A R&R story. Or how I had a chance to "Artistically Audition" to create U2's Rattle & Hum Album cover b4 it went blooey
Last edited Fri Mar 29, 2024, 04:15 PM - Edit history (3)
Longer than I expected bc additional thoughts at the end.
Sooo...I'd been a professional Commercial Artist from about sometime '76 onward. Paste-ups and Mechanicals, certain Graphic Design projects, an illustration here, and there for companies, and non-profits.
One day out of the blue my sis calls me up. She tells me a friend, or a very good friend's friend was married to a very high up Executive in Island Records. U2 is on that label, and they're making a concert movie. My sis says - I told her you were a professional commercial artist, a Rock fan, and a very big U2 fan. Would you ask the husband whether I could show him ideas for this upcoming movie/album soundtrack?
He said, "Yes" to her.
😲😲😲😲😲
I was besides myself with *amazement*!!!!!
So at my board I started working on something. I basically had one idea (at that point) and titled it (as it was yet unnamed) "U2 Live in America".
I'd drawn it small in a dark pencil. Xeroxed it, then colored in the xerox. Not sure I would have gone to a bigger sketch at that point.
I don't know whether besides my utter astonishment, and excitement, I was also a bit intimidated!
Still, at least creativity, and physically previously I'd had the experience when I created on my own for the sheer love of the project - "album art" for Lifehouse; the story outlined back then '70 in the interview Pete Townshend gave to Nick Cohen in The NY Times article "From Tommy to Bobby": Bobby being the tech hero of the tale. This -Townshend's, and The Who's ill-fated project would collaspe down into "Who's Next".
I made a full size double album front/back cover art w a separate interior opening up where besides a simplefied sillouetted image of part of the front cover ran fake type for the "story, song listing, credits", etc. Graphic designers either draw lines, or use fake type to indicate text.
Anyway, one day in ?Feb '87 I'm riding on the bus. I would buy the NYT for very major news. So I was separating the sections, and I happen to glance below the fold of the Business section.
The headline goes something like
"Major Executive ______ _______ of Island Records (?NY office) collapses, and dies".
...Oh.
I don't remember whether my sister called me, or I called her that night.
And that was the end of my chance.
( 😭 ) Devastated.
Because I do my best to be a considerate person I felt guilty about feeling sooo bad at my lost chance.
I talked to my sister's, and our mutual friend, maybe another friend, and that was it.
Never a peep of disappointment until around ?2004 when Atomic Bomb was released. I finally tell my story to my fellow U2 fans on a U2 fan site I've been at for a year. I get lots of sympathy.
So why am telling this now. Not sure.
It might be connected to a couple of things.
A couple of years ago ?'21 - '22 my sister tells me she's no longer going to big arena, or stadium rock concerts. Part of it of course is covid. I mean i wouldn't go either. But her knee is bad, and with some jerks around she can't afford to be injured even if the probabilities are low. One time in MSG some guy leaps over the barrier I'm seating in front of...very close. 😳 So, yeah.
If I felt eventually more confident re covid I don't think she'd lend me the money since my limited income has further decreased for descreshionary income (basics are in general all fine 👍
.
This is something we've done together usually with other friends since '71 - possibly first seeing The Who's WN Tour. Maybe over 175+ shows of various size venues small to the biggest from rare sitting/standing out of a venue to being usually inside. The last show we saw together was The Who in Sept 2019. She's the one who floated me the $ for the biggest shows till i'd pay her back when my income decreased (but not to the current level).
So U2 reccently finished at The Sphere. The Who reccently toured. And Bruce is touring now. I don't know what Patti's up to though we caught an on line gig during covid. 👍 Midnight Oil did a reunion tour I didn't hear about. So almost everyone has been recently, or currently out playing.
These bands the ones that have meant the most to me are now either doing their last, or second to last tours. Bc of Covid, and little money I'll probably not see them again. Maybe a stadium show I could outside if the weather is decent enough.
It's while not devastating, it's sad.
I need to listen to my near by University radio station again. Listened for quite a few years but past several years listening more to WNYC, and being here.
I should catch what younger performers are around. Some who I know of, or are new to me, or new to nearly everyone. Maybe they'll eventually be appearing at outdoor shows I can sit outside of. 👍
I've seen shows for 54 years since '65. It's been part of my lifeblood. I'm not ready to give it all up if I can.