A GRAND MADNESS

A U2 aficionado recounts her experiences on the road with the celebrated rock band in this sequel.

In June 1986, Beeaff had her first encounter with U2, an event that sparked an enduring love for the Irish band and the touring life. In 1999, the author shared her fandom experiences with the world in her work A Grand Madness: Ten Years on the Road With U2, a collection of journals and recollections from many years spent following the group. Now, 20 years later, Beeaff provides another installment, chronicling the journeys and concerts she experienced since the publication of the first book. With nearly a hundred shows under her belt, each of which she describes in exacting detail, the author understands U2 like few others. Her fervor and insights are evident on every page. And while undoubtedly best for dedicated fans of the band, this sequel has more to offer uninitiated readers than Beeaff’s first volume. Here, travel occupies more of the pages, and her descriptions of the places she visited, from Dublin to Southern California, are rich and engaging. Yet the author’s focus remains primarily on U2 itself, often failing to fruitfully incorporate facets that would give readers a more extensive portrait of the rock music world. While Beeaff acknowledges pivotal events of the last 20 years—from 9/11 to the election of Donald Trump as president—the book would have benefited from a more holistic analysis. In a similar vein, the addition of more personal details, outside of direct encounters with the band, might have delivered a fuller picture of Beeaff’s musical odyssey. Nevertheless, this sequel is a passionate account of decades of superfandom and a worthy continuation of an admirable project.

A superfan’s compelling, if narrowly focused, account that should especially appeal to U2 followers.