This is an EDITED version of a live chat with
Willie Williams, designer of the PopMart (and Zoo TV) tour. Please note this
is NOT how the original chat was. It has been edited for
clarity, as I had an incomplete transcript of the chat ... plus the fact that it was utter
chaos anyhow...but thats another story...
Host Alex says: Hi everyone! Willie just walked in from a great
show, and he's ready to answer your questions!
U2isABLE says: Willie--you've been working with U2 for close to
15 years now...which tour are you the most proud of? (long live the
Dalton Brothers)
Host Willie says: Every tour is different and I'm proud of them all in
different ways. But this has been the most exciting challenge so
far.
Grantham says: Willie - how was it working with REM during the
Monster tour? I met you in Baton Rouge, LA
Host Willie says: It was great fun and very like U2 in some ways
and very different in others.
Chance_awy says: Willie--- What is the stance of the band and the
production crew on audience made tapes of the shows?
Host Willie says: I don't suppose the production crew mind, but the
band and management aren't so happy about it. With
bootlegging, it's not the individuals that are the problem. It's when
companies mass produce bootleg items for mass product that
pisses them off.
brii_ says: Willie - are you putting the olive in Gavin Friday's bed at
the end of the tour ?
Host Willie says: He put a lemon in Bono's bed on his birthday, so
that would be good revenge.
Grantham asks: Willie - How many more years are you going to
tour with U2? Does it ever get old? (It wouldn't to me..:)
Host Willie says: Working with U2, my release papers haven't
come through yet but I'm ever hopeful.
jenny asks: Was the stage shipped over to Europe, or did you
have another stage built for the European shows?
Host Willie says: We just have one screen. At $7 million a go, we
can't afford too many of them.
Host Alex says: Where do the old stages go?
Host Willie says: By the end of the tour, usually the set pieces are
falling apart. We're lucky if they make the end of the tour. Although
four of the Trabant cars from Zoo TV are in the Rock & Roll Hall of
Fame Museum in Cleveland Ohio.
bono says: willie who decided set list you or band or both
Host Willie says: The set list develops over the course of the tour
and it's very much a collaboration between me and them, though of
course they have the final say because I can't play the songs.
Grantham asks: Willie - What is the most relaxing experience for
you during the tour?
Host Willie says: Unexpectedly getting laid.
Host Alex says: How are the audiences different in Europe from
America?
Host Willie says: The biggest difference in Europe is that the
venues aren't seated which means it's a less comfortable
experience, but the audiences are far more animated. In
America, people like to know they have a seat and can buy
popcorn, whereas in Europe people come to party come rain or
come shine.
Gavin says: Willie...i was wondering if you could give us some
insight into the mindset of the band for the future.....what kind of
tour could they mount after this wonderful and huge show?
Host Willie says: As for what U2 do next, I'll do what I always do
which is watch and wait and see where they go. The only thing that
makes the question of how do we follow PopMart easier is that
they asked the same question about Zoo TV.
Host toonman says: Where did the name for Popmart come from?
Host Willie says: I made it up.
brii_ says: I hear the crew plays a mean game of soccor.
Host Willie says: The crew play great soccer but I have to ban
them if too many people get injured.
Grantham says: Willie - Do you think that songs such as BAD, and
Possibly some Zooropa songs will make it into Popmart?
Host Willie says: We've talked about Numb, we've talked about
Stay, and we've even talked about Bad but no definite plans yet.
Marissa wonders: Willie according to bill (flanagan) book, U2 feels
they perform better in larger venues do you agree with this?
Host Willie says: Right now I think U2 do perform better in live
venues although the Free Tibet show in NY was very interesting
because it still showed they can still play with no production
whatsoever. What comes next? Who knows, but wouldn't it be
interesting to see them play small venues again.
Chance_awy says: Willie- What is the word on the canceled
shows from the first leg of the tour? I am mainly interested in
knowing if they are planning to reschedule in the Raleigh area!
Host Willie says: As for Raleigh, the honest answer is I don't know.
Like I say, I just design stuff.
brii_: The rolling stones naming their album pop would be an
incredible compliment.. i mean, u2 was going to name achtung
baby after a rolling stones album.
Host Willie says: The Rolling Stones album is really called Bridges
to Babylon and I don't recall a U2 song by that name. Although
Bob Marley perhaps ought to take credit. Howie B is on tour with
us and he and the band have been disappearing into studios now
and again, but I'm not sure this is an album, B sides, or what.
Chance_awy asks: Willie --- did the passing of Gianni Versace
have any effect on the band. I know that the band is very flashy,
thus they must have bumped paths with Versace at least once or
twice!
Host Willie says: The band were obviously quite shaken up by the
Versace killing, but I was even more shaken up having seen
wanted posters for his killer in San Francisco only last week.
Host Alex says: Where did the Squeaky Nun come from?
Host Willie says: The Squeaky Nun came from a store called 431
in San Francisco but a different store (Uncle Mame) has the
Rolling Stone clip in the window. I guess they thought it was them.
brii_ wonders: Have you read any good books lately, Willie? I
need one for my plane ride.
Host Willie says: A Brief History Of Time (the illustrated version is
the only one that's possible to understand). And The Shipping
News. Oh, and Andy Warhol's Popism.
Host Alex says: How does one apply for a job with you guys?
Host Willie says: Write your resume on a thick wad of $100 bills
and send them to my address. No promises, but I'll consider any
offers.
CrazyJane says: Willie: What's the worst thing you've had to deal
with on this tour (besides LEDs)
Host Willie says: Oh God, if one more person asks me about
LEDs, I will kill somebody.
brii_ wonders yet again: Willie - how does it feel to be a minor
celebrity .. we all know who you are :) And if you 'knew then what
you know now' would you still have done this ?
Host Willie says: I'm not a minor celebrity. I am over 21 years of
age.
Host Alex says: How *do* you handle life on the road?
Host Willie says: Don't stop moving. Just never stop moving, that's
all.
Gavin asks: Willie....do you know anything about the band's plans
for its next single???
Host Willie says: Yes I do know about the band's next single
although if I told you they'd beat me to death. Although I did hear a
rumor it might be about "Shadows and Tall Trees" remixed by
Ringo Starr.
Grantham has a good one: Willie - last question, I promise! WHat
is the best song you feel U2 plays live, and what is the best show
so far and worst show so far in PopMart?
Host Willie says: Until tonight, it might have been Discotheque but
they did quite an astonishing version of Please in this show which I
think has topped it.
Host Alex says: Who's idea was it to have the band enter through
the audience?
Host Willie says: It was Bono's idea to enter through the audience
and yes our security people had a fit. But it is so effective it is
worth the risk.
Chance_awy aks: Willie --- If you could only play in one more city,
which city would it be?
Host Willie says: San Francisco so I could walk home.
Host Alex says: What's your favorite type of beer?
Host Willie says: My favorite type of beer is Yorkshire Bitter, but in
America I will make do with Anchor Steam. (Beer in America is a
problem.)
Jane says: willie how old are you?
Host Willie says: I'm 37, Jane, how old are you and are you really a
girl?
Jane says: yes and 24, behave!
U2isABLE wonders: Willie--how do you react when Bono says
"Turn the lights up Willie" or commands to that effect from the
stage?
Host Willie says: Usually I laugh and do what he tells me to do. But
sometimes if I have a headset on I'll miss him saying it which is
very embarassing.
The_Hype asks: Have you ever played a record backwords
looking for messages ?
Host Willie says: Speaking of backward messages, the only
backward message I know of in a U2 song is "Daddy's
Gonna Pay For Your Crash Car" because I made that one
myself. All the radio static at the beginning is a DAT machine
playing backwards of Bono's voice saying "Four jerks and
a police escort -- now that's funny." And that's a true story.
Acrobat asks: willie- who's idea was it to do the karaoke?
Host Willie says: Funny you should mention karaoke -- this has
become the bane of my life because everywhere we go the band
think of special songs they want to do. Tonight in Holland they
wanted to play Golden Earring's "Radar Love" and when we
eventually found it, it turned out to be 5 minutes long with a
3-minute drum solo in the middle. We might get Larry to do this
tomorrow.
U2isABLE wonders: Willie---who is that dancing queen during the
Lemon Remix? It looks like Gavin having fun.
Host Willie says: The dance set during Lemon is a performance
artist called Leigh Bowery who is sadly no longer with us. He was
a great character in the London club scene for many years and
would frequently go out in public like he appears onscreen.
Frankly he makes Boy George look like an accountant.
Well I need to get going pretty soon. There's parties to go to,
supermodels to hang out with. Touring is hell, you know. Any
brilliant last questions?
Gibigiane asks: Willie - which of the boys is in love with Lara
Croft?
Host Willie says: Lara Croft isn't a real woman, you know. But
I think for some of our computer guys that's as real as it
gets.
Thanks for coming, folks. I'll see you all in cyberspace.
Host Alex says: Thanks so much for dropping by, Willie! We know
you have an important party to go to, but we really appreciate your
time.
Host Alex says: Well, I gotta go too, the bathroom is calling..
thanks everyone!
Host toonman says: Good night all from Rotterdam! The rain has
started again and we're off to the party...
