Dave Fanning on U2

“I reviewed a 24-hour event at the Project Arts Centre for Hot Press in 1979. They were playing Death Race 2000 in a room, and U2 were playing next door. I recall thinking: 'these guys are definitely getting better'."
"I had seen them in McGonagles as The Hype, but I was playing music in-between the bands and I can’t say I remember a lot – I was probably wondering when they were going to finish so I could play my records. I do remember their second gig in London, at a place called The Nashville Rooms. They were third on the bill, with Secret Affair as the headliners. This is going to sound ridiculous, but the most incredible thing happened: the venue’s soundman had his dog with him, so it was literally a man and his dog watching the show. Paul McGuinness was never more happy to see myself and some friends walk in the door!"
“Of course, in August of that year they had come on our show – for an entire week. Imagine bringing a band onto the radio five nights in a row, before they’d even released a single, and only had three songs. Like, can you imagine doing that now? To this day I don’t know why we did that – I mean, we didn’t have a fucking clue they’d become what they did. And there we were talking about three songs. It was pathetic.
"In terms of the way they’ve always gone to – and I hate saying this – ‘the next level’, they’re definitely still the biggest rock band in the world. They might also be the last one, the last band standing. It used to be Oasis, but U2 are the only band that are still there.
“I’ve seen this tour four times already, and there’s a few changes that I’ve been happy to see. They’ve honed it as they’ve gone along, changing the entire middle section. I don’t know how it’s going to work at 3Arena, as far as the shape is concerned. In one way, though, a Dublin gig is a pain. You wouldn’t believe the people ringing me, as though I have tickets coming out my arse. I’m not putting the gig on! I’m not Bono, it’s nothing to do with me! So fuck off!”
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