Interviews From the Red Carpet

Although U2 didn’t make their way down the red carpet last night, I was lucky enough to speak with Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty, Amy Poehler of Saturday Night Live, and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Percy Sledge. What follows are transcripts of those interviews.

ROB THOMAS

Tassoula: You just mentioned [to another reporter] that Boy was your first U2 album, so you must be a long-time fan. What’s your favorite U2 song?

Rob: Yes, I am – wow, that’s a hard call. I do believe that for my age, my generation, this is like what it must’ve been like to see The Rolling Stones or The Beatles in their day. [U2 is] one of the few bands that’s been around since I was a kid that you still see today that has the kind of relevance and urgency that they had when they started.

Tassoula: Sure, absolutely.

Rob: And they keep saying “F*** You” to everybody, which is great. You know, right now I think “Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own” is my favorite.

Tassoula: That’s a great one.

Rob: It really is. They came to the Grammys and schooled everybody. It’s my favorite thing – just coming up, doing your job really, really well and making everybody say “Oh my God.”

Tassoula: That’s a great example. (Rob is being led inside) Thank you Rob.

Rob: Thank you. Have a good night.

AMY POEHLER

Tassoula: Hi Amy – we loved watching you dance with Bono on SNL last November. How was it?

Amy: (swoons) Ohhhhh – I loved watching myself dance with him too! It was amazing!

Tassoula: Have you been a U2 fan for a long time?

Amy: I have been, yes.

Tassoula: What’s your all-time favorite U2 song?

Amy: It’s a tie between “I Will Follow”-

Tassoula: Well, now obviously that one!

Amy: I know! That’s part of why it was such an overwhelming moment for me – I loved it even before they played it on the show. Um … gosh … the other song … wow. That’s too hard of a question really. It’s like choosing between your children.

Tassoula: I understand – I’ll take “I Will Follow”. We can leave it at that.

Amy: Thank you!

Tassoula: Thank you Amy – have a wonderful night.

PERCY SLEDGE

Reporter note: This was the question I had planned to ask U2 if they had come my way.

Tassoula: Congratulations! What an amazing night you have ahead of you.

Percy: Yes, yes, it’s going to be a good one.

Tassoula: Percy, if you could sum up tonight with one word, what would it be?

Percy: Love, baby. Love.