104th RSOC Meeting

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Happy Adam Day!!

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Adam Chat - 1997

Transcript of the chat with Adam Clayton
August 31th '97





"Alex: Hi everyone. We're live in Dublin with U2 bassist Adam Clayton. We'll start now.

Salome269 says: Adam, what has been the weirdest experience during this tour so far?

Adam: The weirdest experience is always the moment the lemon opens. You always go, is this gonna work? Is this what it feels like to be Michael Jackson?

Patrick_M says: Did the huge success of the "Mission:Impossible theme" - The most sucesseful U2-related single on the US chatrs on this decade - give you & Larry the satisfaction of proving youtwo can survive without the "other two" ?

Adam: I don't think either of us saw it as an opportunity to give up our day jobs. We realized it was because of U2 it was received so well. It was great to do something on our own without Edge and Bono. Creatively it was easier to communicate between the two of us.

^BadCop^ says: If the Smurfs wanted to do a cover of one of U2's songs, would you let them?

Adam: I guess we would, yeah.

Upoo2 says: Have you ever noticed your bass is out of tune on Two Hearts Beat As One?

Adam: On the recording version on that it's quite possible. Back then I didn't pay attention to tuning or timing. But I've learned to count til 4 since then.

Shades says: Adam...if you had just one record to listen to for the rest of your life...which would it be?

Adam: That's very veryhard. It might be a VanMorrison record. Or a Bob Marley record. I couldn't narrow it down any clkoser than that. Could be a Miles Davis record.

LEKO says: Adam, in 1992 ZOO TV I was in front of you during the Montreal concert, and I admire your standing, you looked proud and very cool... This kind of behaviour comes from your mother or your father?

Adam: My goodness this person must know my Mum or my Dad. I don't know where the good genes come in our family - maybe from our grandparents.

Guybrush says: What exactly is the process during songwriting where you come up with those basslines? Are the songs built around your lines or is it theother way round?

Adam: Each individual case is different. Sometimes Edge will co me together with a chord sequence that justn eeds a bass part added to it. Other times we'll take a bass part that happens in a rehearsal situation or a sound check and we'll work some chords over that. Please was a case where we put some chords over that.

Deseree says: Adam, do you ever sing in the shower?

Adam: Very, very occasionally.

Godpart3 says: Adam, do you ever try on bono's stage costumes when he's not around?

Adam: Every band needs someone like Bono in it. When you join a band you don't know who's good at what - I'm really pleased that Bono took the job that he took and that I took the job that I took.

Upoo2 says: Are you happier now than in 1987?

Adam: I was pretty confused in 1987. I'm still confused, but definitely happier.

Kelly says: Adam, has Larry sold his soul to thee devil....is that why he looks so young?

Adam: It might look that way sometimes, it's just that he's actually 2 years younger than the rest of us.

Guybrush says: How do you feel when the crowd responds so wildly to the memorable basslines like in New Years Day or With or Without You?

Adam: Everytime you get that great response in your head you go I wish there were a few more where those came from. But I playdifferently now. Back then you took an idea and played it for all it's worth.

Tonster: Any truth to the tale that the lyrics to "Drowning Man" were written to you?

Adam: I don't think so. I think one of the aspects of the way Bono writes lyrics is he draws on a broad base of experience that's based on everyone he's involved with. He takes little bits and we're all the same in many ways. We each have our own tragedies or loyalties or successes and he just makes it universal.

Danie says: Do you like to sit and listen to your own records..or is it hard for you to listen to your own music?

Adam: I listen to them sometimes. Usually the record that we've just finished making I'll listen to quite a lot because we're trying to learn how to play it live and I'm still moving things around in my head with it. I goi back to older records sometimes but you tend to hear just mistakes. You realize that your initial instincts about it are absolutely true.

Arielle says: Adam, which song do you feel is most changed by a live performance vs. studio recording?

Adam: In the show that we're doing at the moment I think Velvet Dress would be a candidate for that. Discotheque is a different live version.

Cyrelle says: Adam, what profession would you be involved with were it not for U2?

Adam: I think about this one every couple of years and I always come up with somehting pretty good. Maybe a truck driver or something. I like being on the road. It's a very confusing bundle of emotions. Playing one night is bad enough in as much as it's much easier to pose in front of a mirror than in front of your friends and family. The show is the easisest part of the dayin your hometown because you come home and everything catches up with you. Playing two nights just kind of doubles trouble. But Irish audiences are fantastic and wellworth it.

JOEJOEJOE says: Any comments on Princess Diana?

Adam: I heard the news this morning at 10:00 and it kicked me sideways and I don't really know why. She represented a change within Britian and the aristocracy. And that's been swept away. it was also such a senseless thing. I understand what happened in being chased by the paparazzi. They're risk-takers. There were motobikes involved and it's quite likely someone pulled in front. It is senseless. It's a complicated issue because we all like to read the newspapers.

Omar says: Which is your favorite writer?

Adam: I haven't read a book for a while! I like the Flannery O'Connor books, things like that, they're an influence on what we were doing around the time of Joshua Tree. I really like The English Patient - it was a bewitching book. The film was great as well.

POPsickle says: Adam, U2's videos are pretty striking.. do you enjoy being involved in making music videos?

Adam: I absolutely hate being involved in the making of music videos. I abhor them. The visual presentation of music is upon us -- I never know what the videos are about, but hey, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

Greg says: Have you ever played a porno on your awesome HUGE Popmart screen for fun?!

Adam: It's an idea that has come up a couple of times! But it hasn't been done as yet, maybe sometime in the future.

Salome269 says: Adam: how do you feel about performing for the mtv awards?

Adam: Kinda looking forward to it becvause we've never really performed at those things before. Doing TV shows can be fun. We used to do it a lot a few years back. I think it's better to be performing at these things than in the audience.

Patrick_M says: A question about remixes. Some of them are great and really take the song a step further - Lady with the spinning head being a fine example. Others, like Lemon - Version Dub - areproduced with hardly anything from U2's original encarnation of the song. What is U2's real involvement with the DJ's that remixes the song?

Adam: Our involvement with the Djs is you tell them how great the track is, and normally they only really want a vocal so you send them a DAT and then they build up the rest themselves. It's always interesting to us to get them back and see what they've done with them. It's kind of nice that they're a surprise because it's never what you expect to hear. That's the nature of a remix -- you want to be surprised.

Tonster: How do you feel about bootlegs?

Adam: I think bootlegs are something that's very difficult to stop. There are fans out there that want to buy them. I don't like overpriced bootlegs that are ripping the fans off. If they're good quality recordings of a show then I'm happy enough that people have access to those things. I know there's a culture out there that listens to these things so I sort of tolerate it, providing no one's getting ripped off.

Leia says: Who are your major influences?

Adam: Again this is a question that comes up every so often . . . I think Peter Hook who used to be in Joy Division was an influence in that he showed me something different he could do with a bass. And then James Jameson who played bass on a lot of Motown records in the early days, electric bass playing, showed me how you could funk it up with rhythm and melody. I aspire to move between those three spirits when I'm playing.

MichaelW says: What are your (as well as the band's) feelings towards 'overzealous' fans at shows? Also, do you think the Internet has made fans more overzealous, or does it just seem that way?

Adam: It depends what you mean by overzealous. I think people being excited or moved by an experience -- that's what it's all about. But there is a tendency for people to be obsessive. Certainly I don't mind meeting people who love the music and if there's an opportunity to talk about that I'm happy to take it. There was a time people were just looking for an autograph and I'm happy to do that as well. But there are people taking it to extreme - an autograph, a photo, a video recorder, and could you fill this bag up with old clothes.

Guybrush says: Was it a pleasant experience hanging your willy out for all to see on Achtung Baby?

Adam: I had to be talked into it, I have to say. I was very nervous and apprehensive about revealing myself in such a way. But I got into the spirit of wickedness, I suppose. I objected to the censorship that happened in some countries. I think nude photography is absolutely appropriate and shouldn't embaraass anyone. I think the photos Robert Mapplethorpe took of male nudes helped me look at myself as a man and looking at penises. It's a hard thing to overcome but it's good. I only wish I had an erection at the time.

CyberMoon says: What is your favorite song off Pop?

Adam: Again it kind of changes on a weekly basis. Maybe my alltime favorite is Please, which we've just rerecorded for the single. Playboy Mansion always brings a smile to my face.

Adamsgirl says: You are, arguably, the best dressed man in rock. How do you do it?

Adam: That's definitely arguable if you talk to me other three mates. I don't really operate on that level very often but I'm glad somebody notices that I'm well turned out.

Adamsgirl says: How well do you get on with your bandmates after a few months on the road?

Adam: It's not really a question of months, it's years at this stage - 20 years together. Every so often youlook at that and go 20 years, it's like being married. How many people really have friendships that have survived 20 years. I value it and think it's an amazing achievement.

Guybrush says: Do you feel you've toned downed on stage during the concerts over the years?

Adam: I certainly have. You get a little wiser. I remember being very enthusiastic and active -- a lot of that came from fighting for our lives, living hard to mouth. We didn't know if we'd get to release another record and every tour and evyer performance counted. I was fueled up on adrenalin. Now the music has become a lot more important to me - the playing of it. Listening to Larry, supporting Bono - that's important. Now my concentration is more on 1-2-3-4 were we go rather than any athletic ambitions I might have.

May says: Adam,what do you want that you don't have?

Adam: Gosh, again, one of those things you can think of something really insightful to say. I suppose nowadays I wish I didn't have to work nights, but that's not very rock 'n' roll.

POPsickle says: Adam, do you ever plan on writing an autobiography?

Adam: No I don't. I'm not sure if the world would be that interested in my inner thoughts and feelings nad if I was to write something that's what it'd be about because I would not write something that would compromise relationships and loyalties.

Gurt says: Adam, where do you think U2 will be in 2010?

Adam: I don't know. Again it's something that you think up and wonder if there's a time limit - youwonder if you can plan for that eventuality, whatever that is. I think probably U2 will be making music and performing in some stage and theatre somewhere. It's kind of the only thing we know how to do.

Rick says: Adam, tell us about your experience in Kansas with W.S: Burroughs!

Adam: William Burroughs is an amazing man. I don't really know that much about him. I've read some of his work and I know he's got a feisty attitude about some things. He seemed to have a lot of spirit and a lot of youth and we sat and talked nad he was very switched on to what was going on. It was an amazing experience and his subsequent death makes it even more precious.

Shades says: Adam...do you feel any sort of competition with the Rolling Stones new tour?

Adam: I don't think we think in terms of competition with other tours. The Rolling Stones do what they do very well and they have an amazing history. It's amazing that at this stage they want to get up on stage and is a real testament to their friendship. I think it's about more than how much they'll have in their bank account at the end.

Salome269 says: How do you feel about bands like spice girls and hanson taking over the radio waves?

Adam: There's always been pop music and pop bands and every couple of years there's a new band comes up with a different sound. I don't know what's going to happen to Hanson when their voices break. I certainly like looking at the Spice Girls. They get people into record shops and talking about music.

Mofo says: Adam,do u ever go sightseeing in the citys that you tour?

Adam: No. Very very rarely. You end up really seeing the inside of the hotel and the inside of the gig and usually we have the same furniture that travels so I don't think I've been going anywhere for the last year, I've been in the same place goiong backwards and forwards.

Deseree says: Adam, do you see U2 working with any rap artists, such as Dr. Dre?

Adam: Well, I wouldn't rule out working with Dre. We're big fans of his and we've met him a couple of times.It's a question of tempos 'cuz those guys work at slower tempos. We met up when we were mastering our album in New York with Aza because we wanted to get him to a remix of Discotheque at the time but in the end he said that the speed of this is too fast for rap or hip hop. I think we're going to give him a go with If God Would Send His Angels.

Adamsgirl says: Does being on tour tend to make one a less responsible citizen?

Adam: Yes, unfortunately. It's very corrupting. You do kind of forget the values of the real world because your values tend to reflect what you're doing which is the show is the most important thing and the show happens at roughly the same time every night and there can't be a problem that can't be gotten over. When you get back in the real world you have to negotiate a little more with the citizens.

Salome269 says: Would you rather be invisible or be able to fly?

Adam: I'd like to be able to fly.

Salome269 says: What do you wish to achieve in the coming year?

Adam: I'd like to get to the end of this tour feeling fulfilled from having accomplished something tha thas been very hard and has tkane a lot of hard work. I'd like to have my sanity. I'd like to feel creatively stimulated to kind of go back in there and make another great record.

Patrick_M says: Would U2 ever release an Anthology-like box-set?

Adam: Maybe at some point it would be interesting to people. I was there when some of that first stuff was recorded and I'm not sure how interseting it is. At the moment I'd prefer that people didn't get access to the bottom drawer.

Ai says: In one word, what is popmart to you?

Adam: It's the next century.

Ariel says: Adam, when you are being interviewed, can you tell the difference between a journalist who has simply researched your history and one that is truly a fan?

Adam: It is a contradiction. People who are truly fans ask certain kinds of questions that sometimes you haven't thought about. A journalist who's really reserached yourhistory is a lot more academic in their approach and you tend to respond more academically.

SpanishEyesU2 says: Do you think U2's music is reaching out to the younger audience?

Adam: Definitely. It wasn't so apparent in America and I guess that's because a lot of people don't really like going to stadiums. But since we've come to Europe and are playing genearl admission we've found we've gotten a younger, more aggressive audience that's ready to party. Our music has stayed relevant to people who are just getting turned on to music. If we'd stayed oding what we were dong on the Joshua Tree I think we weould've gotten older musically. We still have our Joshua Tree fans but we also have other fans who come at us different musically and every other which way,.

Cambot says: What's your favorite food?

Adam: Sushi.

Anne says: Adam, would you mind it if the band i'm in played some U2 cover tunes?

Adam: Not at all. Maybe she'd be able to figure out what i"m playing!

CyberMoon says: How was the concert tonight?

Adam: It was amazing. The audience is what the concert's all about because we're the same every night, so for us it's how the audience reacts. Concerts this size very often are about what's happening in the audience and the music is a catalyst for that to happen.

Gurt says: Adam, in the early times (1975...) did you ever think to be where you are now?

Adam: Well, back then you had to have blind faith and absolutely self-belief, which I had in those days. In reality, it's a surprise and a wonder to me that we actually have achieved the things we have achieved and there's still more to come. I never really accepted it. Be careful what you set your sights upon because it just might happen.

From_Chile says: If you were in my chair, who would you like to be asking questions?

Adam: I guess I'd be interested in asking questions to Tony Blair, this guy who just got in with the Labour government. In America, Bill Clinton represents the changing generations. I think it's very important coming at the end of this century, people who have control over our lives are people you'd actually like to sit down and talk to.

Alex: Thanks so much for talking with us, Adam. And thanks to everyone for joining the chat."

 

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