Billy Joel Outs U2 For Using A Secret Backing Band
SatansFuton
Posts: 5,399
I don't know how much validity there is to this, but I thought it was funny at least. It is just his word against theirs, and with Billy you never know, he could have been drunk. Also I don't see why they would have a band under the stage as opposed to a backing track or something. But for what it's worth here's the story. And it could all be BS so you U2 superfans don't climb all over my ass about it.
Billy Joel performed with a lucky fan on Wednesday night (December 14th) during his latest "an evening of questions and answers. . . and a little music" lecture at the University of Massachusetts. The Boston Herald reported that Billy, who played the 900-seat Durgin Hall as part of his three lecture stops -- including Cornell University and the University of Connecticut -- took time out to perform "Leningrad" with 22-year-old student, David Schockett, and treated the crowd to a few killer imitations, including Bob Dylan, Elton John, and Ronald Reagan.
In the night's most notable moment, he outed U2 for deceiving fans who believe that the band is creating all the sounds they hear onstage, saying, "Bono's gonna kill me for this. . . " before recalling the tale of attending a U2 gig in New York City and discovering "an additional band of musicians bolstering the sound from beneath the stage."
He revealed, among other things, that the 1989 ballad "And So It Goes" was written about his failed brief romance with Elle Macpherson just prior to his marriage to Christie Brinkley. He called the tryst a "doomed relationship," explaining, "She was 19, I was 30, she's 6'2" and I'm 5'7. I saw a picture of us walking on the beach and I looked like Bubbles the Chimp."
He tossed aside one fan's question about him ever considering recording a Christmas album, saying that everybody does it without shame, jokingly adding, "Besides -- I'm a Jew!" He went on to perform a heartfelt version of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas," along with such other classics as "An Innocent Man," and "Piano Man," among others.
Billy Joel performed with a lucky fan on Wednesday night (December 14th) during his latest "an evening of questions and answers. . . and a little music" lecture at the University of Massachusetts. The Boston Herald reported that Billy, who played the 900-seat Durgin Hall as part of his three lecture stops -- including Cornell University and the University of Connecticut -- took time out to perform "Leningrad" with 22-year-old student, David Schockett, and treated the crowd to a few killer imitations, including Bob Dylan, Elton John, and Ronald Reagan.
In the night's most notable moment, he outed U2 for deceiving fans who believe that the band is creating all the sounds they hear onstage, saying, "Bono's gonna kill me for this. . . " before recalling the tale of attending a U2 gig in New York City and discovering "an additional band of musicians bolstering the sound from beneath the stage."
He revealed, among other things, that the 1989 ballad "And So It Goes" was written about his failed brief romance with Elle Macpherson just prior to his marriage to Christie Brinkley. He called the tryst a "doomed relationship," explaining, "She was 19, I was 30, she's 6'2" and I'm 5'7. I saw a picture of us walking on the beach and I looked like Bubbles the Chimp."
He tossed aside one fan's question about him ever considering recording a Christmas album, saying that everybody does it without shame, jokingly adding, "Besides -- I'm a Jew!" He went on to perform a heartfelt version of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas," along with such other classics as "An Innocent Man," and "Piano Man," among others.
"See a broad to get dat booty yak 'em, leg 'er down, a smack 'em yak 'em!"
Post edited by Unknown User on
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Comments
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SatansFuton wrote:I don't know how much validity there is to this, but I thought it was funny at least. It is just his word against theirs, and with Billy you never know, he could have been drunk. Also I don't see why they would have a band under the stage as opposed to a backing track or something. But for what it's worth here's the story. And it could all be BS so you U2 superfans don't climb all over my ass about it.
ive heard this too... and not from billy joel.hear my name
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say0 -
"See a broad to get dat booty yak 'em, leg 'er down, a smack 'em yak 'em!"0
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I don't really think this is a secret, there's a shot of the organ player at 3:41 in this video from the Rose Bowl DVD.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2v4OH39UgM0 -
Sheets Of Clay wrote:I don't really think this is a secret, there's a shot of the organ player at 3:41 in this video from the Rose Bowl DVD.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2v4OH39UgM
Well, they do have a keyboardist named Terry Lawless that plays beneath the stage, behind it, or wherever (maybe sometimes on, I don't know) depending on the setup, but he's not always acknowledged, but he's also not really a secret, although it's kind of low key, and not always credited as an additional musician. Though he is credited on the Rose Bowl DVD. Billy Joel is saying there are more musicians than just that."See a broad to get dat booty yak 'em, leg 'er down, a smack 'em yak 'em!"0 -
FreakIn Bono0
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SatansFuton wrote:Well, they do have a keyboardist named Terry Lawless that plays beneath the stage, behind it, or wherever (maybe sometimes on, I don't know) depending on the setup, but he's not always acknowledged...
That's really low :evil: how in the world Bono is capable of raising his level of doucheness!"The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it"
Neil deGrasse Tyson
Why not (V) (°,,,,°) (V) ?0 -
i know another band who hardly ever acknowledges their organ/piano parts. hmmmm.......who could that be??
either way, the 2 best bands of the past 30 years.
rock all the doucheness u want BONO!! just leave oprah at home please.BUGS IN THE WAY, I FEEL ABOUT YOU0 -
not sure what the big deal is...u2 fans have known this for years and we're ok with it
but it gives the irrational haters of bono more fuel for their fire :roll:0 -
norm wrote:not sure what the big deal is...u2 fans have known this for years and we're ok with it
A whole band beneath the stage doesn't bother you? Whats the point of paying their high ticket prices if half of what you're listening to is actually comin from some no name schmucks under the stage?
I love Zeppelin and would cut off all 4 limbs and pull out my eyes to see them, but if I knew they were gonna have a different band under the stage to cover for the missteps it wouldn't be worth my time, imo.0 -
DewieCox wrote:norm wrote:not sure what the big deal is...u2 fans have known this for years and we're ok with it
A whole band beneath the stage doesn't bother you? Whats the point of paying their high ticket prices if half of what you're listening to is actually comin from some no name schmucks under the stage?
I love Zeppelin and would cut off all 4 limbs and pull out my eyes to see them, but if I knew they were gonna have a different band under the stage to cover for the missteps it wouldn't be worth my time, imo.
so if they are on the stage then it's ok but since they're below it's not worth it? ok, whatever you say...i go to concerts to hear music i like and i like u2's music0 -
norm wrote:DewieCox wrote:norm wrote:not sure what the big deal is...u2 fans have known this for years and we're ok with it
A whole band beneath the stage doesn't bother you? Whats the point of paying their high ticket prices if half of what you're listening to is actually comin from some no name schmucks under the stage?
I love Zeppelin and would cut off all 4 limbs and pull out my eyes to see them, but if I knew they were gonna have a different band under the stage to cover for the missteps it wouldn't be worth my time, imo.
so if they are on the stage then it's ok but since they're below it's not worth it? ok, whatever you say...i go to concerts to hear music i like and i like u2's music
If it is like this particular scenario sounds then no. I'd rather go see the band from under the stage as a tribute band at a local bar for $5.
If the U2 was under the stage b/c the stage was taken up by some sort of theatrics I would be fine with it.
And I'm fine with a band augmenting their sound with outside musicians, but it seems like U2 is taking it several steps farther than that.
Am I misunderstanding what they're doing?0 -
First of all, remember this is just Billy Joel saying it, it might not be 100% true. But since this came out I've read some comments from U2 fans saying they suspected it, or knew about it, or that they at least knew about Terry under there, even though he is rarely acknowledged.
And the comparison to Boom is a little different, doesn't he at least get introduced every night? Isn't he ALWAYS on the stage?
I've seen bands that use additional musicians. The Rolling Stones for example have about 10 additional people (including the backup singer ladies), but they are on the stage, get introduced every night, and often when they are playing in one of their home towns/states/country they are allowed to show off a little, get additional solos or whatever, and introduced to the crowd as the hometown boy/girl. I wouldn't have a problem with U2 having additional musicians (if this is true mind you) but I think it would be lame to hide them away and keep the spotlight to themselves. If the Stones can put their considerable egos aside to acknowledge the people that make them sound presentable, then I would think anybody can.
I have also heard rumors that Pink Floyd used to do this some back in the day, but I can't find anymore evidence for that than I can find for this, which is essentially Bill Joel's accusation and some message board posts that "confirm" it, or at least confirm suspicion."See a broad to get dat booty yak 'em, leg 'er down, a smack 'em yak 'em!"0 -
most of what goes on under the stage is augmentation...keyboards, additional guitar and i think extra percussion...and it's not for every song but for the more recent albums...but edge, larry and adam are all playing...even bono busts out the guitar from time to time...but they want to play their songs as they are presented on the albums and that requires extra musicians...could they put them on stage? sure...but since i believe they are used infrequently (not every song requires all of them) they've decided to put them backstage (or understage)0
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norm wrote:most of what goes on under the stage is augmentation...keyboards, additional guitar and i think extra percussion...and it's not for every song but for the more recent albums...but edge, larry and adam are all playing...even bono busts out the guitar from time to time...but they want to play their songs as they are presented on the albums and that requires extra musicians...could they put them on stage? sure...but since i believe they are used infrequently (not every song requires all of them) they've decided to put them backstage (or understage)
IC....Then that's not really a big deal to me. As choreographed as I would think their shows need to be for the show maybe it's necessary.
I was thinking they had a band playing along with them under the stage and any for any mishaps the sound guy would mix in the other band.0 -
SatansFuton wrote:I have also heard rumors that Pink Floyd used to do this some back in the day, but I can't find anymore evidence for that than I can find for this, which is essentially Bill Joel's accusation and some message board posts that "confirm" it, or at least confirm suspicion.
I know Waters definitely uses a backing track for trouble vocal spots, nowadays.
Didn't Floyd have a "surrogate band" for The Wall tour back in 80 that would mime along while the actual band was playing?
I've listened to some of live Floyd and I don't really see how they could've done it, judging from what you can hear. Was Snowy White ever credited or introduced on their later tours?0 -
DewieCox wrote:I was thinking they had a band playing along with them under the stage and any for any mishaps the sound guy would mix in the other band.
oh god i hope not...however, i'm sure there have been times where things have been "fixed" during a show by the gremlins underneath the stage...but i think that's usually bono's guitar tech helping out
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Fleetwood Mac did this on their last tour. There was a drummer hiding behind Mick that was playing along."You're no help," he told the lime. This was unfair. It was only a lime; there was nothing special about it at all. It was doing the best it could.
http://www.last.fm/user/merkinball/
spotify:user:merkinball0 -
DewieCox wrote:norm wrote:most of what goes on under the stage is augmentation...keyboards, additional guitar and i think extra percussion...and it's not for every song but for the more recent albums...but edge, larry and adam are all playing...even bono busts out the guitar from time to time...but they want to play their songs as they are presented on the albums and that requires extra musicians...could they put them on stage? sure...but since i believe they are used infrequently (not every song requires all of them) they've decided to put them backstage (or understage)
IC....Then that's not really a big deal to me. As choreographed as I would think their shows need to be for the show maybe it's necessary.
I was thinking they had a band playing along with them under the stage and any for any mishaps the sound guy would mix in the other band.
No, there's not a full band playing along with U2. Trust me, they would not fit under the stage, with all the other (mixing) equipment that is there. Yes, Terry Lawless did augment the sound with keyboards on the last tour, but as noted that was not being kept secret. In fact, Bono often gave a shout out to him when some prominent keyboard part was coming on (mostly during Unknown Caller).0 -
SatansFuton wrote:
And the truth is even better (than a pun I'm not going to make)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHlU2ukrCoU
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I regret to say that I have heard Water's Wall tour is all prerecorded and it's just theatrics....sucks having spent $1000 for 2 shows and wanting to go see it again. It definitely makes a difference to me if the band is playing it or faking it."If you want a friend, feed any animal." - JA
"Don't let it get you down, you know, still give your love, just give it away...I love singin' that part." - EV0
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