# Jim Kerr über U2

Fotocredit: [http://www.simpleminds.com](http://www.simpleminds.com)

Die anstehende Veröffentlichung des neuen U2-Albums '**[How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb](https://u2tour.de/discographie/album22.html)**' hat auch Simple Minds'-Frontman **Jim Kerr** dazu bewegt, einige Worte darüber auf der offiziellen Simple Minds-Homepage [http://www.simpleminds.com](http://www.simpleminds.com) zu veröffentlichen. Er schreibt:

\[i\]Wednesday 17 November 2004 : Ali Ooops!!  
In a world of little certainty one of the only things  
that you safely can bet on right now is that the new  
album released by U2 will command an untold amount of  
worldwide media exposure. Oh, you can also bet that  
millions upon millions of dollars will have been spent  
on a marketing campaign to make sure that this is so,  
but that is a cynical thought and besides the point.  
I have not heard this new album yet, I have not heard  
their pre-released single yet either. In fact as I  
recall I doubt that I have heard any of their last  
four or five albums the whole way thru. But that was  
more to do with the fact that for a long time I was  
uninterested in the sound of most rock records  
regardless of who made them. As much as I am however  
looking forward to hearing this new record, one thing  
for sure is that due to liking both Bono and Edge so  
much, (loving them actually) I will lack any real  
capacity to judge the music fairly. My feelings for  
this group are very partisan and to be honest it has  
been like this since I first came across them when we  
played together in a field in Belgium a heck of a long  
time ago.  
It was the two day Tourhout and Werchter festival that  
brought us together actually. Prior to that I had  
noticed the rave press that they were getting, but I  
had not bought any of their albums, feeling that it  
would be too "rockist" for me despite quite liking  
some of the singles. Interestingly, my brother was a  
massive fan and had seen them a couple of times when  
they played in Glasgow Tiffanys ballroom. He said that  
they were the proverbial bees knees, maybe even as  
good as us!!! Forgive him he was my wee brother after  
all.  
Apart from that Charlie had met these "great Irish  
guys, in a band" previously. Least that was how he  
described them on the night both bands stayed in the  
same cheap Mancunian B&B, literally passing each other  
in the corridor and politely saying hello. Charlie did  
however catch up with both the singer and guitar  
player later on in the evening and chatted to them for  
about five minutes, chuffed with the praise that they  
were giving to our then new single "The American".  
It would be a while before we would meet up again,  
although everyone who either knew or worked for both  
of us had at varying times commented on how we would  
really like these people. That we had so much in  
common, same sort of spirit, similar energy etc. I did  
not pay much attention, to be frank I was absorbed in  
our thing and our thing only.  
And so to Tourhourt where in all truth we had a great  
show that day. It rained heavily when we went on but  
the sun then came out as we were peaking emotionally.  
We were blinding that day, or so everyone seemed to  
think. I thought we could have done better and got a  
little moody as I recall, all because Mick seemed to  
be blasting out way too loud, killing all subtleties.  
Childish really. Me, not Mick! Next up, U2 followed  
us, and by their own admission they were a little  
under par. Impressive for sure but maybe a little  
tired having flown in just the previous day from  
America.  
Afterwards their little lead singer Bono (yes, even  
littler than me) was showing no sign of fatigue as we  
talked enthusiastically about our dreams and hopes.  
Generosity of spirit was pouring out of him, and we  
instantly got to striking up a friendship that lasts  
to this day. He was great company and just so fired up  
about...well just about everything. It left me in no  
doubt that with a fire like that going on inside their  
lead singer, they would achieve their even then self  
declared goal of becoming the biggest band in the  
world.  
Afterwards I agreed to ride back to the hotel with  
Bono and his beautiful young wife Ali. A wonderful  
girl. Unfortunately for her, it had been a long  
boiling hot July day and we were crammed into a tiny  
mini bus for the ride back to Bruxelles. Equally I  
remember how both Bono and I stank really badly of  
stale sweat. We were rancid actually, as a result of  
performing earlier and having had no opportunity to  
shower. Even now I still blush and feel sorry for what  
poor Ali had to endure as she sat sandwiched between  
us in the backseat on that musky evening!  
The next day at Werchter was a different story. They  
put on a set that was electrifying. Out of this world  
in fact. So strong it was like nothing I had  
previously witnessed, the kind of set that is  
impossible to follow. Yet, in our own way we did just  
that. Both acts went down an absolute storm in front  
of a festival audience that matched us for energy and  
enthusiasm. Afterwards although totally drained,  
everyone involved was flush with a great feeling of  
satisfaction. Ever since then and continuing to the  
present I have had no doubt as to the thorough  
greatness of U2, both as a band and as people. Good on  
them then, and congratulations with their continued  
success that they have worked so hard for!  
Good luck to Bob Geldolf also with Band Aid 20. I just  
admire Geldolf so much for his global commitment that  
has never waned. Differing views exist of course as to  
how effective Band Aid was twenty years ago when it  
was formed to seek relief for the famine victims in  
Ethiopia. Personally I have no doubt that once the  
dust had settled and all the hype and hot air faded,  
the proceeds of the campaign would still have helped  
to save millions of lives at least. Surely that has to  
be a positive thing. Regarding the bigger question of  
how to solve world hunger, well only politicians and  
not pop stars can answer that! The responsibility lies  
with them but they can be influenced by all of us. Let  
us hope that Band Aid again can be like an ignition  
key for the political "bandwagon" to get mobile and  
moving in the right direction. God speed!  
JK  
:: Posted by :: JK\[/i\]  
(Danke an Miri für den Hinweis)

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