It’s a beautiful Seattle Saturday afternoon, the sun is out in full force. I am not at the beach or lounging by the pool.. oh no… I am among many thousands of people at the U2 360 concert here at Qwest field .    

It’s a sweaty smelly throng outside, and even backstage it’s not smelling like roses. First off it’s hot…secondly the heat is mixing with the smell of cooking food. I need a drink stat..    

In my youth I worked with these fine Irish lads, but now as we find ourselves older and hopefully wiser they are more like really good acquaintances.. I don’t know Oprah or Kanye West. I’m OK with that.    

After getting the last remaining clean air squeezed out of my lungs, by a Bono sized bear hug, I asked if he had five minutes to talk books. I even showed him the ridiculous WSJ article about YA books going to far. I told him my friends were YA authors, and that we were all really annoyed about this. He listened to me rant and nodded as he read some of my friends tweets with the hastag #YAsaves.    

He ever so patiently reminded me, “if it upsets you, do something about it.. Don’t just sit here waving your iPod around,re-tweeting things” Bono-1, Synde -0    

I asked him what book really changed him as a kid. He scowled .    

Bono: (laughs) that’s hardly fair. You know how much I read. Could you answer that?    

Synde: We aren’t talking about me.. but FTR yes I could..    

Bono: OK then I will if you will.    

Synde: Deal!    

Bono: The Screwtape letters by CS Lewis. It’s a satirical piece about an elder demon writing his young demon nephew about life in the Lowerachy(Hell). It helped shaped my faith, my compassion. It’s really more about how we undermine our faith. It made me strong. Especially as a youth in Dublin. Now you.    

Synde:  The Alchemical Wedding by Christian Rosenkrantz. Magic is everywhere all around us, it shapes us. That’s when I realized it. That’s when I knew there was more to life than what the naked eye could see or experience.     

What genre of music really got you going?    

Bono: Hmmm well like yourself Synde we are really children of the punk movement. The Ramones, Patti Smith, Sex Pistols. The whole NYC scene. You remember we were originally a punk band. Yelling at the world to change..That didn’t work so we changed the way we delivered the message    

Punk lit a fire under us. Those pants, remember those black and white pants?    

Synde: Yes …sadly I do..( Bono had these black and white harlequin pants. they were awful.)    

Synde: I know you are busy and I don’t want to take more of your time..hey is that Paul Allen over there?    

Bono: Yes.. distractable aren’t you. And apparently fickle.    

Synde: Yeah. I recognize him from the picture on the cover of his book. I don’t normally rub elbows with these kinds of folks..    

Bono: A jail of your own making you know.    

Synde: Hmmm. OK one more question..what are you reading now?    

Bono: A few things. Mostly non fiction. Keeping up on what’s going on in the world. We have to keep our minds focused on what’s happening. Have you been keeping up on what’s happening in our world.?    

Synde: Yes..don’t make me cry please.    

Bono:  Keep your mind sharp and compassionate. Hate is a sign of apathy.    

You buy into fear..don’t.    

Synde: Yes Doctor.. Thanks for your time King Bono..I really appreciate it. I will go find a seat and leave you be.    

Bono: Your welcome, my jester…    

The show was great, and the set was something out of a mixed up mythology. It made me think of a southwestern longhorn cowskull mixed with a crazy spaceship. Bono is the pilot of U2′s mission to Mars. That image was complete when the boys brought a video message from Commander Mark Kelly taped at the International Space station, and then dedicated “Beautiful Day” to Gabby Giffords. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the stadium (http://www.u2.com/news/title/surprise-in-seattle ) Even previewing this link made me cry once again.    

Never doubt the band, they will always be socially relevant.    

Well done me boyo’s..    

Synde Circa The U2 Days

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