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Bill Flanagan, in this book published in the mid-90s, recounts his year spent in the company of U2, during the Zoo Tour (1992/93). It is a book by a U2 sympathizer, not a fan's book. You can tell from the introduction, where the author makes it clear that his ethics don't allow him to write only what would please the band members. And indeed, there are passages where they don't really come across well, like when Bono makes a bet with a friend, in a nightclub, on the color of a woman's panties who is dancing near them. Bono calls her; the woman certainly doesn't resist lifting her skirt in front of the rockstar, and the two friends verify in person. In other parts, there are the four completely drunk.
Flanagan is relentless when, instead of judging them moralistically, he quotes a newspaper article that came out at the time of “Achtung Baby”: “Other rock stars start with excesses, and then calm down; for U2, it happened the opposite.” The author also cites criticisms from some musicians about U2's songs: “They have been playing the same riff for 10 years.” There is also room to talk about Kurt Cobain, another enemy of the group, who already in the 80s said: “We are not like U2, who pretend not to want interviews, but they are just waiting for them.” In the book, Bono calls him a good singer – avoiding responding to his provocations. Flanagan does not even refrain from citing English newspapers, which have accused U2 of Pharisee-like behavior for at least 25 years. You will find Bono's honesty when he talks about his drinking, and his wife's fury: “I have a very strong wife, who often kicks me out of the house.” The best page is when the author goes to interview Bono's father, a simple but tough man without any BS (like the men of the past) who hates his son's stage name: “To me, he will always be Paul,” and who curses colorfully when talking about a concert he attended: “I don't understand why he said ‘fuck’ all those times. Once is fine; but by the second time, that word loses all its force. And then why did he mime a coitus?” The relationship between the two has always been very tense, but the wise father concludes by saying: “I'm at peace; I know he won't do foolish things because he married Ali, an absolutely wonderful woman.” The part concerning Larry is truly beautiful, showing the drummer's humility when he says: “Being the drummer of a famous band was a gift from God.” There is also talk about God in this book and the alleged apparitions of Medjugorje. It’s truly a beautiful page that never falls into devotionism. There is also mention of the making of “Where the Streets Have No Name,” which required countless hours of work, with Edge unable to layer the guitars on top of one another. The song was completed at the last minute, and U2 wrote the lyrics in just a few hours. You will see Flanagan traveling with Edge on a plane, with the two talking about the various songs, like “With or Without You,” which, according to everyone, should have ended with a climax, yet according to him, "its greatness is in the fact that the final solo is restrained”. The guitarist also talks about how people often confuse U2 with Bono: “Sometimes I think: am I shit?” What would U2 be without Edge? Perhaps you'll be surprised reading Bono's words about “Rattle and Hum”: “Doing it was bullshit”.
There is, of course, also talk of the end of Edge's marriage, which was the “concept” behind a large part of “Achtung Baby,” the soul of the album. You will discover, to your surprise, that none of the U2 members believed that “Achtung Baby” would be the success it was, and that U2 initially planned only a small support tour. Perhaps you will get angry like me when you discover that “Zooropa” is an “infamous” album, made almost on impulse, because, being at the end of their contract, the group, which had planned to make a live album, thought it wise to bring an original album when renegotiating, thus having the upper hand to ask for a larger sum. An album made for money, like few others. An ice-cold portrait of the nobility and the misery of the group.
Bono said: “The best book written about U2.”
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