The making of The Unforgettable Fire - A documentary

Alex Wyler · 7th February 2007

Kevin,

You are featured quite a bit in this documentary and you look like you are having a great time as an engineer and as an actor in a supporting role.

There is a famous scene where you (looking cool) and Danny Boy Lanois (looking very nerdy) are doing this little native american dance while Edge plays an acoustic/electric ibanez through the AMS pitch shifter and some reverb.

You and Danny are sort of putting the palms of your hands in the air like patty cake patty cake bakers man......and then your arms in the air and folding them over your forearms. It's quite funny!

Could you explain that dance around the studio and what you guys were doing?

Did Brian and Danny really go hunting for shrubberies during breaks?

Love to know what it was really like working with them and what really went on that wasn't in the documetary. Looks like you had a blast!

Alex

Jules · 7th February 2007

Dancing? Having fun in the studio? PATTY CAKE - PATTY CAKE?

What the hell is going on?

juicylime · 7th February 2007

Great question! I want to know too!

Kevin Killen · 7th February 2007

Alex,

Its been about ten years since I have seen that video so in truth I cannot really remember the dance, although I suspect you are right. The vibe on the sessions was great. You have to remember that U2 were not a big group at that time and their deal was up for renewal so the album needed to make a significant statement.

Brian and Danny contributed enormously toward that goal, not only challenging the band but also providing them with a sonic architecture that they had not experienced to that point. That is taking nothing away from Steve Lillywhite who was so influential (and still is) to their development. ( Not to mention what I learned from all these guys !)

Humor was used to break the natural tension on the record and they both have a wacky nature as well. The sessions were long and explorative and from what I remember the video is fairly indicative of the process as they cameras were rolling for most of the time , so we just ignored them after a while.

If the band said they did, then I tend to believe them.

kevin

7th February 2007	#1
Alex Wyler Banned Joined: Aug 2006 Location: Toronto, LA & Alaska Posts: 334 Thread Starter	The making of The Unforgettable Fire - A documentary Kevin, You are featured quite a bit in this documentary and you look like you are having a great time as an engineer and as an actor in a supporting role. There is a famous scene where you (looking cool) and Danny Boy Lanois (looking very nerdy) are doing this little native american dance while Edge plays an acoustic/electric ibanez through the AMS pitch shifter and some reverb. You and Danny are sort of putting the palms of your hands in the air like patty cake patty cake bakers man......and then your arms in the air and folding them over your forearms. It's quite funny! Could you explain that dance around the studio and what you guys were doing? Did Brian and Danny really go hunting for shrubberies during breaks? Love to know what it was really like working with them and what really went on that wasn't in the documetary. Looks like you had a blast! Alex

7th February 2007	#2
Jules Gearslutz.com admin Joined: Apr 2002 Location: A Yank in London, UK Posts: 17,808 1 Review written	Dancing? Having fun in the studio? PATTY CAKE - PATTY CAKE? What the hell is going on? __________________ Jules Add your reviews to the new reviews area! Gearslutz on Facebook Follow my GS picks on Twitter

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7th February 2007	#3
juicylime Lives for gear Joined: Sep 2006 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 804	Great question! I want to know too!

7th February 2007	#4
Kevin Killen engineer / producer / mixer Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 313	Alex, Its been about ten years since I have seen that video so in truth I cannot really remember the dance, although I suspect you are right. The vibe on the sessions was great. You have to remember that U2 were not a big group at that time and their deal was up for renewal so the album needed to make a significant statement. Brian and Danny contributed enormously toward that goal, not only challenging the band but also providing them with a sonic architecture that they had not experienced to that point. That is taking nothing away from Steve Lillywhite who was so influential (and still is) to their development. ( Not to mention what I learned from all these guys !) Humor was used to break the natural tension on the record and they both have a wacky nature as well. The sessions were long and explorative and from what I remember the video is fairly indicative of the process as they cameras were rolling for most of the time , so we just ignored them after a while. If the band said they did, then I tend to believe them. kevin