Nothing changes on New Year’s Day

On a stormy June night in 1983, the world got to know U2 in a way that no one could have planned. “Had it been another 78 degree day, it would have been just another concert. Instead it was an amazing concert” (– Barry Fey).

 

[What seems like a purposefully moody photograph was actually the result of everything going wrong — then right — then captured on film.]

No one will remember the time you did something great when everything was stacked in your favor... People will remember the time you pulled it off when everything was destined for failure.

The story of U2's Red Rocks performance is legendary, but the lesser known parts have more to do with pluck and spirit than anything else. Even while headlining their first American tour, U2 was still relatively unknown. Along with their label, they planned to change that — and invested everything the band had into recording the show. However, torrential rains had drenched the area and even as the show opened, the clouds showed no mercy. For a band of Irishmen (literally), a little rain never seemed to get in the way of a good time — and U2, along with their manager, made the call to carry on with the show. Bono served coffee and tea to cold concertgoers and asked everyone — regardless of their tickets — to pull it in close… they were going to pull this off. They did — the lights, the mist and the mood that night was something that even the best planning couldn’t have captured. The concert — and the resulting video and album — cemented U2's legacy.

[Listen to The Edge describe the show...]

In the end, nothing changes on New Year’s Day. However, it’s up to us to determine how we’re going to deal with what we're left with. We could throw in the towel and call it a day … or we could push on knowing that — even if it might not go exactly as planned — it’ll be ours to own. And, in the end, it might just be better than we could have expected.

 

As it reflects back in the classroom, I often tell my students: "No one will remember the time you did something great when everything was stacked in your favor... People will remember the time you pulled it off when everything was destined for failure."

 

Here's me talking about the day ... and a few other things:

 

https://vimeo.com/421218407

 

Hello, 2018.