bret6262
The Fly
Hi. This is my 1st post on here but I have been a fan for some time. (Actually this is my 16th post as I couldn't submit this w/links to pics until I had 15 under my belt. I had to do 15 posts right now- so don't be offended if I added a "thanks" to your thread just to get to 15). I first saw U2 on Dec. 15th, 1984 at the SF Civic Auditorium. My friend and I tracked them down after the show to the Holiday Inn at Fisherman's Wharf, where this pic was taken
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v462/bret6262/Bono.jpg .....I am on the right, behind Bono. They signed items for us that night- and I still have Bono and The Edge's autographs on 2 items from then.
Flash forward to last week- 20 years later! My friend e-mailed me about the U2/ Apple event, and I knew I couldn't pass this chance up. I went down to the Fairmont hotel on Monday, assuming they would be there. I hung out in the afternoon, but did not see them. (I never would have guessed that they would have arrived at midnight!).
I went down to the California Theater early the next morning, and was sad to hear that they had already walked from the Fairmont right into the front of the venue, sometime in the 8's. My friend was actually going to the Apple event, but I could not get in myself. (I then found out later that I could have gotten in a different way- oh well...such is life). I waited outside the rear exit for what turned out to be several hours. I met a lot of nice/ cool people/ U2 fans. A lot of folks came from different parts of the Bay Area and state for that matter. Here are some photos of the venue (front and back), and the SUV's that delivered U2's family members (and ultimately drove them away later):
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v462/bret6262/HPIM0542.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v462/bret6262/HPIM0543.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v462/bret6262/HPIM0545.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v462/bret6262/HPIM0544.jpg
The event started at 10am, and seemed to end fairly quick- 10:40 maybe? The crowd came out and milled around for some time. The die-hard U2 fans stood their ground, just outside the rear exit. We waited and waited- knowing they would be out at some point. The crowd was well behaved, and relatively small, so we figured they would stop. One guy though (who ended up the cover of the paper) felt the need to call 911 as he felt he was being harassed by security. This in turn caused 4 cops to show up, unnecessarily. This 911 caller was the same one who rushed Bono at the end, which was bizarre. I knew some of the cops- and they were very easy going about the whole deal. One actually whispered to me where U2 was staying!
Anyway at some point after 12:30ish- one of the Apple employees was nice enough to let us know that they would be out in a couple of minutes. No sooner than that did they suddenly appear. They walked out and greeted the crowd. I snapped a few pics (and one live clip which I couldn't figure how to post here). I was also able to get the Elevation DVD (2001 Boston) and the All That You Can't Leave Behind cd signed by both. Here are some pics I took:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v462/bret6262/HPIM0551.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v462/bret6262/HPIM0552.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v462/bret6262/HPIM0549.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v462/bret6262/HPIM0546.jpg
Bono and The Edge soon entered their SUV's and were driven away. The crowd sort of hung out after, comparing photos/ autographs/ exchanging emails, etc. 4 of us decided to walk to the Fairmont which is very close. After a short time of being there, we noticed Bono in one of the SUV's out front. One of the ladies I was with blew him a kiss, and he waved them over. He stepped out of his car, posing for pics with all of us, and signing whatever else we wanted signed. I had him sign an 8 x 10 a=of that old pic, and got this new pic taken:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v462/bret6262/HPIM0553.jpg
My friend had her pic taken:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v462/bret6262/HPIM0556.jpg
We saw The Edge come out, with his family. We didn't bug him- other than saying hi from our spot. Bono soon said he needed the bathroom, and off he ran through the hotel, trying to figure it out. He came back, and off they went. IT was funy to see hotel guests in shock of who they happened to be seeing.
Here is an image of the SJ Mercury article that came otu the next day:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v462/bret6262/U2Diagram.jpg
All and all it was a great day. I felt like it was a great accomplishment- even though I couldn't get into the actual event. BUT- I have managed to grab a hold of a cd of the 2 songs played that day. It is a very clear recording. I actaully have access to the whole event on cd- but right now I only have the 2 songs.
Sorry for any typos- it is late. Also- it was great meeting all of you devoted fans. This crowd was very nice / polite/ etc. I have been at a lot of events, where this hasn't been the case. Talk to you soon, and hope you liked the pics. If you email me at Bret6262@aol.com I will email the one live clip from the area outside the venue. Maybe someone can figure out how to post it. It is pretty short, and has sound.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v462/bret6262/Bono.jpg .....I am on the right, behind Bono. They signed items for us that night- and I still have Bono and The Edge's autographs on 2 items from then.
Flash forward to last week- 20 years later! My friend e-mailed me about the U2/ Apple event, and I knew I couldn't pass this chance up. I went down to the Fairmont hotel on Monday, assuming they would be there. I hung out in the afternoon, but did not see them. (I never would have guessed that they would have arrived at midnight!).
I went down to the California Theater early the next morning, and was sad to hear that they had already walked from the Fairmont right into the front of the venue, sometime in the 8's. My friend was actually going to the Apple event, but I could not get in myself. (I then found out later that I could have gotten in a different way- oh well...such is life). I waited outside the rear exit for what turned out to be several hours. I met a lot of nice/ cool people/ U2 fans. A lot of folks came from different parts of the Bay Area and state for that matter. Here are some photos of the venue (front and back), and the SUV's that delivered U2's family members (and ultimately drove them away later):
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v462/bret6262/HPIM0542.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v462/bret6262/HPIM0543.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v462/bret6262/HPIM0545.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v462/bret6262/HPIM0544.jpg
The event started at 10am, and seemed to end fairly quick- 10:40 maybe? The crowd came out and milled around for some time. The die-hard U2 fans stood their ground, just outside the rear exit. We waited and waited- knowing they would be out at some point. The crowd was well behaved, and relatively small, so we figured they would stop. One guy though (who ended up the cover of the paper) felt the need to call 911 as he felt he was being harassed by security. This in turn caused 4 cops to show up, unnecessarily. This 911 caller was the same one who rushed Bono at the end, which was bizarre. I knew some of the cops- and they were very easy going about the whole deal. One actually whispered to me where U2 was staying!
Anyway at some point after 12:30ish- one of the Apple employees was nice enough to let us know that they would be out in a couple of minutes. No sooner than that did they suddenly appear. They walked out and greeted the crowd. I snapped a few pics (and one live clip which I couldn't figure how to post here). I was also able to get the Elevation DVD (2001 Boston) and the All That You Can't Leave Behind cd signed by both. Here are some pics I took:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v462/bret6262/HPIM0551.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v462/bret6262/HPIM0552.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v462/bret6262/HPIM0549.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v462/bret6262/HPIM0546.jpg
Bono and The Edge soon entered their SUV's and were driven away. The crowd sort of hung out after, comparing photos/ autographs/ exchanging emails, etc. 4 of us decided to walk to the Fairmont which is very close. After a short time of being there, we noticed Bono in one of the SUV's out front. One of the ladies I was with blew him a kiss, and he waved them over. He stepped out of his car, posing for pics with all of us, and signing whatever else we wanted signed. I had him sign an 8 x 10 a=of that old pic, and got this new pic taken:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v462/bret6262/HPIM0553.jpg
My friend had her pic taken:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v462/bret6262/HPIM0556.jpg
We saw The Edge come out, with his family. We didn't bug him- other than saying hi from our spot. Bono soon said he needed the bathroom, and off he ran through the hotel, trying to figure it out. He came back, and off they went. IT was funy to see hotel guests in shock of who they happened to be seeing.
Here is an image of the SJ Mercury article that came otu the next day:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v462/bret6262/U2Diagram.jpg
All and all it was a great day. I felt like it was a great accomplishment- even though I couldn't get into the actual event. BUT- I have managed to grab a hold of a cd of the 2 songs played that day. It is a very clear recording. I actaully have access to the whole event on cd- but right now I only have the 2 songs.
Sorry for any typos- it is late. Also- it was great meeting all of you devoted fans. This crowd was very nice / polite/ etc. I have been at a lot of events, where this hasn't been the case. Talk to you soon, and hope you liked the pics. If you email me at Bret6262@aol.com I will email the one live clip from the area outside the venue. Maybe someone can figure out how to post it. It is pretty short, and has sound.
that's the really cool part 
