About the Book
U2 is the biggest band in the world. They’re loved by millions of fans. Dozens of books and thousands of articles have been written about U2. Everything they do is news. Yet, there is no single, comprehensive resource that details all the relevant day-to-day history that has shaped U2 into the band it is today.
U2 - A Diary is that book. It’s a book that will present the complete history of U2 — from 1950s Dublin when Bono’s parents were married, to the birth of the band, and all the way to the present — told as it happened in an easy-to-use diary format.
But it’s more than just a timeline of dates and facts. U2 - A Diary will provide the important stories behind the “who, what, when, and where,” including stories and insights about key moments in U2’s development that have never been told before.
Book History
In the spring of 2005 I was pitching a different book idea to various publishers, including Omnibus Press (part of Music Sales Group). Omnibus wasn’t interested in the book idea I was pitching, but instead approached me to write U2 - A Diary. After some initial discussions about the idea, we began negotiating a contract. I hired an agent to handle the business stuff while I began writing the book.
For a variety of reasons, the project sat on the back burner and no publishing agreement was reached until Spring 2007. Omnibus Press is the publisher of the wonderful U2 Live - A Concert Documentary book, and several other U2-related books, so this project is in the good hands of a publisher who’s familiar with the U2 audience.
The Author
My name is Matt McGee. I’ve been listening to U2 since hearing “I Will Follow” on a Philadelphia radio station in 1981. I stopped dating other bands in 1983 when I heard “New Year’s Day.” In 1995, I founded @U2 (www.atu2.com), which is now the oldest independent site for U2 fans on the Web. @U2 has been invited to co-host events at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, and has earned numerous awards over its long history. In December, 2007, Entertainment Weekly included @U2 at #4 on its list of the 25 Best Fan Web Sites covering music, movies, or television. @U2 is the highest music fan site to be listed.
What’s Next?
I submitted the original manuscript on January 2, 2008. But since the book lends itself to being updated in the future, I’ll be researching, writing, and using this blog to keep interested U2 fans updated about U2 - A Diary. I’ll also be asking for your help in making the book the best it can be.
The book should be on store shelves in the Fall of 2008. In the meantime, here are a couple Amazon links for more information and pre-ordering.
This is a project I’m passionate about and love working on. I’m fascinated by U2’s history and love researching and writing about this aspect of my favorite band.
