A GRAND MADNESS

An American fan of the Irish rock band U2 recounts her 10 years of following them on tour and the nitty-gritty details of a life dedicated to such a pursuit.

In June 1986, Beeaff had her first encounter with U2. After hearing a recording of their song “Bad,” she came to see the band, a favorite of her daughter’s, in a new, reverent light. This fondness grew into a fandom that led Beeaff to follow the group on the road from 1987 to 1998; she began her journey at a concert in Phoenix, Arizona, near her home—the opening show of the original Joshua Tree Tour. Originally published in 2000, this book chronicles Beeaff’s 36 U2 concerts, and her journeys far and wide to attend them, in contemporaneous journal entries. This volume is undoubtedly meant for fans of the band, and the detailed set lists and moment-by-moment concert analyses may intrigue avid followers eager for a glimpse of the band’s past. However, although clearly crafted with passion, the entries offer little to the uninitiated reader. Beeaff’s attempts to chronicle the highs and lows of her fandom offer moments of emotional insight, from the expectant boredom of awaiting a soundcheck on the pavement outside a stadium to the thrill of making contact with a personal hero. But these insights rarely last beyond the moment, as the author fails to incorporate them into a cohesive, satisfying narrative—either of her personal journey or of the wider phenomenon of fandom. She also had limited access to the band members themselves. Overall, this collection of entries and photos by Beeaff, the author of Spirit Stones (2011), will likely be appreciated by dedicated aficionados of the band at its center but by few others.

A chronicle of U2 fandom best read by fellow fans.