And Then We Were Ten
Ten years ago, you hadn’t heard of blogging. It was before weblogs were even called blogs, before permalinks and Adsense, before people who have never run a community started calling themselves ‘social media experts’.
Maybe you weren’t even online back then. But we were and we were blogging. U2 were in the studio recording ‘All that you can’t leave behind’. They’d set up a webcam sending out pictures every few minutes. They’d built in a delay, because god forbid we’d see anything untoward. We were a small group of fans from Holland, Australia, USA and Sweden who had first met each other on IRC and then met up ‘in real life’ on the road during the Popmart tour in 1997. We were online 24/7, grabbing pics from the webcam and archiving them. We’d done the same during ‘Pop’. Back then occasionally there’d be some kind of response from the studio on our comments. Little messages posted on cardboard cutouts. It’s too long ago to remember the details. But it was fun. It could have been the start of a beautiful band-fan relationshop online. But U2 never really did take to the internet like we – early adopters – hoped they would.
U2log.com was one of the first ever blogs, one of the first ever single subject blogs, one of the first ever team blogs. (Hi team! How are you all these days?) I’m proud of that. Ahead of the curve means you’ll suffer the dialectics of progress at some point. We did satire, we did proper reporting, we tried to filter fact from fiction, we strived to be anti-agenda, independent, secular, different. We loved Pop*.
We are past our prime, I’ll be the first to admit. I’ve been running this site mostly on my own these past couple of years. I’m always on the verge of kicking it in the head. I’m not the fan I used to be and there are many reasons I shouldn’t be doing this: Other sites are doing it so much better. I know too much, I know too little. I have other interests I should focus on. Still, I can’t let it go. Yet.
U2log.com is ten years old today. There’s a tour about to start. One more for the road.
Caroline van Oosten de Boer
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
* And screw the lads for being so insecure about that album. *grin*
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Ten years of my fragile young life wasted! But boy did we have some good times. Happy birthday U2log and Caroline! Wheher it’ll all last another 10 years I don’t know, but I do appreciate all the time and effort you’ve put into this site, the people I have met through it and all the crazy times we had.
So many memories, so integrated in our day to day lives. Its somehow a little scary/freaky that one single band, one little website can have so much influence on us common people. I’ll think I’ll spend the next 10 years contemplating that
PS, do you think we’re entitled to free bonusmiles tickets?
Ten years of my fragile young life wasted! But boy did we have some good times. Happy birthday U2log and Caroline! Wheher it’ll all last another 10 years I don’t know, but I do appreciate all the time and effort you’ve put into this site, the people I have met through it and all the crazy times we had.
So many memories, so integrated in our day to day lives. Its somehow a little scary/freaky that one single band, one little website can have so much influence on us common people. I’ll think I’ll spend the next 10 years contemplating that
PS, do you think we’re entitled to free bonusmiles tickets?
Happy birthday to the whole U2log crew! I think you had it backwards on Twitter — I’d say “mostly brilliant and occasional fluff.”
Happy birthday to the whole U2log crew! I think you had it backwards on Twitter — I’d say “mostly brilliant and occasional fluff.”
Caroline – I’ve been checking your blog daily the whole time. I remember those cardboard cutouts and remember “Elvis Has Left the Building” being up for a long time. Thak you for your efforts and your dedication – I cannot believe it has been 10 years. Congratulations on 10 years – hope you continue to keep us informed and that you fall back in love with it as the band gets back on the road and mixes things up a bit.
Caroline – I’ve been checking your blog daily the whole time. I remember those cardboard cutouts and remember “Elvis Has Left the Building” being up for a long time. Thak you for your efforts and your dedication – I cannot believe it has been 10 years. Congratulations on 10 years – hope you continue to keep us informed and that you fall back in love with it as the band gets back on the road and mixes things up a bit.
10…wow…
Remembering the years of Pop, when people would actually believe songs could be stolen from a webcam. Must be some powerful stuff, these internets!
On to the ATYCLB sessions, where the online relationship with ‘the mainstreamest of cult bands’ on their own domain began. And I should’ve known back then it would be a bumpy ride. I was the one who won their webcam captioning contest with a caption of a bandmeeting and Bono suggesting Larry they should take a giant Orange on the road…. How typical they failed to send me the prize…. You can color your site black and red nowadays, but other than that, not much has changed…
Enter U2log, staple in my daily browsing habit since I don’t exactly know when. Always on the look-out for new cunning content and comments.
Others by now might be more active, more present and maybe even better, but are they ever brilliant? Even once?
And they sure never brought the Christmas goodies as U2log has done over the years!
And here’s to you, VonB, advocate of many misunderstood support act, chronicler in digital as in print. And once you feel like kicking it -don’t be shy- it’ll shine like a star in the winter night….One heart, one hope, one love….
10…wow…
Remembering the years of Pop, when people would actually believe songs could be stolen from a webcam. Must be some powerful stuff, these internets!
On to the ATYCLB sessions, where the online relationship with ‘the mainstreamest of cult bands’ on their own domain began. And I should’ve known back then it would be a bumpy ride. I was the one who won their webcam captioning contest with a caption of a bandmeeting and Bono suggesting Larry they should take a giant Orange on the road…. How typical they failed to send me the prize…. You can color your site black and red nowadays, but other than that, not much has changed…
Enter U2log, staple in my daily browsing habit since I don’t exactly know when. Always on the look-out for new cunning content and comments.
Others by now might be more active, more present and maybe even better, but are they ever brilliant? Even once?
And they sure never brought the Christmas goodies as U2log has done over the years!
And here’s to you, VonB, advocate of many misunderstood support act, chronicler in digital as in print. And once you feel like kicking it -don’t be shy- it’ll shine like a star in the winter night….One heart, one hope, one love….
I remember when it started, with the webcam! There was a bright orange sofa, IIRC… in fact it’s exactly 10 years today since the one and only time I spotted a band member (Edge) on that camera feed. I was ridiculously excited, haha.
Please don’t ever take the site down! Even though it’s no longer updated all that often, I still enjoy reading through the archives. It was always my favourite fansite back in the day.
I remember when it started, with the webcam! There was a bright orange sofa, IIRC… in fact it’s exactly 10 years today since the one and only time I spotted a band member (Edge) on that camera feed. I was ridiculously excited, haha.
Please don’t ever take the site down! Even though it’s no longer updated all that often, I still enjoy reading through the archives. It was always my favourite fansite back in the day.
Thanks to Caroline and the U2log team for running the long gauntlet of this (globally) insane past decade.
I think ATYCLB was the first album to actually disappoint me. Same with HTDAAB and half of NLOTH. The tours and their (relatively) variety-prone setlists almost—almost—made up for that, but that’s my problem and not the band’s.
Also, Caroline’s work on the 2nd edition of “U2 LIVE” was absolutely essential. Thanks for taking that on.
Thanks to Caroline and the U2log team for running the long gauntlet of this (globally) insane past decade.
I think ATYCLB was the first album to actually disappoint me. Same with HTDAAB and half of NLOTH. The tours and their (relatively) variety-prone setlists almost—almost—made up for that, but that’s my problem and not the band’s.
Also, Caroline’s work on the 2nd edition of “U2 LIVE” was absolutely essential. Thanks for taking that on.
Wow, I find it hard to believe it was ten years ago. And that i’m still riding on one years’ condensed input!
It’s taken me some weird places. Like Arnhem. A Mayfair gallery. The pages of Hot Press and U2.com. There was nothing like it when u2log was born. Didn’t we win a bloggie? or a webby? We wrapped the band in plastic and helped them find their lost belongings. We’ve watched them watch us watching them. We liked to think they liked us.
Most of all it has been a great laugh. A huge part of my life for all the folk I have met along the way.
Thanks VonB for keeping my name up in lights for so long. It’s been amazing. Happy Birthday, Plastic Bono Band.
Ben
Wow, I find it hard to believe it was ten years ago. And that i’m still riding on one years’ condensed input!
It’s taken me some weird places. Like Arnhem. A Mayfair gallery. The pages of Hot Press and U2.com. There was nothing like it when u2log was born. Didn’t we win a bloggie? or a webby? We wrapped the band in plastic and helped them find their lost belongings. We’ve watched them watch us watching them. We liked to think they liked us.
Most of all it has been a great laugh. A huge part of my life for all the folk I have met along the way.
Thanks VonB for keeping my name up in lights for so long. It’s been amazing. Happy Birthday, Plastic Bono Band.
Ben
Thank you for all of ur efforts to give us everything U2! Happy Bday to all!
Thank you for all of ur efforts to give us everything U2! Happy Bday to all!
Congratulations on an amazing decade!
a tribute with apologies to Stories for Boys:
There’s a place I go
When I am far away
There’s a website
that I can read
Sometimes Caroline takes me
Sometimes I can’t log off
Hello hello
There’s a blog
With photographs and mp3s
There’s a webcam in Hanover
That makes me cringe
Sometimes vonB takes me
Sometimes I can’t log off
Hello hello
Stories for Pop fans
Stories for Zoo Tv fans
Stories for Gavin Friday fans
There’s a blog I go
And it’s a PART OF ME
There’s a media player
And I will surf
Sometimes Caroline takes me
Sometimes I don’t let go
Hello hello
Stories for us.
Congratulations on an amazing decade!
a tribute with apologies to Stories for Boys:
There’s a place I go
When I am far away
There’s a website
that I can read
Sometimes Caroline takes me
Sometimes I can’t log off
Hello hello
There’s a blog
With photographs and mp3s
There’s a webcam in Hanover
That makes me cringe
Sometimes vonB takes me
Sometimes I can’t log off
Hello hello
Stories for Pop fans
Stories for Zoo Tv fans
Stories for Gavin Friday fans
There’s a blog I go
And it’s a PART OF ME
There’s a media player
And I will surf
Sometimes Caroline takes me
Sometimes I don’t let go
Hello hello
Stories for us.
Hi Caroline, congratulations! I’m also not the fan anymore I used to be. But still.. Yesterday I booked a hotelroom in Hannover. Can’t let go. Keep up the good work, please.
Peace from Sarajevo!
Hi Caroline, congratulations! I’m also not the fan anymore I used to be. But still.. Yesterday I booked a hotelroom in Hannover. Can’t let go. Keep up the good work, please.
Peace from Sarajevo!
Thank you, thank you, thank you…
you were the gateway for me to know so much about U2, and why not, about the world we live in. when I first got an rss reader, U2log was the prime entry. It was problably one of the first sites I accessed on a mobile phone.
Thank you, thank you, thank you…
you were the gateway for me to know so much about U2, and why not, about the world we live in. when I first got an rss reader, U2log was the prime entry. It was problably one of the first sites I accessed on a mobile phone.
Caroline (and the others), congrats on ten years of U2log.com. From the earliest days on I love to visit this site. It might have some news, it might have some nonsense, it might have some exclusives (yes, the Christmas goodies were amazing!). Even now, when the frequency of updates has become a bit lower, it’s still one of a few U2 sites I check quite often.
Thank you.
Martijn
Caroline (and the others), congrats on ten years of U2log.com. From the earliest days on I love to visit this site. It might have some news, it might have some nonsense, it might have some exclusives (yes, the Christmas goodies were amazing!). Even now, when the frequency of updates has become a bit lower, it’s still one of a few U2 sites I check quite often.
Thank you.
Martijn
I started checking U2Log before ATYCLB came out. I have checked this blog almost (very very close to) every single day since then. I remember the studio cam! Typing in “U2Lo…” has been part of my daily routine for the last 10-11 years!!! You’ve been a great source of info for me as a u2 fan and I hope you keep it up! Thank you!
I started checking U2Log before ATYCLB came out. I have checked this blog almost (very very close to) every single day since then. I remember the studio cam! Typing in “U2Lo…” has been part of my daily routine for the last 10-11 years!!! You’ve been a great source of info for me as a u2 fan and I hope you keep it up! Thank you!
Reunion tour… let’s get the band back together for one last 360 degree run!
I’ll add (from it’s current form as a WP based site anyway):
18,000+ comments, 5,400+ posts, 700+ subscribers, 1 insanely great and dedicated chief editor, bottle washer and grand-poobaa.
Thanks Caroline!
Reunion tour… let’s get the band back together for one last 360 degree run!
I’ll add (from it’s current form as a WP based site anyway):
18,000+ comments, 5,400+ posts, 700+ subscribers, 1 insanely great and dedicated chief editor, bottle washer and grand-poobaa.
Thanks Caroline!
Congratulations on your 10th birthday! U2log was once my main source of U2 info and I still pop in regularly. Thanks for all your hard work Caroline, it has been much appreciated.
Congratulations on your 10th birthday! U2log was once my main source of U2 info and I still pop in regularly. Thanks for all your hard work Caroline, it has been much appreciated.
Thank you for all your hard work! Hail to the chief! And Pop!
Thank you for all your hard work! Hail to the chief! And Pop!
Well done, well done, ive been coming here on and off all the years, time flys, thanks for this site. Happy Birthday
Well done, well done, ive been coming here on and off all the years, time flys, thanks for this site. Happy Birthday
Caroline, you are one of the class acts of the U2 fan community. I’ve never met you, but I’ve enjoyed everything you’ve written regarding U2 and Gavin Friday. Congratulations and thanks for everything
Caroline, you are one of the class acts of the U2 fan community. I’ve never met you, but I’ve enjoyed everything you’ve written regarding U2 and Gavin Friday. Congratulations and thanks for everything
I’ve been here the whole time, too… you rock, and thank you for such a fun site.
You wouldn’t believe what I thought a U2log might be the first time I clicked over…
I’ve been here the whole time, too… you rock, and thank you for such a fun site.
You wouldn’t believe what I thought a U2log might be the first time I clicked over…