Laura: U2's ‘Party Girl’*

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HelloAngel

ONE love, blood, life
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new york city
By Chrissi Blaesing
2005.06



Beginning May 7, 2005 U2's sold-out Vertigo Tour swept into Chicago for a week-long, four-concert stint at the United Center that ended on May 12, 2005. This being U2, things were not "business as usual." Over the course of six days the members of U2 managed to fit in a DVD shoot, a birthday party, a taping for an American morning television series, a clothing launch, visits with fans, shaking up the set list on the final show, a severe roasting from the Chicago press, a severe rebuttal of the said roasting from Bono of the Chicago press and a few concerts thrown in for good measure.

The entire town went U2 crazy that week. Up and down Michigan Ave. people were sporting shirts with "Vertigo 05" on their backs and white "One" bracelet on their wrists. In coffee shops and local bars people were talking about music's roll in social justice and equality. "Did you see the U2 show?" was an open invitation to talk about the band and what they have meant to you over the years. Yet in spite of all this attention we should remember that U2 is, in essence, the biggest cult band in the world. Die-hard fans from around the world congregated in Chicago, sleeping in cars and in tents around the United Center in order to get a good spot in the general admission line as friendships were formed and bonds strengthened from sharing a common love of U2.

On May 9th and 10th U2 gave a nod to the die hard fans by pulling Laura (known as Stories for Boys on Interference.com) from the floor to play guitar on the lesser-known fan favorite "Party Girl." On both nights Laura played she represented the U2 fan community with a grace and respect for the band that made all of us in the arena and around the world proud.

Below is an e-mail interview conducted with Laura about the events of May 9th and May10th.

How long have you been a U2 fan?

I've been a fan since 2000 but became a die-hard in 2001. I can't believe I spent so much of my life before then without them.

How long have you been playing guitar?

I've been playing for about a year and three quarters. A friend taught me bits and pieces of a bunch of U2 songs in August of 2003 and I've been sort of teaching myself since then.

Did you have GA tickets to all of the Chicago shows?

Yes. Although I'm from Michigan, I consider Chicago to be my hometown. GA was a must.

Did you have anyone teach you how to play "Party Girl" or did you learn on your own?

Greg, the guitarist from [U2 tribute band] Vertigo USA is a good friend of mine. He started me on guitar and Party Girl was one of the first handful of songs he showed me.

Why "Party Girl"?

A friend of mine has been trying to get U2 to play "Party Girl" since the Elevation tour. More than that, my group of friends considers "Party Girl" "our song." It's just one of those songs that's rare, fun and exciting to hear.

How did you playing "Party Girl" on May 9th come about?

My friend had a sign for "Party Girl" that she's brought to pretty much every show since Elevation. We met Bono outside the United Center before the show on the 7th. We suggested that they should play it for Bono's birthday. He asked us how many chords are in it and then said he'd try. We made a small sign with the chords so Edge would remember them and to increase our chances of actually hearing it. We ended up right on the rail near the tip of the ellipse so we had our signs draped over the railing. During "Yahweh" on the 9th, all four of them saw the sign. After the song, Bono leaned down, pointed at the chord sign and asked what it was. "Party Girl!" we yelled, and pointed at the big sign. That's when he asked if I could play.

The other band members looked at a loss on what to do while you and Bono were at the tip of the ellipse playing the song. Were they even in you radar at that time?

I think my radar was broken at the time. I comprehended little of what was happening and remembered even less. I didn't even remember Bono singing after the fact. All I remember is concentrating really hard. After the show, my friends had to clue me in to what had happened.

Did you have any clue that he was going to pull you up?

Edge is the reason why I play guitar. More specifically, the solo at the end of "One" and the acoustic version of "Stay" are why I picked up a guitar and asked my friend to show me how to play them. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I suppose, I have dreamed of being one of those people who gets pulled up. Did I know he was going to pull me up? Not until he uttered those surreal words, "Do you play?" Was it my intent to get on stage when I made the sign with the chords? Not remotely. It didn't actually even cross my mind at the time. I think that's what makes the whole thing so cool for me.

So how tall are you exactly and how much taller are you than Bono? On both nights Bono made reference to your height.

Average height for a male basketball player. I'm 6'1, probably at least six inches taller than him, but with those beastly shoes he wears…

How did you not faint?

That's a really good question. The three previous nights combined I'd slept maybe eight hours. I wasn't exactly cognizant at the time.

Or, for that matter, how did you not run screaming during when Bono pulled you onto the ellipse to play guitar and said something along the lines of "It's a crime here to falsely advertise"?

Yeah, that was one of those moments when I almost dive-bombed my way back into the crowd. I'm not used to playing guitar in front of people. I play alone in my bedroom with the door closed. Had I been more alert, I may have had second thoughts.

Rumor has it that you had the lyrics for Bono. True?

False. When I watch video now, I'm pretty shocked he remembered them so well.

Did Bono actually instruct you on the guitar?

No but he was very encouraging. Let me tell you, there's nothing like playing your guitar idol's guitar in front of 20,000 people and the band that has been your life's soundtrack for the last five years and hitting a wrong chord. Every time I looked at him, he was smiling and rooting for me. I don't know if I would have gotten through it without that subtle support.

Were you surprised at how many people were singing along with the song?

I didn't even hear anyone. Like I mentioned earlier, in my mind it was just me with a guitar. When I listen to audio or watch video now, it warms my heart to hear all the cheering and singing along. To me, that means it wasn't just a mind-blowing experience for me, but it was meaningful and fun for others, too.

You even did the solo bit. How did that feel with everyone chanting with the "Hey" part?

You know, it's funny how out of it I was. I remember playing the chords, and then suddenly it felt like I needed to pump my fist and yell "Hey!" like I had so many times before, so I did. Then the solo just came natural, as a matter of habit. I guess in retrospect, I can see how the band wouldn't expect me to play it. Honestly though, I play the solo of the song better than the chords, it's my favorite part.

You had this amazing experience on May 9th. How did the May 10th version evolve?

As I sat in the GA line on the morning of the 10th, I thought about how much I wanted to thank Bono for pulling me up and making my wildest dreams come true. My friends convinced me to wait behind the arena for Bono again in order to say thanks. When he came, he nearly missed us but John Sampson [Bono's bodyguard] recognized us and gave Bono a little push in our direction. My friend with the sign thanked Bono for playing the song and pulling me up. Bono looked up at me and I could tell a light bulb went on.

He began to explain the acoustic issues I had the night before. See, the sound is delayed a bit before it is broadcast over the PA system. Since we were on the ellipse, I had no earpiece and no monitor. I could not hear myself play except through the PA so our timing was a bit screwy. In fact, I literally could not hear a thing I was playing much of the time, especially the solo. After all this, Bono said something to the effect of "Next time we'll have to get you on the main stage." Then John Sampson said, "Yeah, try to make it to sound check this time." I threw up my arms and said, "Hey, that's not in my control." We all laughed then off they went into the arena. To be honest, we took the conversation as being a nice way to tell me why I wasn't going to make the DVD, which I was fine with.

Later in the afternoon, another friend of ours called us. Apparently, from where she was, she could hear sound check and they were playing "Party Girl." We hugged each other and jumped up and down. To us it meant we were going to get our full band version of "Party Girl" for Bono's birthday. In hindsight I could've expected to get pulled up again, but in actuality I had no clue.

Did you get to practice with the full band prior to the May 10th concert?

I wish. No, during the show on the 10th was my first time playing with the whole band.

Bono went looking for you prior to the song. Did he spot you in the crowd beforehand?

I don't think so. When we chatted with him that afternoon, we mentioned we'd be at the show, so he knew I was there. At one point during the show, I was leaning on the rail with my arms hanging over it. John Sampson walked by and grabbed my hands. He definitely knew where I was. When Bono called out for me, John hustled around the ellipse right to me.

On the May 10th show the whole event seemed more planned but Bono still had to instruct Dallas Shoo to grab you an acoustic guitar. What guitar was he going to give you?

If memory serves me right it was the Casino Edge plays on "All Because of You." It was on a stand on the stage by his racks.

Was the camera crew distracting at all?

I didn't even notice them at the time. Although I'll admit that at other times throughout the shows, they definitely made their presence known to us on the rail outside the ellipse.

What's it like playing with The Edge?

You know, sitting here reading the question even seems surreal. At one point during the song, I remember the same feeling. I looked to my right and Edge was maybe three feet away. I looked to my left and Adam was right there. Surreal in every sense of the word. What's it like playing with Edge? Unbelievable. I remember random little things. Right as he started playing the song and I joined in, he winked at me. He walked over to his microphone to sing backing vocals at one point. I remember thinking that I wanted to jam with Edge, so I walked closer to him, and Adam followed. At the end, he was really getting into it. To be honest, I don't think I'll ever be able to sufficiently answer this question.

What was it like playing with the full band? Was it more nerve racking than the first night?

On the contrary. The first night, although many have said I looked completely calm, I was shaking. I couldn't make my fingers move right. Every time I messed up, my cheek actually twitched. Odd. The second night, this bizarre confidence came over me. I wasn't even nervous.

You were able to interact with all of the band members after the song. Anything you could share with the rest of us?

After the song was over, Bono kissed my cheek and put his out for me to kiss. He began to lead me back across the stage towards the ellipse. I put my hand out to shake Adam's. He leaned in, cool as ever, and said with a smile, "We got our shit together." Now, Larry's a bit elusive to fans so I made sure I shook his hand, too. I even got a courtesy smile from him. As Bono led me further, his tech was holding out another bottle of champagne. Bono took it and said, "This one's for you." After that it was a kiss on the hand and off I went.

The song sounded so tight, it was amazing for fans to hear that song again. Were you thinking about the die-hard fans in the arena during the song?

That was another motivation in pushing to hear "Party Girl," we know that it's a song that the die-hards truly appreciate. If most die-hards are like us, they like to hear the most random songs possible. Was I thinking about it at the time? No, just trying to convince myself it was actually happening.

Were you sprayed with the champagne? What kind was it?

After spraying the pit a bit, Bono turned and sprayed my knees for a second. I sort of raised my eyebrows at him and I remember he smiled sheepishly at me. The champagne is Perrier Jouet.

Ever going to crack open the bottle Bono gave you?

I don't think so. It'll probably gather dust sitting lovingly on display for the rest of my life.

How did it feel to get all of that audience love as you walked around Adam's side of the ellipse back to your spot on the floor?

The crowd was so cool. I'm always overwhelmed with the kindness of U2 fans. I'll admit, though, that I was distracted by how high off the ground the ellipse is. I'm slightly afraid of heights.

Did you have to sign a bunch of waivers to be included in the DVD that was being filmed on the 9th and 10th?

Three, actually. Some camera men taped a bunch of footage and interviews and whatnot in the GA line on the 7th. We all signed a waiver then. After playing on the 9th, I was whisked to the side to sign a second waiver. I was so out of it I actually couldn't remember my phone number. On the 10th, after a very burly John Sampson lifted me back over the rail, I signed the third one. I guess they really want to cover their bases.

What did you do after the shows?

After the show on the 9th, I was in complete shock and disbelief. I made my way through the crowd and literally sprinted into the GA line for the 10th. Once I was there, I remember asking for water, and then just sitting in the grass holding my head in my hands. If it's possible, I was jealous of myself. I did get tackled by eight or 10 people and hugged by many more. I called my parents back home (they probably thought I actually was high! I was so giddy and nonsensical). Pretty soon after that I passed out and got some much-needed sleep. After the 10th, I sat outside the arena for an hour or two. I chatted with many people and we had a nice talk with the general manager of the United Center. After that, though, we had to go rest up in preparation for the GA line for the show on the 12th.

Are you going to be back in Chicago for the fall? What kind of tickets do you have?

I am going to the fall shows. Right now I actually have a GA for one show, and am looking for a GA for the other. Somehow, it just wouldn't seem right seeing U2 in Chicago without a GA ticket.
 
:applaud: I never get tired of reading about your story and the interview(s) that followed. I've seen the video clips online. Bravo to you and thanks for creating a special memory for everyone! :applaud:
 
I missed this when it was first posted - so cool to hear the details Laura! I'll be at the Sept 20th show, you better give the rest of us girls a chance to get up there! ;)
 
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