A new feature documentary about the inspirations behind U2's 'Bad' is to be released soon.
The documentary, Bad: The Song That Saved My Life, will look back on the life of Andy 'Guck' Rowen, a Dublin man whose experiences helped to inspire U2 to create the hit, 'Bad'. It will explore his life growing up in Dublin's northside, as well as his struggles with trauma and drug addiction.
It will also delve into his friendship and connection to U2 lead singer, Bono and other household names across Dublin's music scene in the 1980s, with contributions from the singer, Rowen's family including the mother of his first two children, his daughter and of course Bono himself.
At 11 years old, Rowen experienced the Dublin bombings of 1974, an experience which will be examined in this film, as part of a bigger story about personal trauma, drug addition, along with recovery and reconciliation.
Rowen will also reflect on a period in his life where he was homeless and struggling with heroin addiction, prior to eventually being offered a place at a rehabilitation clinic in the USA. Such poignant moments will also feature, including a chance encounter with the handwritten lyrics of Bad, and a special tribute to him from Bono in front of a stadium audience.
"The only thing I wanted to be when I was small, was good. Unfortunately, I found I couldn’t be", Rowen says in the documentary.
Bono adds in the film: "He probably had the highest IQ of any kid on our street, and sometimes it seemed he’d memorised the Encyclopedia Britannica. He could remember turning two. He could remember a lot of things he would’ve liked to have forgotten".
Bad: The Song That Saved My Life will air on RTÉ television on Monday, June 15 at 9.35pm.
Elsewhere, U2 were one of a host of Irish music legends who are to feature in a new photography exhibition, celebrating 50 years of Irish rock through the lens of Dutch photographers.
It its titled: “50 YEARS OF IRISH ROCK THROUGH THE LENS OF DUTCH PHOTOGRAPHERS”, created by Ramon Music Exhibitions and brings together work from six renowned Dutch music photographers.
Find out more on this from Nova here.
