Thx to U2tour.de for pointing us toward this recent article in The Guardian where various artists and writers reveal their favorite gig(s). Somewhat predictably, Bono chooses a 1977 gig by the Clash in Dublin. I say “somewhat predictably” because Bono has spoken on this topic before, and about his belief that U2 wouldn’t exist if not for The Clash and the impact of this gig.

Here’s what he wrote in The Guardian:

Can’t remember the set list, can’t remember much about the music, to be honest. I just know that everything changed that night, and I’m sure it was not just for me. Year zero. The shock of the new, where everything reconfigured. The venue was the exam hall of Trinity College, founded by Bishop Berkeley 300 odd years previously … the man who spent his entire existence trying to prove the existence of existence. I’m not kidding. He also had a corner of San Francisco named after him. Other reconfigurations, other revolts.

It wasn’t so much a musical event. It was more like the Red Army had arrived, on a cold October night, to force feed a new cultural revolution, punk rock. Marching boots and the smell of sulphur. Not weed or speed but fear, fear of the future, no future. And the delight, so much delight. All kinds of symbols pinned on jackets, some ridiculous swastikas, Red Brigade t-shirts, hand made knock-offs of extremely expensive Seditionaries threads fromLondon. But as there was a war going on 100 miles from here, in a strange way, the Clash made more sense in Dublin than anywhere.

As I sat in the box room and stared out the window the next day, it was very clear. The world is more malleable than you think; reality is what you can get away with.

My greatest gig ever? Hmmmmmm…

That would have to be U2 in San Jose, April 20, 2001.

And you?