Dear Diary
Oooh this was good too!
Adam Clayton's Tour Diary
Adam Clayton kept a tour diary in early 1982 and provided extracts to Hot
Press magazine
Hot Press, August 14, 1982
February 14th Valentine's Day
Today is St. Valentine's Day and where is my Valentine? On the drive from
Austin to San Antonio we stopped off at a snake farm/amateur zoo. It was very
depressing. Lots of caged animals not looking very healthy. The high point was a
mad monkey which had epileptic fits accompanied by blood-chilling shrieks. It
was really quite a scream because Bono started singing. This infuriated the
creature even further -- its shrieks grew louder. Bono matched its volume until
the deranged creature started to beat his head against the wall. Eventually a very
brusque woman ran over and dismissed us, complaining how cruel it was to
drink sodas in front of our friend as there was nothing it liked more than a glass
of Coke.
On to the gig. During the show, Bono handed out flowers to girls. Wish I'd done
that. He's got friends for life. Afterwards we spent a long time with the punters.
The Texans are a nice simple people, consequently conversation lasted long. 3.15
a.m. back to the hotel via The Alamo, which received the dubious accolade of
consecration with Ozzy Osbourne's urine.
Fort Apache, The Bronx was on the HBO cable. Great film and Paul Newman's
best performance in years.
Friday
Up too early with everyone looking wrecked. Arrive in Denver and Edge
discovers a ski resort 50 miles up country. The four of us head off. It had to be
hushed up as a broken leg at this stage of the tour would not be welcome. Stories
were fabricated and changed so that no one had any idea where we were. It was
a lovely drive through the Rockies to the resort. Once there, Edge organises the
activities, as he is the experienced amateur. We get our skis on and Bono falls
over immediately. We potter about on the nursery slopes under Edge's
instructions. I eventually feel confident enough to try my luck on the mountain. I
wish I hadn't. I've never been so frightened in all my life. To reach the top of the
mountain we have to hang on chair lift, hundreds of feet above the ground with
no safety bar. I was so hysterical I would have gladly thrown myself off had
Edge not kept me talking.
At the top it soon becomes obvious that I had been over optimistic. I tell Edge to
go off and enjoy himself, I'll walk down. The mountain very nearly claimed me.
Edge goes up and down twice in the time it takes me to walk. Then he did a
black slope. As you might know black slopes are very serious. And then some,
like black holes and black belts. We retire to the bar for the only bit of ski I like
-- apres ski and Gluewein. We make the mistake of ordering Irish Coffees,
which are barely coffee and certainly not Irish. The cream comes from one of
those aerosol jobs and there's a nasty green mint liqueur to boot. Once back in
the hotel we decide to go and see Reds. It's a good film but I felt it lost its punch
in places, but maybe that's because I was so tired.
? 1982 Hot Press. All Rights Reserved.
