by LaDoDa » Sat Jun 07, 2008 1:46 pm
Ok, probably should have prefaced this with "OT", but I was so floored by this I think it is appropriate to share it here. PLEASE read.
I'm a huge Journey fan with the stack of "Journey Force" newsletters and the "Schon NS-1" guitar to prove it.
I'm also a fan of U2 (in my opinion one of the greatest rock bands ever), and I happened to be reading the book U2 by U2 today and came across an amazing story--I'll set the story up and let Bono's words finish it...
So think Joshua Tree tour, 1987 (several months after I saw Journey in Louisville in 1986). This is back when many communities in the States were "reluctant" to celebrate and/or recognize Martin Luther King day. U2 expended tons of energy promoting Martin Luther King day along their tour, and even came back to Tempe Arizona to further promote the cause. Their work was under-appreciated to say the least, and they received death threats throughout the tour. The FBI even became envolved, and Bono was warned that someone had promised to take his life at a particular show, who professed to have a ticket and a weapon, and would act if they sang the song "Pride (In the Name of Love)".
Of course U2/Bono didn't heed the warnings, played the show, and launched into "Pride".
So, I'll let Bono finish the story:
"So we played the show, the FBI were around, everyone was a little unnerved. You just didn't know, could he be in the building? Up in the rafters? On the roof? During 'Pride', I was singing the third verse, 'Early morning April 4, a shot rings out in a Memphis sky.' I just closed my eyes and sang. And when I opened my eyes, Adam was standing in front of me."
Yep that's right, he opened his eyes and his friend and bass player was standing in front of him literally to take a bullet. Pretty fucking kick ass if you ask me.
Peace.
ps. A big shout out to the big Deano in the sky!