Who needs bathrooms? ([email protected])
Sun, 01 Nov 1998 09:59:37 -0600
In contrast the later Rattle And Hum roots exercise was a more dubious
creative decision - evidenced here by the lame B.B. King collaboration,
When Love Comes To Town, alhough it did spawn the scintillating Angel Of
Harlem and the band's first UK Number 1 single Desire, both included.
Prompt purchasers will have the bonus of a gratis, limited edition
B-sides
collection (which is perhaps a more telling account of U2's musical
evolution) of which the closing Trash, Trampoline And The Party Girl is
the
boldest hint of what as to come. **** (out of *****) by David Sheppard
------------
>From The Irish Times:
Chernobyl children adopted
By Andy Pollak
For the first time two Belarussian children badly
affected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster have
been officially adopted by Irish families.
The two families and the children flew into Dublin
airport from the Belarussian capital, Minsk,
yesterday evening together with the head of the
Chernobyl Children's Project, Ms Adi Roche.
Mrs Helen and Mr Chris Barrett of Baldoyle, Co
Dublin have adopted three-year-old Alexei; Mrs
Barrett is Ms Roche's sister.
They first took him into their care when he was six
months old and had a massive tumour over his left
eye. Although Belarussian doctors had given him
only six weeks to live if he remained in the
abandoned babies home in Minsk, surgery over the
past two and a half years in Temple Street
children's hospital in Dublin has given him new
hope. He will need continuing treatment but is now
attending a play school.
Mrs Helen and Mr Robert Gabriel from Bandon, Co
Cork, who already have three daughters, have
adopted six-year-old Anna. Also abandoned at birth,
she uses a wheelchair but is mobile most of the
time on her stunted legs. When she reaches the age
of nine, she will have to decide, with her new
parents, whether to have her legs amputated or else
remain wheelchair-bound for the rest of her life.
Last week the two families travelled to Minsk where
the children had to undergo extensive assessment
and medical analysis. After several days of
bureaucratic delays while they changed from
Belarussian to Irish citizenship, they received their
Irish passports and were able to fly out from Minsk
yesterday morning.
Ms Roche and Ms Ali Hewson - wife of U2 lead
singer Bono - first brought Alexei and Anna to
Ireland two and a half years ago, and are now their
godparents. If they had been left in Belarussia they
would have been put in mental institutions once they
had reached the age of four.
------------
>From Bigmouth:
(Prarit's note: This makes no sense at all -- it's just, plain and
simply, WRONG.)
Boyzone singer Ronan Keating is to have a go at radio presenting this
weekend. Keating is due to stand in for Radio 1 DJ Mark Goodier on
Sunday morning. No doubt he will be playing U2's current
release,'Sweetest Thing', as Ronan and the boys guest on the track,
singing backing vocals.
------------
>From Netscape news:
(10/29/98, 6 p.m. PST) - Entropy, the next film by director Phil Joanou
will feature U2's Bono and Larry Mullen Jr. as themselves, and the band
appears in footage shot during the Pop Mart tour's Capetown, South
Africa date. However, Joanou noted, it's not a concert film. "It's a
love story," he insisted, "starring Stephen Dorff, not U2."
While Joanou's forthcoming effort may not be a concert film, the
director was on hand to kick off the Third International Documentary
Congress in Los Angeles on Wednesday (Oct. 28). After all, Joanou is
probably best-known as the director of U2's 1988 rockumentary Rattle And
Hum.
The wiry director was joined by filmmakers including D.A. Pennebaker
(Don't Look Back, Monterey Pop), Albert Maysles (Gimme Shelter), and
Michael Lindsay-Hogg (Let It Be) to discuss the problems and pleasures
of documenting rock music and musicians.
Through the years, such documentaries have captured some of the greatest
moments in rock. There's probably no more enduring image of Jimi Hendrix
than his setting a guitar on fire while playing "Wild Thing," which was
shot by Pennebaker for the documentary Monterey Pop. Other memorable
rock moments captured on film include the Beatles playing "Get Back" on
a London rooftop in Let It Be, Bob Dylan ruthlessly taunting Donovan in
Don't Look Back, Mick Jagger helplessly pleading for calm in Gimme
Shelter, the Los Angeles punk band Fear getting into an onstage brawl
with its fans seen in The Decline Of Western Civilization, and David
Byrne's "big suit" in Stop Making Sense.
Pennebaker said the key to getting musicians to feel comfortable enough
to give "real" performances is a matter of gaining trust: "every
musician has a place in their mind that they go and hide. You have to be
able to draw them out." Lindsay-Hogg agreed, but added that intuition
("you just smell it") and a little deviousness definitely helps. Early
in the shooting of Let It Be Lindsay-Hogg became aware that John Lennon
and Paul McCartney were close to erupting, but was worried they might
try and smooth things over and present a united front to the cameras.
"They had known each other since they were kids and knew what buttons to
push," He said. The solution: "We pulled all the way back and put very
long lenses on the cameras. There was also a camera high above them, in
a loft. They had no idea they were being filmed." But even the best-laid
plans can go awry, he said. A planned 1977 film, featuring Lennon,
Jagger and other stars playing themselves as old men, was scrubbed when
Yoko Ono read Lennon's horoscope and advised that he should not
participate.
Everyone agreed that while having a good relationship offstage is
important, it's worthless unless they get the onstage performance.
Pennebaker commented that it's easier to teach "musicians to work a
camera than it is to get cameramen to understand music." It's a question
of understanding, he continued, giving the example of the Hendrix
footage at Monterey. Festival organizer John Phillips had given him a
heads up, telling him that the at the time relatively unknown guitarist
"'would set himself on fire,' so you bet I had one camera on him the
entire time." He pointed out that the entire Hendrix performance was so
riveting that it was captured in one shot, with very few cutaways.
Joanou laughed at that story, explaining he had a very difference
experience on Rattle And Hum bringing in professional camera operators,
giving them set lists, and re-lighting and staging U2's entire show.
Then, the first night of scheduled filming, "Bono changed the setlist,
and we ended up with nothing. I had about 11 medium shots of Bono and
nothing else." Needless to say, he approached the band members (who were
also the film's producers) and told them "not to pull that sh-t again."
While the filmmakers' comments were interesting, the real thrill was
seeing footage from the classic documentaries projected on a big screen
with crystal sound. The raw, immediate quality of performances the
Rolling Stones, the Beatles, Hendrix, Dylan and the Who begged the
question if it was possible for any modern band, so conscious of image
and worried about ruining a million-dollar franchise, would allow itself
to be seen in equally unfiltered, unmediated fashion. Joanou and
Lindsay-Hogg despaired, with the former being especially emphatic in
blaming MTV. Julien Temple and Penelope Spheeris said their next films,
focusing on the punk movements in London and Los Angeles 20 years on,
will prove it can still be done. Pennebaker added he had no doubt, but
it will be on "a small and quiet scale, as it should be."
After the conference, the filmmakers mingled with the audience. Mel
Stuart, the director of the wonderful but little-seen Wattstax, said the
reason the film isn't available on video is due to licensing problems.
"You've got some 20 artists, all with their own agenda, It's a
nightmare." But, he laughed, the film was plagued with problems from the
beginning. The planned climax of the film was Isaac Hayes performing his
then-current hit, "Shaft." But Jim Aubrey, then the head of MGM,
wouldn't allow the song to be used. Since it was the only song from
Hayes's set he had shot, Stuart (incredibly, also the director of Willy
Wonka & The Chocolate Factory) had to bring Hayes onto a soundstage and
shoot another song.
-- Steven Mirkin, Los Angeles
------------
Condensed from The Irish Times:
(Prarit's note: from an article about REM's Micheal Stipe. Stipe
notes that...)
"Bono told me some time back that I should take some of the
theatricality of Beckett's work into our stage presentation. I loved
the suggestion, and I'd read some of his work, which Bono gave me.
Beckett has a strong face, and great grey hair just like Dashiel
Hammett."
------------
CMJ interview with The Edge is available at,
http://www.cmj.com/Features/theedge.html
------------
Prarit's shameless attempt to make money(well, at least I'm
honest about it...):
PopMart Video -- Live in Mexico City
http://www.cdnow.com/switch/from=sr-1349749/target=buyweb_purchase/ddcn=MVD-R-4136
Best of U2 - 1980-90 LTD EDITION (incl. B-side)
http://www.cdnow.com/switch/from=sr-1349749/target=buyweb_purchase/ddcn=SD-73141+524612+2
Best Of U2-1980-90
http://www.cdnow.com/switch/from=sr-1349749/target=buyweb_purchase/ddcn=SD-73141+524613+2
------------
>From VIVAText:
Quote from The Edge on future touring plans:
[.......I can't imagine that U2 will do a next tour which is again so
big
like Popmart or Zoo-TV. I think that we are now too old for such things.
No
one of us is able to travel around the world for over one year. We are
too
lazy for this!]
------------
Island Records has a bunch of stuff you can win. The entries will
be judged by U2! And the best of game will make you laugh
uncontrollably :D
http://www.island.co.uk/u2/main.html
------------
I'd like to express my sympathy and shock to my Swedish/Nordic
readers this morning. I just heard about the horrible fire in
Gothenburg, Sweden where it is reported 65 teen-agers have
passed away in an arson fire. I hope none of you have lost anyone
close...
------------
Irish Times Review:
In an effort to keep the size of the digest to a manageable level,
I have created a new file called
http://www.members.home.net/u2-news/gh_reviews.html
where all reviews of the new album will be kept.
------------
The latest issue of CMJ(Nov. 2nd, 1998 issue: 594 vol.56 no.7) has
an interview with Edge talking about the Best Of, Sweetest Thing,
touring in the US in the early 80's, and college radio in the early
80's.
Its a fairly long article and has a picture of the band (ala POP) on the
cover and another picture taken from the early 80's when the band
was at KUSF radio at the University of San Francisco further inside
the article.
Thanks to Nico for the above...
------------
*SEVERAL* locations from around the world have reported that
the Best of and the PopMart video are on sale. These list includes
NYC, LA, Holland, Germany, France...
------------
Thanks to Derek Mark McCallister for the following:
Article from the Irish Star Newspaper 30/10/98.
" U2 HAVE THE EDGE"
Rock legends U2 have gone 7 times platinum before it has even gone
on sale!.
Advanced orders for the Best of U2 1980-1990 has already past the
100,000 mark. That makes Mondays release of the long awaited disc
the biggest in the musical history of the state.
Golden Discs boss Tony Killoran said the buzz about the latest
release from Bono, Edge, Larry and adam was unprecedented. All
stores have never experienced such exitement and anticipation from
the public as far this U2 album. A record number of music retailers
are opening at midnight on Sunday to cope with the rushing demand.
Demand will be more intensified by the release of a limited edition
bonus album with the 14 track album, this extra includes 15 of U2's
b sides from the 80's and it is retailing at normal one disc price.
Irelands fab four are still celebrating going straight into number
1 last week with the Sweetest Thing.
The following shops will open:
Golden Discs; Grafton st., Dun Laoghaire, Cork, Donegal Place and
Belfast.
Tower Records; Dublin.
Virgin Megastores: Dublin and Cork.
HMV; Grafton St, Henry St, Cork.
Music City; Dun Laoghaire and Rathmines.
Record Sleeve; Dundalk, Monaghan, Navan.
Zhivago: Galway.
Laser Discs: Cork.
Lee Records: Kerry.
Roxy Music: Kerry.
Sinnots: Waterford.
Heartbeat City; Kilkenny.
Discland; Navan.
Vision City; Tipperary.
Blacktrack; Clondalkin.
Letterkenny Music; Donegal.
------------
In this week's NME, The Edge reportedly confirms that U2 are
again working with Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno.
(Prarit's note: Lanois and Eno's latest work is Willie Nelson's
Teatro. If you don't have it, I strongly urge you to purchase it --
you'll be very pleasantly surprised...)
------------
>From The Irish Times:
Trading up,trading down
25 detached houses in the Dublin hills will
appeal to families trading up and couples
moving from larger homes, writes Jack Fagan,
Property Editor
RATHFARNHAM: A development of 25 stylish
detached houses in a woodland setting off College
Road, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16, goes on sale today,
with prices around �400,000. It is easily one of the
best upmarket schemes to come on the market this
year.
Location, as always, is expected to prove a strong
selling point for the three-bedroom and
four-bedroom homes in the Brehons Chair estate.
The 13-acre site runs up to the side of a hill wedged
between St Colmcille's School and the beautiful,
wooded estate of U2 musician Adam Clayton. Apart
from being within easy access of the Dublin
mountains, it overlooks the route of the Southern
Cross extension to the M50.
------------
Condensed from CNN:
N2k's Music Boulevard Offers Music Fans the Chance to Rock
around the World
PRNewswire
28-OCT-98
NEW YORK, Oct. 28 /PRNewswire/-- Starting today through November 24,
N2K's Music Boulevard, the world's #1 online music superstore and the
online division of N2K Inc. (Nasdaq: NTKI), invites music fans to enter
the Rock Around the World Sweepstakes for a chance to win a rock 'n'
roll dream vacation. Music fans that enter the Rock Around The World
Sweepstakes can choose one of four grand prizes: a Beatles British
Pilgrimage to London and Liverpool, a Dream Date with the Dave Matthews
Band in Chicago, U2 Trip to Ireland or New Year's Eve in Las Vegas with
Neil Diamond. Ten First Prize winners will receive a Marantz tabletop
music stereo system valued at $1,000 and 25 Second Prize winners receive
a $25 gift certificate to Music Boulevard.
To enter, music fans simply fill out the entry form on Music Boulevard--
(www.musicblvd.com/rocktheworld). There is no purchase necessary to win
and users can submit one entry per day until November 24, 1998. Prizes
will be drawn at random and winners will be announced on or around
December 2. Music fans can choose one of four grand prizes:
<snip>
* U2 Trip to Ireland-- Find everything you're looking for with a
week-long, behind-the-scenes look at the career of this revolutionary
band. Winners will receive round-trip air transportation for two (2)
to Dublin, Ireland, six (6) nights hotel accommodations and VIP
passes to "The Kitchen," Bono's club in Dublin. Winners will also
receive a limited-edition 7" vinyl U2 collectors edition boxed set, a
limited-edition helmet replica from U2's Best of 1980-1990 cover,
a framed landscape lithograph of U2's Best of 1980-1990 cover, plus
a private rock 'n' roll walking tour of music landmarks in Dublin,
including historically significant locations for U2.
------------
>From [email protected] :
(re: The Rocktropolis Interview)
I taped it on my answering machine. The sound quality sucks, but you
won't
hear this girl complaining! A brief synopsis as I'm an hour late for
class!!!!
When they called I could hear the guys talking in the background, they
were
discussing Aerosmith..... laughing, having fun. then the dj announced
me.
Conversation:
.....welcome back to U2 1980 to 1990, we're going to go to the phone
lines to
a lucky caller to talk to U2, Kelly in Warner Robins, Georgia.
(me) yes, hi guys
(all the guys) Hi Kelly, hello kelly,
(me) how ya'll doin' today.
(the guys) Good, very good,
(me) I've got a question for you. Eveyone knows about your incredible,
outstanding musical abilities, but I was just curious if any of you have
any
other strange or bizarre talents, for example, my talent is that I can
pick up
just about anything with my toes. Do ya'll have any tricks like that?
(Bono) Adam can pick up a few things
(laughter...)
(Adam) with my toe.
(dj) I gotta tell you, Larry has held his head down which means he has
something to say...
(laughter)
(?) what can you do lars?
(me) what is it larry?
(laughing),
(me) what can you do with your toes larry?
(DJ) ya got one i know you do.
(Larry lets out a heavy breath)
(me) does it involve a body part?
(laughter)
(Larry) I'm not sure if i'm quite ready to annouce my special trick to
everyone in north america.
(DJ) he's got one I know he does...
(Me) well, share!
(Larry) it's a good question though
(bono) he's a great conjurer, I've seen him wow a room of people with
his
tricks. (me) what kind of tricks?
(Larry)- Valerie, will you....
(dj) it's kelly.
(Larry)- Kelly, Kelly, sorry about that,
(me) that's okay, I'll answer to anything at this point!
(Larry) I want you to pick a card.
(me) o.k. i got one.
(Larry)- put it back, put it back in the deck,
(me), o.k.
(Larry)- what number was it?
(me) what card was it? it wasn't a number, it was a face card.
(Larry)- it was a face card? what kind was it?
(me) why the queen of hearts of course!
(lots of laughter)
(DJ) that's amazing!!!...kelly thank you very much for calling in today.
(all the guys) bye Kelly
(Bono) thank you my little queen of hearts.
(Me) aw, Thank You!
------------
ST debuted at #4 on the Norwegian charts.
------------
>From @U2:
The Mirror October 16, 1998, Friday
HEADLINE: SINGLE OF THE WEEK; SINGLES REVIEW
U2 Sweetest Thing (Island)
Check the calendar. Is this the '80s again? Have U2 rediscovered their
sense of fun? This kicks off like just another mournful ditty but then
the
underlying beat swells into three musical minutes that leave you haunted
and cheered by turns. The video is excellent too, with fellow Irish
outfit
Boyzone on backing vocals. Their stadium tour now over, U2 have clearly
gone back to their roots - and how.
Hull Daily Mail October 23, 1998
U2 - Sweetest Thing. Reviewed by Chris Bucktin
The Sweetest Thing, the latest offering from the irrepressible Irish
band
brings them finally back to their roots. It is U2 at their best - the
old
school. Those who haven't heard this yet must have spent the last two
months on another planet. For the last 11 years the single has been
languishing on the B-side of Where The Streets Have No Name and now it
has
finally stepped out its shadow to become a classic in its on right.
Undoubtedly this is U2 for the beginner. The single has been stripped of
all the gadgetry and technology that has been a trademark of the band
over
recent years. The influence of Brian Eno seems to have taken a back seat
on
this occasion and the result is what many see as a priceless vintage.
The
catchy 'oh ooh woh' hook is already on the lips of anyone who's anyone.
Anyone who isn't should be beamed back now. For this really is the
sweetest
thing.
------------
>From a Japanese reader:
U2- "Sweetest Thing" PHDR-953 3" cd single
1. Sweetest Thing (The Single Mix) (3:00)
2 With or Without You (4:55)
------------
Sweetest Thing has charted at number one in Ireland. The video is
#24 in Canada.
I'm interesting in all countries' chartings for the single and video...
please feel free to email them to me...
-- Prarit....[email protected] U2 news: http://www.members.home.net/u2-news/u2.html
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.0b2 on Sun Nov 01 1998 - 09:02:16 PST