Diamond The U2 Patriot
Refugee
..and Passionate Allegiance..
This is NOT meant to be a controversial post.
Well folks, it all started about a 25 yrs ago.
Yes before U2 even splashed onto the music scene in America.
I had an older brother I idolized who managed a record store. I was weaned on good music. At a young age I was able to see great bands in the mid/late 70s, such as -
Led Zepplin,
The Stones,
and Springsteen.
He was well connected to the music industry in So. Calif. where we were growing up.I was forunate enough to see alot of these acts live, usually for free and w/choice floor seats.
When I was 3 we lost our Mom to Cancer. I was the baby. There was my Dad and us 4 kids. Life was tough for us. My father was a somewhat successful Real Estate and Insurance Broker..Things got tougher when my Pops became ill w/Muscular Dystrophy, however his business did well and he was able to provide for us. He never whined or faltered and was rock solid in teaching us good values.
Church attendance was mandatory..a bit "old school", but he was, and still is a decent man. Religion was instilled in us at and early age.
So while Dad was 'harping' about Church attendance we kids growing up in So. Calif, we were also dialed into the music scene in the 1970s at the same time.
At this time -
-the big rock bands were becoming passe(Late 70s/early 80s.)
-Disco was lame and an embarrassment.
-Punk was interesting but aimless and was losing its way.
-Punk was the 'salvation' of rock in a way and I was checking out bands like -
-"The Clash"
-"X"
-"The Motels", in the early 80s.
I was 'conflicted' w/the religion aspect a small bit, in the early 80s.
And then I hear I start hearing U2 on the cool stations in the Los Angeles area mainly on KROQ.
I even had tickets to a U2 show in the early 80s when I was acting in the capacity of a minister which was against the 'rules' of this organization. Another acting minister squealed on me and I was forced to 'surrender' these ticks. I confronted the snitch and told him after we were finished w/this part of our lives that one day in the future I would take him to a U2 show and he would realize his folly. 3 years later he sat next to me on the floor in The Los Angeles Sports Arena watching a U2 show during The Unforgetable Fire Tour. He sat there silently nodding his head apologizing profusely.
You see w/U2 and Bono I finally found a band that I was able to RECONCILE my religous beliefs w/o compromising any musical integrety.
-I saw Bono being polictically incorrect before it was fashionable to do so.
-I saw a man who wasnt a sell out.
-I saw a man who had principle.
-I saw a man who had a blatant disregard for mediocrity and the status quo.
-I saw a powerful performer who was destined for greatness.
-I saw a man who wasnt afraid to push boundries.
-I saw him literally rescue fans who 'rushed' stage and embraced them.
I shared this w/my older brother and he concured that this little band I was entralled w/were probably on their way. Time would tell.
And it did.
Thats my story people.
Diamond
------------------
"...The big guy is made of STEEL." - Bono as we stood together on stage at Boston #4, June 9th, 2001.
---
-curious? click
links for
Bono/Dimon-
Bos.4 Story
Pics..
http://www.arizonaautoweb.com/bono/
http://members.aol.com/diamondbruno9/
[This message has been edited by Diamond The U2 Patriot (edited 01-29-2002).]
This is NOT meant to be a controversial post.
Well folks, it all started about a 25 yrs ago.
Yes before U2 even splashed onto the music scene in America.
I had an older brother I idolized who managed a record store. I was weaned on good music. At a young age I was able to see great bands in the mid/late 70s, such as -
Led Zepplin,
The Stones,
and Springsteen.
He was well connected to the music industry in So. Calif. where we were growing up.I was forunate enough to see alot of these acts live, usually for free and w/choice floor seats.
When I was 3 we lost our Mom to Cancer. I was the baby. There was my Dad and us 4 kids. Life was tough for us. My father was a somewhat successful Real Estate and Insurance Broker..Things got tougher when my Pops became ill w/Muscular Dystrophy, however his business did well and he was able to provide for us. He never whined or faltered and was rock solid in teaching us good values.
Church attendance was mandatory..a bit "old school", but he was, and still is a decent man. Religion was instilled in us at and early age.
So while Dad was 'harping' about Church attendance we kids growing up in So. Calif, we were also dialed into the music scene in the 1970s at the same time.
At this time -
-the big rock bands were becoming passe(Late 70s/early 80s.)
-Disco was lame and an embarrassment.
-Punk was interesting but aimless and was losing its way.
-Punk was the 'salvation' of rock in a way and I was checking out bands like -
-"The Clash"
-"X"
-"The Motels", in the early 80s.
I was 'conflicted' w/the religion aspect a small bit, in the early 80s.
And then I hear I start hearing U2 on the cool stations in the Los Angeles area mainly on KROQ.
I even had tickets to a U2 show in the early 80s when I was acting in the capacity of a minister which was against the 'rules' of this organization. Another acting minister squealed on me and I was forced to 'surrender' these ticks. I confronted the snitch and told him after we were finished w/this part of our lives that one day in the future I would take him to a U2 show and he would realize his folly. 3 years later he sat next to me on the floor in The Los Angeles Sports Arena watching a U2 show during The Unforgetable Fire Tour. He sat there silently nodding his head apologizing profusely.
You see w/U2 and Bono I finally found a band that I was able to RECONCILE my religous beliefs w/o compromising any musical integrety.
-I saw Bono being polictically incorrect before it was fashionable to do so.
-I saw a man who wasnt a sell out.
-I saw a man who had principle.
-I saw a man who had a blatant disregard for mediocrity and the status quo.
-I saw a powerful performer who was destined for greatness.
-I saw a man who wasnt afraid to push boundries.
-I saw him literally rescue fans who 'rushed' stage and embraced them.
I shared this w/my older brother and he concured that this little band I was entralled w/were probably on their way. Time would tell.
And it did.
Thats my story people.
Diamond
------------------
"...The big guy is made of STEEL." - Bono as we stood together on stage at Boston #4, June 9th, 2001.
---
-curious? click
links for
Bono/Dimon-
Bos.4 Story
Pics..
http://www.arizonaautoweb.com/bono/
http://members.aol.com/diamondbruno9/
[This message has been edited by Diamond The U2 Patriot (edited 01-29-2002).]
