Adam Bevell, the blind, guitar-playing fan who joined U2 on stage for a rendition of their hit ‘All I Want is You’ on Saturday night in Nashville, says the experience was beyond his wildest dreams. In an interview with CNN, Bevell reveals how the whole thing happened. “My brother-in-law made the sign for me, we borrowed a piece of paper and a marker from some fans. It was always my dream to get on stage. I held the sign up, reading "Blind guitar player" throughout the concert, and at the very end, he [Bono] finally called me up.
So what did Bono first say to him? “I kind of started to drop my sign [because the show was over], and all of a sudden I heard Bono’s voice, ‘What do you want to play, man?’ I thought, there’s no way he’s talking to me, there’s no way!” But, indeed, Bono was talking to Bevell. “My brother in law kinda leaned into me, ‘he’s talking to you.’ So I yelled out ‘All I Want is You,’ the fans started yelling it as well. Bono said, ‘Let’s get this dude up here. Let’s get him a guitar. Let’s get him my guitar.’
It took me a second. I had no idea what was going on because in my mind they had left and walked off,” said Bevell. “I had no idea Bono was still there. Instantly, I was lifted over that front rail and hoisted on stage by the security guards. Before I knew it, I was on stage.”
“It was the greatest feeling knowing that I was playing with the greatest rock star in the world but he didn’t make me feel like that at all, he made me feel like we were in our living room.” Bevell also reveals he chose that song because its he and his wife’s song, and sums up the whole experience by saying, “I could not believe that this happened. I have dreamt it a million times, and it was better than I ever would have imagined.”
Bevell, who lives in Phoenix, Arizona, has been to at least 20 U2 concerts over the years.
“It was the greatest feeling knowing that I was playing with the greatest rock star in the world but he didn’t make me feel like that at all, he made me feel like we were in our living room.” Bevell also reveals he chose that song because its he and his wife’s song, and sums up the whole experience by saying, “I could not believe that this happened. I have dreamt it a million times, and it was better than I ever would have imagined.”
Moments before Bevell was helped off stage, Bono gave him his guitar, a Gretsch Green Irish Falcon, one of only a few others like it in the world. “I took the guitar off and handed it to him, and then he (Bono) turned and said: 'I want you to have it'. I said no way. For me, it was just an out-of-body experience. I was there, but I was floating. I don’t know how else to describe it. It was one of those moments that was just magical.”
Bevell, who lives in Phoenix, Arizona, has been to at least 20 U2 concerts over the years.
