1. Every month we put a U2 fan in the spotlight. The fan of the month for October 2017 is user u2_michaelc. Read along for the interview we had with this U2 fan.

    "I remember those days so vivid, the experience was like no other and it was my first ever concert in my life at age 16 ... what a way to start!"

    Tell us something about yourself, who are you and what do you do for a living?
    My name is Michael, for the last 7 years I have worked as a qualified chef working in pubs, cafes and restaurants I used to enjoy the work but over the last 2 years I have not liked the constent stress, so currently I am looking for something different. Maybe a U2 crew member if they would have me, haha a boy can dream.

    How did you become a fan of U2, tell us how it happened
    When I was a young kid, about maybe 3/4 my Dad used to play the song One, no one in my family is a "fan" they just like 1 or 2 songs, anyway that song made me feel something I'd never felt before prior to that..but it wasn't until primary school when HTDAAB came out I came across U2 properly for the first time, my friend that lived down they road at the time was a huge Johny cash and U2 fan, he was a couple of grades below me and I couldn't believe how mature his taste in music was, anyway one day at his house he put New Years Day on and I never looked back, I couldn't believe how great I felt when hearing that Bass line for the first time, it was amazing, then the keyboard started and I was just like "WOW" I said to him..."my life has been nothing but it starts today" he put on HTDAAB, and I was in heaven!

    You visited two 360 shows in Melbourne in 2010, your first and (for now) last U2 concerts. What was it like?
    I remember those days so vivid, the experience was like no other and it was my first ever concert/s in my life at age 16...what a way to start! The biggest band in the universe!!! The first show I arrived 12 hours earlier with GA, my number was 78, everybody was feeling the excitement, people had system's playing U2 songs all day in the rain which was amazing, we were all talking about what songs we would like to hear, I met a guy in the line quite abit older than me that had just come from the NZ shows ,he was very nice and saved my spot so I could leave for an hour to get some food, I did the same for him Gates opened and we speed walked in at when I saw that stage in person my heart dropped in a good way, a way I'd not felt since hearing One as a kid...that stage made etihad Stadium look tiny, you could see it on the train 10 mins away. We got through hearing Jay Z which was meh. David Bowie came on and the excitement was sky high. Amazing night, next show I didn't even have a
    ticket they announced over speakers that there was still upper tickets for the 2nd show, so I brought ticket ,faked a sickie and I managed to get to the front of the stage with a back row ticket thanks to my sneaky tactics of folding ticket and hole punching it myself haha, front section in GA with a 35 dollar ticket hehe.

    What was your highlight live performance and why?
    Short and snappy, New Years Day, thumping bass, loud delayed keyboard = me in heaven. I think I youtubed every live version of that song before going....a little obsessed.

    When you're forced to leave to a deserted island and you can take only one U2 album with you, which would it be?
    Sooooo hard , nyd obsessed but not the biggest fan of the other tracks on war, good but not my favourite so I would have to say Achtung Baby
    Truly a masterpiece!! Not a song on there I don't like.

    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?
    Simply no, my Dad loves One, but that is it. My U2 obsession probably annoys them to the point of despair.

    What is your favourite Song of Experience so far and why?
    Definitely The Little Things, love the lyrics and emotion it makes me feel. I like the others but this one does more for my emotions.

    What are your expectations for Songs of Experience?
    I don't expect I just appreciate new material even if I don't like it, judging by the tracks we have heard I'm more excited for this album than the last, as I expect it to tour Australia.

    How different is U2 compared to other artists that you like?
    I like Coldplay, David Bowie, R.E.M ect and I know U2 had a massive impact and influence on Coldplay ,also R.E.M I believe. U2 are just different to me, I can't compare them to anything else because I think they are in their own league.

    What are your hobbies and interests away from U2, musical or otherwise?
    I love throwing/playing darts and I am in a Melbourne league and doing quite well lately. I enjoy playing video games as an escape.
    Collecting cds and U2 stuff. Iove my Beers and music with a passion.

    Thanks for the pick for fan of the month, thanks for reading U2start friends

    My partner and in 2013

    Thanks for this interview u2_michaelc!

    Note: Our crew members choose the fan of the month, you can't sign up for it.
  2. Cheerz mate
    If you win a prize For being fan of the month maybe that could be a new amplifier!!
  3. ahah, no prize, cheers
  4. Good read Michael, got quite a bit in common with you choosing Achtung baby for your desert island album and your love for New Year’s Day, one of my favourites as well although there is a few. Also Little s Things is my favourite of the 3 SOE songs. Hope the success in the darts continues.
  5. Originally posted by deanallison:Good read Michael, got quite a bit in common with you choosing Achtung baby for your desert island album and your love for New Year’s Day, one of my favourites as well although there is a few. Also Little s Things is my favourite of the 3 SOE songs. Hope the success in the darts continues.
    Thanks Dean, will have a game with ya, if ever get the chance, still working on my dart maths, harder then I thought haha.
    Yes, never get tired of NYD.
    Keep well my friend
  6. Love the part about the fans playing U2 loudly at the stadium
    good read
  7. Thanks, yeah was a good experience that's for sure
  8. Great interview Michael. I'm a foosball man myself (I don't know how they call that in Australia), but good luck with those darts. I hope U2 comes to Australia next year.
  9. Originally posted by cesar_garza01:Great interview Michael. I'm a foosball man myself (I don't know how they call that in Australia), but good luck with those darts. I hope U2 comes to Australia next year.
    Thanks mate love Foosball when I'm at the arcade, same name over here too. Although nothing has been announced I've got a strong feeling they will tour down under next year.
  10. A few spelling mistakes in the interview, sorry bout that
  11. Nice to read this Michael. Agreee with you about Achtung Baby... not a duff track on the whole album!