Adam Clayton is among the numerous participants in 2FM 40: The Uncensored Story, an hour-long documentary that will air at 4pm on the day of the stations’s birthday, Friday May 31, and which will be repeated on Radio 1 at 6pm on Bank Holiday Monday, June 3.
“Largely you’d go round to Golden Discs, you’d go down to Pat Egan’s, y’know, what singles you or your friends would have bought at the weekend; it’s kind of crazy when you think how music is consumed now,” Adam reflects. “We thought in terms of three or four singles at the weekend. It (Radio 2) was a revolution because up to that point it had been RTÉ Radio 1, which was almost set in the ‘50s or that’s how it felt to our generation.”
Dave Fanning and Ian Wilson sit down together to discuss how during the summer of ’79 they championed a young band by the name of U-2.
“U2 had recorded three songs, and they came in to us five nights in a row; we decided they’d talk every night and the listeners of the Dave Fanning Show would decide what would be the A-Side of their first single, what would the B-side and which of the three songs would be thrown in the bin,” Fanning recalls.
Narrated by Derry Girl Nicola Coughlan, AKA Wee Clare, the documentary has been produced by the award-winning duo of Will Leahy and JJ Hartigan with the former promising “the highs, lows, triumphs and tragedies” that have shaped the station.
Also airing at 9am on Friday May 31 is a top-secret show, which we’ve had a sneak preview of and can confirm will blow your minds. In a good way!
"What will be broadcast is something we think has never been tried anywhere in the world,” Will tells Hot Press. “It has taken us over six months to make and we think is a fitting tribute to one of the most significant aspects of 2FM's storied history. We genuinely suggest changing your work schedule for this day so as not to miss it.”
The big reveal will be happening soon, so stay tuned to hotpress.com for details!