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Stolen U2 'October' era lyrics recovered by Bono

PostPosted: Fri Oct 22, 2004 2:26 am
by 2Nu
Will be interesting to see how this material will be (re)used by the band. [?]

<a href="http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=9&u=/ap/20041022/ap_on_en_mu/people_u2_lyrics" target="blank">PORTLAND, Ore.</a> - A long-lost briefcase full of notes and lyrics that were intended for the 1981 U2 album "October" has been <a href="http://www.atu2.com/news/article.src?ID=3561" target="blank">returned</a>, 23 years after it was stolen at a Portland concert.

U2 frontman Bono made the announcement Wednesday during an appearance before the World Affairs Council of Oregon, saying the returned notes were "an act of grace."

Bono had to rewrite the "October" lyrics in the studio, and band members called it their worst recording experience. Though the record was generally well-received, it didn't earn the praise of the band's debut album, "Boy," or third album, "War."

The briefcase was returned by Cindy Harris, 44, who said she found it in the attic of a rental home in Tacoma, Wash., in 1981. She said she did not know the notes had been stolen until many years later, and then she had no idea how to reach the band.

Her friend Danielle Rheaume spent much of the past year contacting U2's management.

According to "Into the Heart," a book of stories about U2 songs, the briefcase was stolen by some women who joined the band backstage at a now-defunct Portland nightclub.

The band returned to Portland a few years after the theft and Bono asked the audience if anyone knew about the briefcase. He repeated the question when the band played at the Rose Garden arena in 2001.

PostPosted: Fri Oct 22, 2004 2:45 am
by scramjet
I'd read that story about October. I've always thought it was weaker than Boy and War. Thanks for passing that on. I hope they did something nice for Cindy and Danielle.

PostPosted: Fri Oct 22, 2004 3:36 am
by ebbhead
[quote][i]Originally posted by scramjet[/i]
<br>I'd read that story about October. I've always thought it was weaker than Boy and War. Th

PostPosted: Fri Oct 22, 2004 3:43 am
by marie3
That is pretty wild. I never knew about this story. I have the October cd in my van right now. I always listen to it this time of year.

PostPosted: Fri Oct 22, 2004 3:45 am
by Quite Life
[quote][i]Originally posted by scramjet[/i]
<br>I'd read that story about October. I've always thought it was weaker than Boy and War. Th

PostPosted: Fri Oct 22, 2004 5:45 am
by MikeP
Here's the full details from the U2Log.com web site:
http://u2log.com/archive/002943.shtml

PostPosted: Fri Oct 22, 2004 11:14 am
by MARV
I have never heard of a band getting more lyrics, master tapes, whatever stolen from them than U2. Love the band and consider myself an original fan but waddup with all these criminals folowing them around???

PostPosted: Fri Oct 22, 2004 11:28 am
by hexicon
More great press for my adopted hometown of Tacoma. Sheesh.

PostPosted: Sat Oct 23, 2004 2:24 am
by hexicon
Here's the local take on the story. http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/stor ... 7424c.html

Turns out I know Danielle, one of the girls involved (the one who helped put the finder in touch with the band); she briefly worked as support staff for

PostPosted: Sat Oct 23, 2004 8:47 am
by Lazlo Nibble
Heheheh. Hands up, all ZTT geeks who'd give their eye teeth to read Bono's letters to Paul Morley!