There is an Anton Corbijn photograph I fell in love with years and years ago: U2 - circa The Joshua Tree - in stark black and white are standing in front of an old dilapidated garage door that has been covered with a huge painting of an american flag and a woman holding an infant above her head, mouth agape. One isn't quite sure if the woman is about to devour the child or sing it a lullaby.
It's a gorgeous piece and I was truly amazed and thrilled to find it within the pages of this massive tome.
From new fangled baby band (playing any & every little hole in the wall that was willing to book them), to full fledged arena & stadium filling ROCK STARS, U2 is a band that has stretched themselves and their soulful soundscapes across two decades, going on three!
Anton Corbijn, master phototographer and friend to the band that he is, was there to capture it all: a snowy Sweedish video shoot for "New Year's Day"; traipsing through a deserted goldmining town in Bodie, California, in search of good shots for The Joshua Tree; hanging out on the roof of The Million Dollar Hotel in Los Angeles (which would later become the film of the same name and location); Adam, Larry, Edge and Bono looking lovely in evening gowns (yes, as in dresses; for the video shoot of "One" in Berlin); Bono armwrestling Nelson Mandella (and loosing!); and a wonderful series of photos of "the sons and the fathers" where each band memeber's dad was photographed with his son and his respective instrument.
Anton's handwritten commentary is full of personal thoughts, anecdotes and fascinating background that makes for hours of leisurely page-turning, reading and enjoyment.
If you are a U2 fan, an Anton Corbijn fan, a fan of rock history, or a fan of great photography: this book was made for you. And if, as Bono once said, "Rock and roll stops the traffic!", then this big beautiful book of Rock & Roll's finest, will simply stop your heart...