This story is about one of my favorite band – U2. In 1976 when they were still teenagers studying in the same school in Dublin, Ireland, Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr decided to form the band ‘U2’. They released their first album in 1980 and it was very clear from the start that they were very good. Now, one of their band members, Adam Clayton, the bass guitarist, suffered from mild depression during his teenage years and the subsequent pressure of traveling and performing at his best drove him to alcohol. His alcoholism made it very hard for the other band members to put up with him, but they did. They stuck by him. Fast forward to 1987, U2 were touring the US with their new fifth album Joshua Tree. They had reached Tempe, Arizona where they were supposed to have two concerts on the 3rd and 4th of April. One of the more popular songs from the previous album Unforgettable Fire was a song titled ‘Pride’. The third verse of this song refers to the tragic assassinations’ of Martin Luther King. As U2 prepared for the concerts they received a death threat. They were told that Bono would be shot if, during the concert, he sang the song Pride. The band reported the threat to the FBI but the FBI said they couldn’t protect them at such a short notice. Anyone could easily carry a handgun and shoot. You have to remember that these were the days when there wasn’t heavy security in crowded venues. No metal detectors, no sniffer dogs. The FBI advised them to cancel the concert or at least not sing the song. But U2 decided to go ahead with the concert. On the first day, with some trepidation, they even sang the song Pride and nothing happened. They were relieved. But back stage, at the end of the concert, their manager Paul McGuiness said “I think the shooter would make the attempt the next day. 4th of April was the anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King. Bono freaked out. But still decided to carry on. The next day, towards the end of the concert they played Pride. Bono was terrified and he sang the song with his eyes closed. As he reached the third verse his heart was in his mouth but he continued. When he finished, he opened his eyes only to realise that through this song, Adam Clayton had stood in front of him with his back to the audience, protecting him. And ensuring that no one could shoot Bono without first shooting him. What a hair rising story! Would your friends, colleagues, team members stand up for you? In the business world the threat may not be a bullet but would your team have your back? Well if you treated them well through their ups and their downs then perhaps, they would. Business Points ( Tags ) #leadership #teamwork #Bono #U2 #teambuilding #relationships #supportsystem
