U2 1st demo tape on eBay

Kids, keep your daddies away from your piggy banks. Collectors world wide are drooling over a unique item that’s been put up for sale on eBay:

“This collection consists in an original demo tape from U2

64 thoughts on “U2 1st demo tape on eBay

  1. Street Missions is one of the best demo songs I’ve ever heard. It definitely should have been on Boy.

  2. Street Missions is one of the best demo songs I’ve ever heard. It definitely should have been on Boy.

  3. Let’s see, if we got 3,200 U2 fans to throw in $100, we could collectively own original U2 demo tapes! Ok, I’m in…only 3,199 more fans needed.

  4. Let’s see, if we got 3,200 U2 fans to throw in $100, we could collectively own original U2 demo tapes! Ok, I’m in…only 3,199 more fans needed.

  5. So the guy says about the contact sheet, “It is uncertain whether any of these images have been published, or who is the photographer of record.” Try Dunphy’s book, one of the shots is in there, and the photographer of record is Phil Shegby. Boy, was that intensive research on my part! This is the famous photo session where they realized they had to pose to hide Larry’s feet because he was the only one wearing flares. It was 1978, he was the only one in the WORLD wearing flares! Speaking of the drummer, why did Baby Vox leave his name off that copyright notice? Himself, Adam Clayton, David Edge, and that’s the end of that!

    This is all very interesting, but for that kind of money, I’d want a night out with a member of the band, maybe the theatre, followed by dinner at an excruciatingly good restaurant, then back home for a game of The Convict and The Warden’s Wife…

  6. So the guy says about the contact sheet, “It is uncertain whether any of these images have been published, or who is the photographer of record.” Try Dunphy’s book, one of the shots is in there, and the photographer of record is Phil Shegby. Boy, was that intensive research on my part! This is the famous photo session where they realized they had to pose to hide Larry’s feet because he was the only one wearing flares. It was 1978, he was the only one in the WORLD wearing flares! Speaking of the drummer, why did Baby Vox leave his name off that copyright notice? Himself, Adam Clayton, David Edge, and that’s the end of that!

    This is all very interesting, but for that kind of money, I’d want a night out with a member of the band, maybe the theatre, followed by dinner at an excruciatingly good restaurant, then back home for a game of The Convict and The Warden’s Wife…

  7. Legally you cannot copyright drumbeats (or guitar chord sequences) so the only copyrightable portions of a song are the lyrics + melody. (They came to a later understanding of splitting everything four ways equally, including the songwriting.) This is probably why Larry was not listed in that handwritten notice of copyright.

  8. Legally you cannot copyright drumbeats (or guitar chord sequences) so the only copyrightable portions of a song are the lyrics + melody. (They came to a later understanding of splitting everything four ways equally, including the songwriting.) This is probably why Larry was not listed in that handwritten notice of copyright.

  9. holy hell! how odd that none of the band members/associates want this stuff back. who wants to bet it ends up in that seattle music-mall?

  10. holy hell! how odd that none of the band members/associates want this stuff back. who wants to bet it ends up in that seattle music-mall?

  11. I’m very familiar with copyright laws, and the credit at the bottom is the songwriter credit, lyrics and melody. It’s not a matter of copyrighting a drumbeat — then why are Edge and Adam there, you can’t copyright individual bass lines or chord sequences either. Age wouldn’t matter in claiming copyright, and after all, Our Lardence is only two months younger than Edge — we all forget that, because in these photos, Larry looks, what, 11? I just find it fascinating that at one time, they considered leaving Larry, or any band member, out — drummer always gets the short end of the stick! There’s a pun in there somewhere. The two smartest things they ever did was to hold on to their song rights and to credit the band equally.

    From reading the provenance, I would think that U2 didn’t take the stuff from the guy who was having all the legal trouble because they didn’t want to go near a legal mess like that, have any kind of fresh connection with him, especially if he “claimed” he just wanted to give something of value back to them when he was in such dire financial straits. I also find it curious that a legitimate auction house wants to auction this stuff but the guy opted for ebay — the buyer pays the commission, so what’s in it for him to do it this way? My guess would be that the auction house’s estimate was well below what this guy is asking, maybe even below what he paid for it. As I write this, not one bid has been made — I think elmo’s prediction may come true!

  12. I’m very familiar with copyright laws, and the credit at the bottom is the songwriter credit, lyrics and melody. It’s not a matter of copyrighting a drumbeat — then why are Edge and Adam there, you can’t copyright individual bass lines or chord sequences either. Age wouldn’t matter in claiming copyright, and after all, Our Lardence is only two months younger than Edge — we all forget that, because in these photos, Larry looks, what, 11? I just find it fascinating that at one time, they considered leaving Larry, or any band member, out — drummer always gets the short end of the stick! There’s a pun in there somewhere. The two smartest things they ever did was to hold on to their song rights and to credit the band equally.

    From reading the provenance, I would think that U2 didn’t take the stuff from the guy who was having all the legal trouble because they didn’t want to go near a legal mess like that, have any kind of fresh connection with him, especially if he “claimed” he just wanted to give something of value back to them when he was in such dire financial straits. I also find it curious that a legitimate auction house wants to auction this stuff but the guy opted for ebay — the buyer pays the commission, so what’s in it for him to do it this way? My guess would be that the auction house’s estimate was well below what this guy is asking, maybe even below what he paid for it. As I write this, not one bid has been made — I think elmo’s prediction may come true!

  13. Elmo is refering to the EMP, Experience Music Project, in Seattle. Paul Allen, microsoft gazillion-aire, owns the EMP and has ties to U2 (check your liner notes for ATYCLB). I would be thrilled if EMP purchased the items and puts them on display for the public to enjoy.

  14. Elmo is refering to the EMP, Experience Music Project, in Seattle. Paul Allen, microsoft gazillion-aire, owns the EMP and has ties to U2 (check your liner notes for ATYCLB). I would be thrilled if EMP purchased the items and puts them on display for the public to enjoy.

  15. Though the actual demo tracks have been widely bootlegged, this is a tremendous piece of history to come up for auction.

  16. Though the actual demo tracks have been widely bootlegged, this is a tremendous piece of history to come up for auction.

  17. Sorry for the off topic: Has anyone read Bono’s and Edge’s pieces in Rolling Stone? Edge was perfect for the clash and even more so was Bono for Elvis.
    It’s that type of writing that I am missing, and waiting in anticipation of the next stage for this band. It’s definitely the beat and melodies we love, but it’s the words that sends the hair raising even higher! Lyrics that go all the way back to the first lyric sheet…oh wait I just got back on topic!
    Cheers to U2 log!

  18. Sorry for the off topic: Has anyone read Bono’s and Edge’s pieces in Rolling Stone? Edge was perfect for the clash and even more so was Bono for Elvis.
    It’s that type of writing that I am missing, and waiting in anticipation of the next stage for this band. It’s definitely the beat and melodies we love, but it’s the words that sends the hair raising even higher! Lyrics that go all the way back to the first lyric sheet…oh wait I just got back on topic!
    Cheers to U2 log!

  19. Ok…so these demo’s have been widely bootlegged? Does anyone know where I can hear these demos?

  20. Ok…so these demo’s have been widely bootlegged? Does anyone know where I can hear these demos?

  21. Can you say “Holy Grail”??? Good lord, that is the all time most amazing ebay find ever for a U2 fan… How many of mine and my friends kidneys do I have to sell to get $35,000???

  22. Can you say “Holy Grail”??? Good lord, that is the all time most amazing ebay find ever for a U2 fan… How many of mine and my friends kidneys do I have to sell to get $35,000???

  23. I am so glad I am not the only one to have mispelled ‘hear’…I vote we put U2’s baby band photos up on the top of U2 log! They’re soooo cuuuute…gucci gucci gooooo.

  24. I am so glad I am not the only one to have mispelled ‘hear’…I vote we put U2’s baby band photos up on the top of U2 log! They’re soooo cuuuute…gucci gucci gooooo.

  25. i have mp3s of all of these songs and other early demos. would be willing to trade if anyone here is interested.

  26. i have mp3s of all of these songs and other early demos. would be willing to trade if anyone here is interested.

  27. Sure, this is an incredible collectable item and would be awesome to have but….if u had and extra $18,000 laying around would u REALLY buy this? It’ll sit in the corner and u’ll just look at it. I dunno, that’s just me i guess.

  28. Sure, this is an incredible collectable item and would be awesome to have but….if u had and extra $18,000 laying around would u REALLY buy this? It’ll sit in the corner and u’ll just look at it. I dunno, that’s just me i guess.

  29. I’m with Jack. Even if I had the money, I’d never buy something like this. What’s the point?

    In other news, I’m listening to Street Mission right now. Wow! It *definitely* deserved a slot on Boy. Every time I listen to material from the early days of the band, I’m just bowled over by the fact that they were teenaged kids making this great noise.

  30. I’m with Jack. Even if I had the money, I’d never buy something like this. What’s the point?

    In other news, I’m listening to Street Mission right now. Wow! It *definitely* deserved a slot on Boy. Every time I listen to material from the early days of the band, I’m just bowled over by the fact that they were teenaged kids making this great noise.

  31. I would buy it in a heartbeat if I had the cash. I might sell my car and buy it! “Holy Grail”…very correct term for this! I want it!

  32. I would buy it in a heartbeat if I had the cash. I might sell my car and buy it! “Holy Grail”…very correct term for this! I want it!

  33. Furthermore!!! WHO would be stupid enough to pawn something of that historical magnitude for $500 bucks! What the F*CK?!

    PS- If anyone here wants to e-mail and discuss partnering for said merchandise, rock_martyr@yahoo.com, Thanks.

  34. Furthermore!!! WHO would be stupid enough to pawn something of that historical magnitude for $500 bucks! What the F*CK?!

    PS- If anyone here wants to e-mail and discuss partnering for said merchandise, rock_martyr@yahoo.com, Thanks.

  35. Excellent detective work! Only paid two grand for it not even a year ago, and now wants 18,000 to start? Please. I’m with Jack and Lucy, really, what do you do with this kind of thing as a private collector, put it under glass, pray you never have a fire or a flood, go broke paying the insurance to cover it? If you love the band, you offer it back to them at a price that covers your cost so that you’re not out anything, but you have the satisfaction of knowing that you were able to do a little something for them, considering all they’ve done for you. Or you give it to a place like the Rock Hall or the place in Seattle, where everyone can enjoy it and where it gets the care and the prominence it deserves. Then take the tax deduction for your pound of flesh. This whole thing is just so shabby, my one shred of hope is that still, no bids…but it’s funny, someone wanting $35,000 for Bono’s handwritten lyrics, when he writes stuff on everything and loses half of it! There’s probably about $4.5 million worth of stuff blowing around the gutters of Dublin right now!

  36. Excellent detective work! Only paid two grand for it not even a year ago, and now wants 18,000 to start? Please. I’m with Jack and Lucy, really, what do you do with this kind of thing as a private collector, put it under glass, pray you never have a fire or a flood, go broke paying the insurance to cover it? If you love the band, you offer it back to them at a price that covers your cost so that you’re not out anything, but you have the satisfaction of knowing that you were able to do a little something for them, considering all they’ve done for you. Or you give it to a place like the Rock Hall or the place in Seattle, where everyone can enjoy it and where it gets the care and the prominence it deserves. Then take the tax deduction for your pound of flesh. This whole thing is just so shabby, my one shred of hope is that still, no bids…but it’s funny, someone wanting $35,000 for Bono’s handwritten lyrics, when he writes stuff on everything and loses half of it! There’s probably about $4.5 million worth of stuff blowing around the gutters of Dublin right now!

  37. You made some good points there Paige. I laughed out loud w/ the comment of $4.5 million worth of stuff blowing around the gutters of Dublin right now! lol About 2 weeks ago or so I saw on ebay someone selling the 7inch purple Australian viynl for All I Want Is You. It sold for $3700! Absolutely insane!

  38. You made some good points there Paige. I laughed out loud w/ the comment of $4.5 million worth of stuff blowing around the gutters of Dublin right now! lol About 2 weeks ago or so I saw on ebay someone selling the 7inch purple Australian viynl for All I Want Is You. It sold for $3700! Absolutely insane!

  39. The end-all be-all U2 rarity would be the notebook of lyrics for the October album that Bono lost. Since it hasn’t surfaced it’s either been destroyed or someone can really keep a secret.

  40. The end-all be-all U2 rarity would be the notebook of lyrics for the October album that Bono lost. Since it hasn’t surfaced it’s either been destroyed or someone can really keep a secret.

  41. Umaar, the note was posted again at the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Museum “In The Name of Love” show. Speaking of which, if this item is sooo historical why didn’t they offer it to the museum? People are so greedy…this is not about preserving U2 at all. This is not about recouping investments. This is about capitalism in it’s purest form.

  42. Umaar, the note was posted again at the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Museum “In The Name of Love” show. Speaking of which, if this item is sooo historical why didn’t they offer it to the museum? People are so greedy…this is not about preserving U2 at all. This is not about recouping investments. This is about capitalism in it’s purest form.

  43. Did anyone see the updated info at ebay and the bit from the Irish Times and all? Seems Paul and Gavin checked this out, but neither one plans to bid — what COULD be wrong with them?

    It occurred to me — the opening bid is $18,000, and Cindy posted that the Africa Well Fund has a YEARLY target of $15,000. So, you figure, $18,000 minus $2,115 equals $15885 — that would leave $15,000 for the fund, and $885 to blow on something totally useless. Just thought I’d look at this from another perspective…Get out your old grocery lists, Bono Baby, Addis Ababa needs a hospital! Moot point though — so far, Paul and Gavin aren’t the only ones not planning to bid!

  44. Did anyone see the updated info at ebay and the bit from the Irish Times and all? Seems Paul and Gavin checked this out, but neither one plans to bid — what COULD be wrong with them?

    It occurred to me — the opening bid is $18,000, and Cindy posted that the Africa Well Fund has a YEARLY target of $15,000. So, you figure, $18,000 minus $2,115 equals $15885 — that would leave $15,000 for the fund, and $885 to blow on something totally useless. Just thought I’d look at this from another perspective…Get out your old grocery lists, Bono Baby, Addis Ababa needs a hospital! Moot point though — so far, Paul and Gavin aren’t the only ones not planning to bid!

  45. They want to dig 15 wells in Ethiopa? Is that enough? Or is my figure wrong?
    How much does it take to dig one well there? Maybe the $885 is more than enough for Ethiopa…

  46. They want to dig 15 wells in Ethiopa? Is that enough? Or is my figure wrong?
    How much does it take to dig one well there? Maybe the $885 is more than enough for Ethiopa…

  47. That’s a lot of money for a pile of papers! Why doesn’t Paul McG. buy this stuff? It would be a shame if someone bought it who didn’t really care and didn’t take care of it. I think they should just give (or sell) it to a museum or to Larry so he can keep it in his basement with all the other U2 antiques.

  48. That’s a lot of money for a pile of papers! Why doesn’t Paul McG. buy this stuff? It would be a shame if someone bought it who didn’t really care and didn’t take care of it. I think they should just give (or sell) it to a museum or to Larry so he can keep it in his basement with all the other U2 antiques.

  49. I’m sure if someone shelled out that amount of money for these items, they’d be taken care of (one would assume…)!!
    ;P

  50. I’m sure if someone shelled out that amount of money for these items, they’d be taken care of (one would assume…)!!
    ;P

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