Artist: Bono
Date: April 8th 2000
Venue: Groninger Museum, Groningen, The Netherlands
Source: Soundprofessional Standard Binaural microphones > Sharp MD-Mt20 (44,1kHz, Stereo, Mic-In, level 10)
Tapespot: Left of stage
Conversion: Sony MDS-JE640 > Optical > Creative Soundblaster 24 bit USB > Soundforge 4.5 (Editing) > CDwave 1.95.1 (tracksplitting) > FLAC (6, align on sector boundaries)
Editing: Fade in and out.
Comments:
Anton Corbijn is a famous photographer from Holland who has made alot of photo's from various artist, like Gavin Friday, The Rolling Stones, Miles Davis,
Depeche Mode and many more. Since around 1984 he is the main photographer from U2, he has done all the sleeve covers from The Joshua Tree, Achtung Baby,
Pop and other U2 pictures. He also made some videoclips for bands like Depeche Mode and U2.
Corbijn has held an exhibition of his 25 year of work in a museum in Groningen and invited Bono, as a long-time friend to open it. The exhibition was
only open to people who received an inventation, mainly being the press and famous international artists. I (as being a Journalisme-student that time)
called the museum, asking for an inventation. To my suprise I got one valid for two persons. So there we (me and my girl) went up to the museum.
I wrote a story about it which has been a top-story at http://www.atu2.com, http://www.atu2.com/news/archives/00/corbijn1.html
Now the taping. There was no equipment-check or whatever. I could have brought a tv-camera and brought that in but...I only got my MD and mics :-).
I did not really have the intention to make a great live-tape but you could never know what happened so I took them with me for certain.
My girlfriend had a nice bag in which I put the minidisc, closing the zipper and clipping the mics just above the zipper. No one could have noticed it.
Then again it was not forbidden. She hang her bag around her shoulders and just waited for the things that happened. We took a place about 5 meter
from the left of the microphone through which the persons spoke. While the first two people where speaking there was a lot of rumour and moving in the
room. Some people bumbed against the mics, resulting in cracks. During Bono's speech everyone was calm. The result is very good. Soundvolume is a bit low,
but after editing it, it could be a very good recording. I have not done that yet. It was one of the best expiriences in my life, got a hand of Bono,
his autograph and even a small talk with Adam Clayton (U2's bass-player) that night.
The top-story and a transcript of the speech are in this textfile too.
Taped/Compiled by B.R. (popmarter@gmail.com, June 2007)
DAE: No
Length: 105MB(FLAC) / 26:08 min.
Complete show: YES
01. PR-lady talking
02. Director Museum talking
03. Bono talking
--
From @u2.com
Bono Opens Corbijn Exhibition in Groningen
On Saturday the 8th of April, Bono opened Anton Corbijn's 25 jaar werk/25 years' work exhibition in Groningen, the Netherlands. The exhibition is held in the Groninger Museum and open to the public between April the 9th until June the 25th, 2000. Bono is a longtime friend of Anton Corbijn, who has been working with U2 since the mid '80s. Not only U2, but also various international artists, like the Rolling Stones, Joni Mitchell, Johnny Cash, Nick Cave have been in front of Corbijn's camera. An eyewitness report.
The exhibition opening, which was held between 21:00 hour till 23:00 hour, was only open for people who received an invitation. Many U2 fans, who came to see Bono, ended up waiting in front of the museum. Inside the museum were a lot of people from the press and some international artists. All gathering in a room waiting for Bono and Anton to appear. The press, with all their cameras, were located at the balcony.
Around 21:00 hour Bono and Anton walked through the crowd to the microphone up front. A bit like we remind us from the PopMart tour. Bono, all dressed in black, of course wearing his famous glasses looked very relaxed. Bono sits down on the front leaving Anton standing. While the museum director held his speech, Bono paid attention to a girl who was not feeling well because of the heat. She felt better after a word from Bono.
Then it was Bono's time to say a few words. Loud screaming and applause from the audience as Bono starts talking.
"You can sit now, it's gonna be a long one," he opens. Laughter all over. Bono: "When I first met Anton, I had one request. Make me look tall, skinny, intelligent and with a sense of humor. He (Anton - BR) said 'So you wanna look like me?' "
Again a big laughter from the crowd. Bono seemed relaxed and looked very cool. Bono continues, and while the audience listens very close, he makes a confession.
"Having your picture taken is an intimacy. It's like having sex. I have been having sex with Anton Corbijn for nearly 20 years now! He's very good at it and even better -- he writes, he phones, stays in touch. Our relationship is ongoing. It's very liberal. I don't mind him seen out with Depeche Mode, Michael Stipe. I don't mind cowboy hats and old cars turning up on THEIR album sleeves. Anton always comes back. Because Anton loves me, and I love Anton!"
After Bono's speech, he and Anton go downstairs where a photo shoot for the press is held. Meanwhile the rest of the people get drinks and take a look at all Corbijn's photos. One room has only pictures of Bono, from the early days till 1999. Between two videowalls, showing Corbijn's videoclips (from Depeche Mode and U2), there is hanging a huge(!) picture of Adam. The NAKED Adam. Yes, it is that tiny little "fifth" member which is on the Achtung Baby cover sleeve.
As we walk through the museum we notice a few artists. Howie B., producer and DJ is playing music in the upper room. Only a few people are dancing. Gavin Friday, longtime friend of U2 and former member of the Virgin Prunes is also present. Not many people recognise him. In a dark corner of the dance floor, we notice another special guest, Adam Clayton! He looks like he is having a good time. We ask him where the rest of the band is. He told us he and Bono are the only ones. This guy is so friendly and takes all the time for a picture. We decided not to hassle him anymore and leave him talking with his friends.
Around 23:00 hour we decided to leave, just in time to see large cars in front of the museum. Then Bono appears outside to get to his limo. The fans waiting outside are rewarded for their wait. He takes time to sign autographs and after 10 minutes Bono has to leave. After a few meters the car stops near a few other waiting fans, and Bono opens his cardoor and takes time again to sign things. Then it is all over, the car drives into the dark. We also leave, noticing Gavin Friday again, but no fans around him.
© 2000 @U2/Ruesink. All rights reserved.
------------
Speech transcript
Bono:
You can sit now, it's gonna be a long one
(Laughter)
When I first met Anton, I had one request. "Make me look tall, skinny, intelligent, with a sense of humor." He said "So you want to look like me?"
(Laughter)
It is a bit worrying seeing the mullet. Just like to mention, Ann...who's doing his hair is up there. A mullet is an Irish mohawk.
This museum in Groningen is a historical place, imaginitive place. A perfect place to see the the work of this great photographer. It is a bit overwhelming, almost spooky for me to see my own journey over nearly 20 years, from innocence to experience. I hope my face could be as open again as it is in that helicopter, taken in...I think it is 1982 before U2 took off.
Native Americans, Indians don't like photography, they feel their soul is stolen from them, when a picture is taken. I think I agree with that. You have to [...??] me, actors, models and rockstars to know that is definitly true. Having your picture taken is an intimacy. It is like having sex, you should not feel any difference but you do, in ways that can't be measured. I have been having sex with Anton Corbijn for nearly 20 years now.
(Laughter, whooo-ing)
He is very good at it, and even better -- he writes, he phones, stays in touch. Our relationship is ongoing. It is very liberal. I don't mind him seen out with Depeche Mode, Michael Stipe. I don't mind cowboy hats, [...??], old cars turning up on their album sleeves and videos. Anton always comes back, because Anton loves me, and I love Anton.
(Applause)
I think I have a feel for the essence of the man. Maybe it's a religious thing, he is the son of a clerk, his father Anton is here tonight, his mother Mary, his sister Aaf. His portraits have a kind of [...??] quality. It's a Dutch performers-eye that he throws on beauty and celebrity, there is a gentleman's guild in his appreciation in women, and kind of old fashion strength in his portraits of men that most could never measure up to. Most.
(Laughter)
And if it gets steamy or erotic it is always the comic side, because with Anton the darkness is just around the corner from the daylight he loves to shoot in.
Religious also in the sense that Anton is an icon-maker. And is it not true that celebrity is this Millennium what religion was to the last? A thousand years ago, Nick Cave would have been Saint John, Dennis Hopper would have been Moses, Herman Brood is definitely Jeremiah. I...would have appeared as a Burning Bush [meaning God - BR].
The truth is...these are not pictures of celebrities. Anton does not do celebrity photos. In fact, celebrity is mocked in these pictures. A lot of the work we did together in the '90s took that as it seem. With U2 I always felt that Anton was photographing the songs, not us. They were much more interesting, and he dressed us up both with their qualities. It was always the work that mattered. Werk, werk, werk [meaning "work" in Dutch - BR]. Typical protestant.
(Laughter)
He needs some Irish catholic friend.
(Laughter and applause)
You do know that the Dutch gave us the gold and the Irish flag...but...that's a story for another day.
I'd like to mention...cause I think Anton would have like to mention...Nassim, much more than a make-up artist, his muse. Anja, much more than a assistant, his counsel. Monica much more than a PA, his hair stylist.
(Laughter)
So...there goes Anton Corbijn, God's hype, a new Dutch Master, a funny man, a serious photographer, a silent moviemaker who can dance with a retrospective in one of the great museums of the world. So what is his problem? Anton...wants to be a drummer!
(Big laughter and applause)
Hartelijk welkommen allemaal [meaning: "welcome everybody" in Dutch - BR]
© 2000 @U2.com