Bono sings “The First Time” acoustic – When? Where?

22 Nov 2010

Many months ago, a U2 fan named Tim sent me a clip of Bono singing “The First Time” on an acoustic guitar. Well, I assume it’s him playing (and not Edge) because he says, right in the middle of the clip, something about having a hard time singing when he’s playing guitar.

Tim thinks this clip is from a Mexican radio station appearance when the band made its first visit to Mexico City in November, 1992. But I can’t find any evidence to support that.

Here’s the audio. If you know anything about this, please leave a comment below. Thanks!

Update: I understand some people are unable to listen to the audio clip. I’ll try to figure out why. It may be a problem with the upload/hosting service.

8 Responses to “Bono sings “The First Time” acoustic – When? Where?”

  1. Merrin November 23, 2010 at 1:32 am #

    I can not hear audio but Bono recorded an acoustic version of The First Time in August of 92 before one of the concert at Giants Stadium for a spanish radio station.

  2. Matt November 23, 2010 at 2:05 am #

    Thanks Merrin — do you have any more info on that? Can you point me to some place where I can learn more? Thanks!

  3. Merrin November 23, 2010 at 2:34 am #

    I’m sorry, I made a mistake. It was October 92 at Dodgers Stadium.

    If I could hear the version that you posted, I could tell you if it’s this version.

    This was for a Spanish radio program called ‘Plásticos y decibelios’, presented by a music critic named Julián Ruiz. For a long time I had that interview recorded in cassette and the critic himself refers to it in his blog (http://www.plasticosydecibelios.es/bono-da-esperanzas-recuperacion-pronta/). Is in spanish and I don’t think there are many references to it in english.

  4. Merrin November 23, 2010 at 11:43 am #

    I heard the song you post and I can confirm that is that I’ve commented

  5. u2search November 28, 2010 at 2:09 pm #

    Sorry, I don’t think that’s Bono. He’s definitely the one doing the comments but I don’t think he’s the guitar player and I even doubt he’s the singer.
    He even syas so halfway: he can sing that – I can’t sing that shit (meaning the falsetto I guess).

    At first I thought it was Edge but probably someone else – producer?

  6. Matt November 28, 2010 at 6:36 pm #

    It’s definitely Bono. Keep in mind you’re hearing an almost 20-year-old audiotape of a radio recording that’s now been digitized. Sounds just like Bono should, actually. I have audio recordings of myself from my broadcasting days that sound unusual, too. Very common.

    Merrin – thanks a ton for the help with this.

  7. Raul December 5, 2010 at 5:38 pm #

    Hi Matt,
    Here you can find the story told by Julián Ruiz himself:
    http://www.u2eastlink.com/hemeroteca/articulo.php?id=35
    All the best,
    Raul

  8. Matt December 5, 2010 at 6:22 pm #

    Great link, thanks Raul. Do you know — or maybe you know, Merrin? — when did this get played on Julian Ruiz’s radio show?

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