U2's music has always inspired me in a positive way and I believe music should do that. Although some of U2's music can be dark there is always hope that comes through in the songs which is what I find so moving. We all hope for a better world to shine out from the darkness and U2's music does just that for me. Their music is special, true to life and goes to your middle.
I wouldn't be in a tribute to another artiste/band. In fact it seems like we're not in a tribute band sometimes. We love the music so much our performance is natural on stage unlike some other corney tribute acts that are out there purely as a job.
I first started to sing (in public anyway) at Karaoke and got a job at Butlins as a ‘Principle Redcoat' on the back of being a childrens' entertainer and having a half decent voice. Having had 3 years of performing in front of large audiences every night I auditioned for the UK show ‘Stars In Their Eyes' as Bono and was lucky enough to get onto the show. It was a fabulous experience and it inspired me to get the band together.
In March 2002 U2UK played our first gig, I remember it well for being so nervous because also on this night my episode of ‘Stars In Their Eyes' was being televised in the club to our audience before we were due to play. The TV show went out late which added to the tension, but it was because the Queen Mum died that day. It felt like a good show at the time but to be honest, in comparison to where the band is today it wasn't so great. I think we have the video of it somewhere, I'm not so sure we should take a look, lol.
From then on we had some great gigs, small and large and the band became really busy performing sometimes 4/5 gigs a week. It grew into a full time job. However six years of constant shows, travelling and the financial pressure of relying on the band for an income took it's toll and I needed a break, but most of all because my beautiful sister Janey had been diagnosed with cancer. I left the band in October 2007 and I was able to spend valuable time with Janey before she lost her life a year later year in October 2008.
I was so close to my sister Janey, even though we knew she was I'll I think we convinced ourselves, a little naively in reflection that she would recover and so it was still a massive shock to watch her go and for three years after her death I struggled to keep my sanity with other family issues, fallouts adding to the heartache.
I spent the four years away from the band doing my own singing gigs in pubs/private functions etc and also doing children's parties amongst other things and all contributed to keeping my head busy.
At the end of 2011 I was beginning to feel like getting into a band again to kick away a few cobwebs and after a few twists and turns in the story I finally ended up back with U2UK and since joining up with the guys again it's been a great tonic. New songs, travels, meeting with old friends. It feels like ‘A Sort Of Homecoming'.
With a much lighter tour schedule also it feels great to be back. It's a much more chilled out and enjoyable experience to what it had become before. Due to the technical and playing genius of Simon, Nathan and Ady and also with the addition of our new sound engineer Paul Joyce, we have a real professional set up now that is capable of playing any venue anywhere.
The icing on the cake also is that we have found a fabulous costume maker who lives just a short distance away and she is working on some great replica U2 costumes as we speak, including Bono's leather 'Elevation Tour' jacket with a puma on the shoulder and gold trim. It's very exciting kid-in-a-toy-shop stuff.
We're looking forward to getting out there and putting on some more great shows. There is a real buzz in the band again and we can't wait to share the music and some popular re-enacted moments from U2's live shows.
Hope to see you soon.
- Paul (but not Hewson)
I started playing in bands about the age of 15, firstly playing drums in a few local bands and then onto playing guitar. My first electric guitar was a blue Tokai, which I started to learn the ‘licks’ that would eventually feature in U2 UK. I have been a massive fan of U2 since the BOY album. I love the early U2 songs, they have power, passion and energy and they are great to play!
My favourite U2 album is Achtung Baby, and in particular the tracks ‘Acrobat’ ‘Love is Blindness’ and 'Heartland’ off Rattle and Hum. I am currently really into the new album at the moment and really enjoying playing some of these songs in our show, particularly Blinding Lights and Love & Peace.
I have seen U2 live a few times now, most recently on the vertigo tour in Cardiff. What a show! Loved it! I even got asked for my autograph by a U2UK fan that was sitting beside me!! A real surreal moment!!! Whilst in U2UK there have been loads of highlights for me. Every show seems to be different, but a few moments that stick in my mind are when we played in Rotterdam at the Ahoy Stadium in front of an 8000 strong crowd, and when we played in Amsterdam in the summer of 2005 at the U2 after party celebrations. In the UK the U2UK our fans are brilliant, the best there is! Real appreciative and also very dedicated.
I take real pride in my personal gear. I am using 5 guitars at the moment, still 34 to go :) My favourite is Blacky (Black Fender) I have customized this one similar to the Edge adding a bridge humbucker. I also play a Les Paul, Explorer, acoustic and most recent addition is my own design Vertigo Stratocaster! I use it for a couple of songs, as it's got a great tone very close to the Edge's!!
I use a vintage Fender Amplifier, similar to the ones used by Edge on the Vertigo tour. FX wise, well he's got lots of em! I favour Korgs for my delays, Boss for my Overdrives and a little compression. Mix it all up a bit and hopefully it comes out the other end sounding a bit like the Edge!!!!!!
- Simon Pellecchia
My favourite U2 album is Achtung Baby, and in particular the tracks ‘Acrobat’ ‘Love is Blindness’ and 'Heartland’ off Rattle and Hum. I am currently really into the new album at the moment and really enjoying playing some of these songs in our show, particularly Blinding Lights and Love & Peace.
I have seen U2 live a few times now, most recently on the vertigo tour in Cardiff. What a show! Loved it! I even got asked for my autograph by a U2UK fan that was sitting beside me!! A real surreal moment!!! Whilst in U2UK there have been loads of highlights for me. Every show seems to be different, but a few moments that stick in my mind are when we played in Rotterdam at the Ahoy Stadium in front of an 8000 strong crowd, and when we played in Amsterdam in the summer of 2005 at the U2 after party celebrations. In the UK the U2UK our fans are brilliant, the best there is! Real appreciative and also very dedicated.
I take real pride in my personal gear. I am using 5 guitars at the moment, still 34 to go :) My favourite is Blacky (Black Fender) I have customized this one similar to the Edge adding a bridge humbucker. I also play a Les Paul, Explorer, acoustic and most recent addition is my own design Vertigo Stratocaster! I use it for a couple of songs, as it's got a great tone very close to the Edge's!!
I use a vintage Fender Amplifier, similar to the ones used by Edge on the Vertigo tour. FX wise, well he's got lots of em! I favour Korgs for my delays, Boss for my Overdrives and a little compression. Mix it all up a bit and hopefully it comes out the other end sounding a bit like the Edge!!!!!!
- Simon Pellecchia
The idea of playing a guitar was a dream to me, I could never afford one! Then at the age of 14, my brother brought me a Bass guitar, a cheap nasty one at that! Still that was the beginning of the dream, sore fingers and loads of frustration! I was introduced to U2 by a friend of mine, who told me of a friend of his who would throw himself against the wall listening to the U2 song ‘End of the World’!! When he played it to me I was hooked.
U2 for me play a major role in my life, not only that our band is a tribute to them, but also in the shaping of how I think and feel about everything. As for Adam Clayton, “is he the coolest f….ing dude that has ever played bass or what!”?
My personal aim in this band is to make it as authentic, but yet as exciting as possible, I want any member of U2, if not all, to come and see us and be blown away by what they first created. I guess for them the best thing about being in U2 is standing on top of the mountain, the bad thing is who else can you look up to!
The greatest thing about being in a tribute to them is you know how it feels to stand there with them, but I still get to worship them and their music! – “U2 Forever”
- Ady Aslam
U2 for me play a major role in my life, not only that our band is a tribute to them, but also in the shaping of how I think and feel about everything. As for Adam Clayton, “is he the coolest f….ing dude that has ever played bass or what!”?
My personal aim in this band is to make it as authentic, but yet as exciting as possible, I want any member of U2, if not all, to come and see us and be blown away by what they first created. I guess for them the best thing about being in U2 is standing on top of the mountain, the bad thing is who else can you look up to!
The greatest thing about being in a tribute to them is you know how it feels to stand there with them, but I still get to worship them and their music! – “U2 Forever”
- Ady Aslam
I first joined U2UK back in 2002, during some time out from my degree in Computer Graphics at Staffordshire University. I had always been a drummer foremost, but having taken the advice of my drum teacher who I had been under the wing of from the ages of 12 to 15, I had chosen what at the time was considered a ‘more stable’ career path.
I had always been in bands since the age of 16, covering a wide range of styles from pop, indie, rock and funk-hybrid, to such technical drumming legendaries as Dave Weckl, whose work I enjoyed emulating at showcases. Whilst at ‘Staffs Uni’ I had the honor of being in a band that was good enough to be supported by an upcoming Staffordshire based band known as ‘The Editors’, who have since rocketed to fame, as well as playing alongside ‘Hips Like Cinderella’ at a Signal One Battle of the bands in front of some big record labels including Sony BMG. I would always find myself playing with musicians older than myself; I guess for my age my playing ability both as an individual and in a band environment was already ahead of my years.
I spent two years touring with U2UK initially, before having to make the tough decisions to go back to University and finish my degree. Whilst at ‘Staffs Uni’ I learned a large amount of what I now do for the band (alongside playing the drums for them). Such skills included video production, website design and coding, flash graphics and 3D animation. (I hope you like the website by the way…)
I returned to U2UK two years later, and took on the jobs of lighting and video director. I spent just under a year preparing the videos, programming the lighting and perfecting the show system that would control all these aspects before returning as Larry Mullen Jr at the start of 2008.
With U2 having ‘a song for every occasion’ the set list can become so varied in style and approach – it is the contrast of the simplest and lightest touches on the delicate songs such as ‘no line on the horizon’ – and the driving raw power of ‘out of control’ and ‘I will follow’ that makes playing the part of Larry Mullen Jr exciting every time I’m on stage.
- Nathan Griffiths
I had always been in bands since the age of 16, covering a wide range of styles from pop, indie, rock and funk-hybrid, to such technical drumming legendaries as Dave Weckl, whose work I enjoyed emulating at showcases. Whilst at ‘Staffs Uni’ I had the honor of being in a band that was good enough to be supported by an upcoming Staffordshire based band known as ‘The Editors’, who have since rocketed to fame, as well as playing alongside ‘Hips Like Cinderella’ at a Signal One Battle of the bands in front of some big record labels including Sony BMG. I would always find myself playing with musicians older than myself; I guess for my age my playing ability both as an individual and in a band environment was already ahead of my years.
I spent two years touring with U2UK initially, before having to make the tough decisions to go back to University and finish my degree. Whilst at ‘Staffs Uni’ I learned a large amount of what I now do for the band (alongside playing the drums for them). Such skills included video production, website design and coding, flash graphics and 3D animation. (I hope you like the website by the way…)
I returned to U2UK two years later, and took on the jobs of lighting and video director. I spent just under a year preparing the videos, programming the lighting and perfecting the show system that would control all these aspects before returning as Larry Mullen Jr at the start of 2008.
With U2 having ‘a song for every occasion’ the set list can become so varied in style and approach – it is the contrast of the simplest and lightest touches on the delicate songs such as ‘no line on the horizon’ – and the driving raw power of ‘out of control’ and ‘I will follow’ that makes playing the part of Larry Mullen Jr exciting every time I’m on stage.
- Nathan Griffiths