U2-A Diary

Bono and Gary Kasparov … did they ever face-off in that chess match?

Back in July, 1993, Paul McGuinness bid £15,000 at a charity auction in London and won a match against world chess champion Gary Kasparov. It was written about in newspapers. Bono gave quotes saying he thought he could win, and promised to give £10,000 to charity if he lost.

The papers said the match would happen in August/September of 1993.

But did it? Anyone have proof yes or no?

You probably know about the Achtung Baby recording sessions being bootlegged after early recording tapes were stolen in early 1991. But did you know that Zooropa was also stolen before it was released, too?

I had no idea. But there’s an article about it in this wonderful book of clippings that Teresa C. (@U2′s podcast producer) gave me recently. So here’s how the entry about Zooropa being stolen will look in the book:

June 3, 1993

In Miami today, Chris Blackwell and other Island/Polygram executives get an advance listen of U2’s new album, Zooropa. But in two other locations, police are looking for stolen copies of the album. Dublin police are investigating a break-in at Gavin Friday’s home in which the thieves stole several tapes, including a copy of Zooropa. And another copy of the album is missing in Los Angeles, after a courier was mugged. Paul McGuinness tells reporters the band is aware of the situation: “We’re working as fast as we can. Why would anyone buy an expensive, bad-quality bootleg when the real thing will be out in a month?”

Here are the still unresolved questions from the CALLS FOR HELP category:

1) When did Bono first meet Gavin? (I’ve got this in the book at around 1972-73.)

2) When was Dick Evans born? Where?

3) When did Bringing It All Back Home air on BBC/RTE? (Spring of 1991 is the best I can do so far.)

4) What was the exact date that Mt. Temple opened? (I’ve emailed their web site, but no reply.)

I’m sure there’ll be plenty more to come, too……

Here’s a list of the resolved/answered questions I’ve posted so far in the CALLS FOR HELP category here on the blog:

1) Yes, Allen Ginsberg was at the PopMart Tour news conference in 1997. MTV even recorded Ginsberg reciting the lyrics to “Miami.” Sherry L. from @U2 helped on this one.

2) With your help, I’ve placed the 1992 “naked interview” in mid-February, not March as was reported.

3) With your help, I’ve placed the Bono-Dylan songwriting of “Love Rescue Me” (AKA “Prisoner of Love”) in either April, 1987, or November, 1987 — or possibly both if the song was unfinished in April.

4) With your help, I’ve figured out that Rattle and Hum was released on VHS around February 28/March 1, 1989.

5) Sherry also helped with pinpointing the airing of the Zoo TV 3-part TV series on MTV as April, 1997.

6) With your help, I’ve got the location of the Mary J. Blige/U2 “One” video shoot as the “Teatro Ferrocarrilero” (Railroad Theatre) in Mexico City.

Thanks so much for all the great help!!! You guys rock. :)

I think I forgot to mention this back when it happened….

Teresa Cook and I chatted a little while ago about U2 Diary on the @U2 Podcast. If you’d like to learn more about the book and how it came together, what I’m hoping fans will contribute, and stuff like that, check it out at podcast.atu2.com.

You don’t need an iPod to listen. Just click the little gray POD button next to the title and the podcast should either play in your web browser, or download to your computer for listening.