their best written or their most meaningful but I have no many fond memories from it. I've already mentioned it being the catalyst for my U2 super-fandom and I started to request it at this bar that I go to sometimes. The DJ is a fan of the band as well so now when I go there if he sees me he plays "elevation" and I don't even have to ask!

    What is your favorite U2 videoclip, and why?
    I have a few favorite U2 videos that I can't really choose from. First, "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me" because it works in Batman and Bono's alter egos. I also love "The Sweetest Thing" for it's over the top ridiculousness. I like the video for "Stuck" a lot because it is a nice Easter egg for fans of the band with so many references to their past and people who work closely with them. Finally, I have to go with "Elevation" because it is kind of campy but also kick ass.

    If you could enjoy dinner with three other people,living or dead, who would you choose and why?
    i) Bono- He's a hero of mine because of his work as a social justice activist.
    ii) Barack Obama- I've read his books and I also look up to him. I would love to ask him how he truly feels he has done as President and if he feels he failed to capitalize on his wave of support from 2008.
    iii) Jay-Z- I feel like he would be a good addition to this group and really should be looked at as a role model; someone who made his way from nothing and a life of drug dealing to where he is today.

    How different is U2 compared to other artists that you like?
    I like to think I have a pretty eclectic taste in music. My favorites are U2, The Killers, Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake, Kanye West, Nicki Minaj, Maroon 5, Matchbox Twenty etc. I'm going to see JT & Jay-Z in a few weeks in Toronto and I'm worried they won't live up to the awesomeness of a U2 show!

    What are your hobbies and interests away from U2, musical or otherwise?
    I'm a pop culture junkie; I love music, movies, television etc. I'm into comic books and superheroes. I try to keep fit- currently training for/considering running a 10 mile race in July. I like to throw parties (often themed) and drink socially with friends.

    It was actually a theme party that brought me to U2 Start. I was having a U2 themed party for my 22nd birthday 4 years ago and I came across this site when searching for ideas. My birthday is actually this weekend so this is my 4th anniversary as a member a U2starter!




    Thanks for this interview kris_smith87!

    Note: Our crew members randomly pick fans of the month, you can't sign up for it.
  2. (...)and I'm worried they won't live up to the awesomeness of a U2 show!

    Nobody does


    Great interview, Kris, always nice to put some personal stories behind the nicknames. Gotta love the story about Elevation and your local DJ playing it when he sees you - that's plain amazing.
  3. Congratulations Kris !
  4. A very well deserved interview Kris, and it lived up to the hype and expectation
  5. Thanks guys! Can't believe it's been 4 years since I stumbled upon this site!
  6. Nice read, Kris
  7. In case anyone was wondering JT and Jay Z were amazing! Not quite U2 but so good!
  8. haha, U2 set our standards realllllly high when it comes to live acts!! Glad you enjoyed Jay Z anyway!