jick said:
Let's not even try to compare Clayton to members of other bands just in the same way that is it taboo to compare U2 to pretenders like REM, Radiohead, Depeche Mode, or less-than-10-year wonders like The Beatles or The Police. U2 are on a league of their own. Clayton's standards for clean living and good morality should not be gauged against other bands but against his fellow co-workers. In U2, Clayton is the odd man out and the bad boy. If you compare Clayton to members of other bands then Clayton would easily be the choirboy. That's how good U2 have been as a band, and even Clayton's misdemeanors aren't that bad.
Cheers,
J
That's not really fair though, comparing Christians to non-Christians, though, it really is comparing apples to oranges. Just as you say, compare Adam to other non-Christians, and he is like a choir boy, especially nowadays.
Gotta compare to the same type, compare Adam to say, Paul McCartney, (both bass players),
Adam's sober, Paul is rumoured to still smoke pot.
Adam and Larry are one of rock's most solid rhythm sections, a somewhat 'indie' magazine even said this, Paul and John Lennon were more together than Paul and Ringo. U2 seem to enjoy being in each other's company, some bands, you wonder why they even bother being in a band.
U2 values friendship and loyalty over technical ability in playing an instrument. Maybe it's an Irish thing.
Adam missed a gig from drinking, but not from partying, but over the break-down of his relationship to his fi'ancee. People have done worse over a break-up, some deal with it okay, and some people aren't phased at all by them, at least don't seem to be.
But okay, compare Adam to the other members now, he doesn't drink anymore, he was compared to a Buddhist monk by one magazine. He's changed, and according to Bono, is a Christian as well.