Tag: U2 (Page 3 of 3)

@U2 Interview: Peter Rowen

By Tassoula E. Kokkoris

This work was commissioned for the site atu2, which was online from 1995 – 2020 and it still protected under a shared copyright.

If U2 put you on the cover of one of their albums, wouldn’t you be sure to own several copies? Perhaps a few in each format (vinyl, cassette, CD)? Believe it or not, the only non-band-member to ever appear on a U2 album cover, Peter Rowen, doesn’t own either U2 album that bears his likeness.

I’ve always wondered what became of the boy who appeared on the Boy and War covers because his image has always captivated me.

Throughout the history of rock and roll, photos have played a crucial role in representing and even defining the work of its artists. From Jim Morrison’s shirtless pose in the sign of a cross to the jeans-wearing Bruce Springsteen on his Born in the U.S.A. album, a well-crafted image can instantly transport us to the place where the music itself takes us.

U2 are no exception to this — in fact, they’ve probably produced one of the most consistently impressive collections of images of any rock band in existence. The four young band members standing in front of the joshua tree, The Fly and MacPhisto wreaking havoc on the Zoo TV tour, Bono in a bubble bath — the list goes on. But for me, the most prominent U2-related image has always been one that didn’t feature any of the band members. It’s the album cover for War and it still gets to me to this day. The stark contrast of the red lettering juxtaposed with the timeless black and white photo of an angry child says so much, by simply saying so little. It’s haunting, yet innocent. And I hear “Sunday Bloody Sunday” in my head every time I glance at it.

I knew that Peter Rowen, the model for those covers, was the younger brother of Bono’s friend Guggi. I also remembered that he did some acting in Ireland in the years following his work with U2. What I didn’t know is that he grew up to be a successful photographer. And I found that to be especially interesting. Who would guess the subject of such a famous photo would grow up to be a photographer himself?

I recently caught up with Peter, who is based in Dublin, and he kindly agreed to a session of Q&A, via e-mail.

Q: Did being the subject of internationally famous album covers have anything to do with how you arrived at your present career?

A: No, I don’t think me being on the albums had anything to do with me ending up in photography. I think it was more to do with my interest in drawing/painting as a kid. I used to spend a lot of my spare time growing up making images of one kind or another and then one day a friend introduced me to photography and I instantly fell in love with it.

Q: When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A: A tractor.

Q: Did having an older brother who was an artist (with an eccentric group of friends) influence you creatively?

A: I wouldn’t say that my brother and his friends have influenced me at all really…there is quite a big age gap, so by the time I was five my older brothers would have all left home.

Q: Do people still recognize you as the “U2 kid”? If so, is that a good thing or an annoyance?

A: No, I don’t think anyone has ever recognized me as U2’s kid! To be honest with you it’s never really caused me any bother, I guess it’s a bit of a laugh!

Q: The story of how you were paid in candy bars (Mars bars specifically, if I’m not mistaken) for the U2 photo shoots is legendary. Do you have any particularly fond or funny memories of working with the band?

A: My memories of working with the band are all but gone…the only things I actually remember are me not liking the soup we were served by the photographer’s wife and Bono nearly crashing into a line of traffic on the way home from the shoot!

Q: During those Boy and War photo shoots, did you try to have any input into the poses or your wardrobe, or were you agreeable to whatever they instructed you to do?

A: There was a full box of Mars bars at stake! I was up for anything!

Q: Did your parents consent to you participating in the U2 photo shoots in advance, or were they so spur-of-the-moment that they were informed later?

A: I’m sure my parents must have consented to it.

Q: To me the War cover symbolizes how children become innocent victims in conflicts created by adults who should know better. What does it mean to you?

A: I never really thought about that one! I’ve always just seen it as a nice picture of me when I was eight years old!

Q: At the time, did you have any idea that U2 would become the superstars that they eventually became?

A: No — I don’t imagine anyone did!

Q: Did you get to keep any of the original prints from your U2 photo shoots?

A: Yea, I’ve got a couple of out takes from the War shoot…

[Ed. note: one outtake from Peter Rowen’s collection is included below]

Q: Which U2 album cover is your personal favorite?

A: I think my favorite cover is probably Boy

Q: Some of the covers you’re featured on presently fetch considerable amounts of money on auction sites like eBay. Have you ever bid on an item that you appear on?

A: No, never!

Q: Your web site displays an excellent photo you took of Bono during one of the Slane Castle concerts in 2001. Do you photograph the band often? If not, would you like to?

A: Slane 2001 [August 25 show] was the only time I got to shoot the band. Yea, it’d be nice to get an opportunity to shoot them again sometime.

[Ed. note: you can view a selection of Peter Rowen’s U2 concert photos here]

Q: What other (if any) musicians would you like to photograph?

A: Yea, there’s a few I’d love to photograph…Willie Nelson, Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan….

Q: What (or who) would be your dream subject to photograph?

A: I’d love to photograph Valentino Rossi (seven-time World Champion GP racer) as I’m a huge bike-sport fan and Valentino is the man!

Q: Who inspires you?

A: I’m a big fan of Richard Avedon’s work…I love the fact that most of it is so simple. Funnily enough I also really like Anton Corbjin’s stuff, again he uses a lot of daylight and tends to keep it pretty simple…no gimmicks just great photographs.

Q: Is U2 on your iPod?

A: Yea, of course U2 are on my iPod! I’ve been listening to How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb a lot lately and I love it!

Q: Do you go to their shows? Buy their albums?

A: Yea, I’ve been to a good few of their shows…(went to see them play Barcelona last summer and had a great time!)…and yea I’ve got most of their albums. I think the only albums I don’t have a copy of (strangely enough) are Boy and War!

Q: When you hear U2 songs on the radio, for instance “Two Hearts Beat As One,” does it remind you of being in the video or is it just like hearing any other song?

A: When I hear that particular song yea, I do always think of the video.

Q: What types of music do you listen to? Who are your favorite bands?

A: I love all sorts of music from Chopin to White Stripes to Van Morrison to Kanye West. I’m listening to Magic Numbers lately…I really like their current album.

Q: As a fan of Roddy Doyle’s stories, I remember your appearances in The Commitments and The Snapper. Do you have any other acting projects in the works?

A: No, the acting thing I sort of fell into by accident. Actually, a Swiss film producer spotted me in the U2 “Two Hearts Beat As One” video and came over to Ireland to meet me. He had me in mind for a pretty major role in a film he was working on at the time…as it happened, that film was never made, but as a result of me getting an agent and taking a few acting classes (a few too few I think!) I ended up getting some small parts in a couple of other movies.

Q: Were you ever contacted by U2 to appear on any recent album covers?

A: No.

Q: The band has joked in the past that they should make an album called Man as a sort of bookend to Boy. If this ever comes to fruition, and they asked you to be on the cover, would you do it?

A: Only if they promised to pay me in Mars bars again!

Q: Are you still in touch with the band?

A: Not really, I’d know them all to say hello to but that’s about it…

Q: You display an amazing portfolio of work on your web site. Have you ever considered publishing a book of your photography?

A: No, but I would love to someday!

Q: And hypothetically, if one were to realize their dream of someday getting married in Slane Castle, do you photograph weddings?

A: Yes!

Visit www.peterrowen.com to learn more about Peter Rowen’s photography and view samples of his work.

© @U2/Kokkoris, 2006.

Singing Words of Wisdom: U2 and The Beatles

By Tassoula E. Kokkoris

This work was commissioned for the site atu2, which was online from 1995 – 2020 and it still protected under a shared copyright.

They invaded America. Took on political causes. Got pulled off of rooftops in the middle of performances.

They even played an amazing gig at Red Rocks.

They’re the Beatles…and U2.

If you’re a music fan like me, you probably grow tired of the endless Beatles comparisons made whenever a band achieves marginal success. For years journalists have described countless bands as “the next Beatles” or “bigger than The Beatles.” Only U2 truly comes close.

In fact, the more I learn about each group, the more I realize how identical their paths have been. To be fair, anyone looking hard enough could find similarities between any two bands. But in exploring the patterns of The Beatles and U2, the circumstances are more unique.

THE EARLY YEARS

The Beatles began as four teenage boys from Liverpool, England. John Lennon, a sarcastic-but-smart troublemaker, frequently liked to skip school because it bored him. Paul McCartney, an exemplary student, did well in classes and planned on eventually attending university, possibly to become a teacher. George Harrison, the youngest of the group, whose musical pursuits were supported by his family, was the most direct of the bunch — and not a fan of conformity. He told biographer Hunter Davies about school “I hated being dictated to…I was just trying to be myself.” And Richard Starkey, the eldest of the group, had played in more bands than the other three by the time he joined them. They liked to call each other by nicknames such as Macca (Paul), Lennie (John), Hazza (George), and Ringo (Richard).

John, Paul, George and Ringo had three band names. First, they were Johnny and the Moondogs, then The Silver Beetles and finally The Beatles. The manager that put them on the map, Brian Epstein, had never before managed a music group.

Paul McCartney and John Lennon lost their mothers unexpectedly when the band was just getting started. John’s mother was killed in a car accident.

U2 started with four teenage boys living in Dublin, Ireland. Paul Hewson, a gregarious-but-intelligent kid, often skipped school because it didn’t interest him. Dave Evans was a strong student who had plans for higher education if his music aspirations didn’t materialize. Larry Mullen Jr., the baby of the group, took piano and drum lessons as a young man. His family nurtured his talent and he did well in the Artane Boys Band — until they told him to cut his hair. He didn’t care much for conformity. And Adam Clayton, the oldest member of the band, had a more mature knowledge of music — impressing his mates with words like “gig.” It was part of the culture in Dublin to call each other by nicknames like Bono (Paul) and The Edge (Dave).

Bono, the Edge, Larry and Adam had three band names. First, they were Feedback, then The Hype, and of course, U2. Their manager, Paul McGuinness, had never before managed a punk band.

Bono and Larry Mullen Jr. tragically lost their mothers in their teenage years. Larry’s mother was killed in a car accident.

RELIGION

The Beatles began collectively searching for “the answer” in the late sixties when they followed the teachings of His Holiness Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. All four band members, along with their wives and girlfriends, traveled to India and Wales for a three-week retreat to learn the technique of Transcendental Meditation. Although first praising the philosophy, the band soon lost interest and faith in the Maharishi. Ringo was the first to leave the retreat, claiming to dislike the food, then Paul, John and George followed. Upon returning to England, the band publicly acknowledged their “mistake” in belief. In 1989 Paul went as far as to say “I don”t like religion as such because there’s always bloody wars with every bloody religion.”

U2’s baptism, of sorts, came much earlier. Bono, the Edge and Larry joined the Shalom Christian prayer group while the band was still growing its roots. Though Adam never became a member, the beliefs of the other three threatened to disband U2. Luckily, the young men chose the music over Shalom. At present all four men have mentioned having faith, but not in the extreme manner of their youth. In 2002, Edge said “I still have a spiritual life, but I’m not really a fan of religion per se.”

THE FAMILY BUSINESS

In 1967, The Beatles launched a company called Apple Corps, Ltd., in an effort to give creative artists a chance to realize their dreams without having to endure corporate red tape. Though this altruistic venture found worthy musicians such as Billy Preston and James Taylor, the other branches of Apple (a clothing boutique, a division of electronics, etc.) failed miserably. Ultimately, the only portion of Apple that remains today is the publishing company.

In 1984, U2 started Mother Records, a record label meant to act as a stepping stone for up-and-coming musicians. Their aim was to establish a deal for a few singles from the artist that would in turn elevate them to a higher status where they could negotiate deals with larger labels. Although bands like the Hothouse Flowers and Cactus World News achieved great success from this venture, three managers and several years later, the label folded. All that remains today is the Mother Publishing Company.

LYRICS

Both bands have songs based on love, war, peace and faith. A fair argument could be made that scores of musicians also sing about these topics. It’s the specific parallels that make the paths of U2 and The Beatles so fascinating.

For instance, it’s not surprising that John Lennon and Bono both chose to write about the loss of their mothers. Their lyrics represent the necessity of not letting go.

In “Julia,” John writes “Half of what I say is meaningless/But I say it just to reach you, Julia.”

“I Will Follow” has Bono singing “If you walk away, walk away/I walkaway, walkaway..I will follow.”

Civil rights were also a common thread. In “Blackbird,” Paul McCartney sang about black women overcoming their obstacles to soar above their oppressors: “Blackbird singing in the dead of night/Take these sunken eyes and learn to see/All your Life/You were only waiting for this moment to be free.”

In “Pride (In the Name of Love),” Bono remembers American civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. “One man come in the name of love/One man come and go/One man come, he to justify/One man to overthrow.”

Neither band shied away from letting politics enter their catalog either, always singing for the preservation of peace. In “Revolution,” John Lennon claimed “But when you want money for people with minds that hate/All I can tell you is brother you have to wait.”

In “Please,” U2 condemns an unspecific political figure or social group: “So you never knew/That the heaven you keep, you stole/Please…please…please/Get up off your knees/Please-yeah…please…please…/Leave me out of this please.”

And on the lighter side, both bands created anthems to celebrate a nice day. The Beatles with Harrison’s “Here Comes the Sun”: “Here comes the sun/Here comes the sun/And I say it’s all right/Sun, sun, sun here it comes”; U2 with “Beautiful Day”: “It’s a beautiful day/Sky falls, you feel like it’s a beautiful day/ Don’t let it get away.”

Coincidentally, even some titles are similar. The Beatles had “Within You and Without You,” and U2 had a number one hit with “With or Without You.” John Lennon’s heartfelt ballad to his wife Yoko, “Dig a Pony,” was first called “All I Want is You.” One of Bono’s most treasured songs to his beloved Ali is called “All I Want is You.”

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS

Paul McCartney has been married twice, producing four daughters and one son. John Lennon shared a birthday with his son Sean.

The Edge has been married twice, producing four daughters and one son. Bono shares a birthday with his daughter Jordan.

IMITATION IS THE HIGHEST FORM OF FLATTERY

At the end of the Let it Be documentary, The Beatles venture to the roof of the building for an impromptu performance, only to be dragged off by the police. When U2 filmed the video for “Where the Streets Have No Name” on a Los Angeles rooftop, it ended with the police unplugging their equipment.

Over the years, U2 have covered several Beatles songs including “Help!,” “Helter Skelter,” “Happiness is a Warm Gun” and “In My Life.” On their recent Elevation tour, the introduction to U2 taking the stage included The Beatles’ version of “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s Club Band.” They even hired Chris Thomas, a former Beatles collaborator, to co-produce their upcoming album.

QUOTABLE FRONT MEN

Part of the appeal in both bands is undoubtedly the charisma of their members. All eight men displayed intelligence, quick wit and a knack for well-placed sarcasm every time they were put to the test. Their front men, who both have messiah comparisons under their belt, have been nothing short of a quote-collector’s dream:

“Part of me suspects I’m a loser and part of me thinks I’m God Almighty.” – John Lennon, 9/1980 in The Playboy Interviews

“It’s a strange thing to need 20,000 people screaming your name to feel normal.” – Bono, 9/2002 on The Oprah Winfrey Show

MEETING OF THE MINDS

So — have the two superpowers ever met? Sadly, John Lennon never had the chance to know any members of U2 (although they were reportedly only a few miles away from the Dakota when he was killed in December of 1980).

George Harrison had unkind words for U2 in the late ’90s, saying “Look at a group like U2. Bono and his band are so egocentric — the more you jump around, the bigger your hat is, the more people listen to your music. The only important thing is to sell and make money. It’s nothing to do with talent. Today there are groups who sell lots of records and then disappear. Will we remember U2 in 30 years? Or the Spice Girls? I doubt it.”

Bono responded: “We were great fans of his but he didn’t like U2 very much. I heard he was very bad-tempered — I think it might have been more true to say he was the grumpy Beatle rather than the quiet one.”

However, Paul McCartney said great things about U2 at the Super Bowl in 2002. Rumors go so far as to suggest that Bono attended the wedding of Paul McCartney and Heather Mills in the summer of 2002, so one could assume they’re probably friends.

Not to be outdone, Edge recently collaborated with Lennon’s widow Yoko Ono for an art show. Dangerously, he allegedly invited her back to the studio (wink).

AND IN THE END

What does all of this mean? Maybe it’s just a clear documentation of amazing coincidences involving two phenomenal mainstream bands. Or maybe it’s divine intervention.



© @U2/Kokkoris, 2004.

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