Sonoma International Film Festival

Everyone has heard of the beloved Irish band ‘U2’, but few have heard about their most devoted cover band. ‘Unforgettable Fire’ is one of the longest running U2 tribute bands in the world, having performed for over 18 years. The new documentary film ‘Unforgettable Fire: The Story of a U2 Tribute Band’ (2012) delves into the lives of these passionate U2 devotees. Directed by Michelle Regina, the film explores the multi-faceted lives of the band members- family life, day job and U2 ‘cover’ performances.

The film screened at the 16th Sonoma International Film Festival, after which the band performed at one of the festival’s special events leaving everyone in awe, many saying they felt the cover band was “even better than the real thing”. Well, one would have to see them in concert or watch the film to decide. - by Vanessa McMahon

I interviewed Michelle Regina shortly after the festival. Here is what she had to say:

ME: How did you first encounter this U2 cover band?

MICHELLE: Back in 2004 my then boyfriend (current husband) asked me to see a U2 tribute band show (that was recommended to him by someone he worked with) at a bar close to where I was living in Hoboken, NJ. I was not a U2 fan at all but without wanting to complain about our Saturday night plans I agreed to "check them out". I'm sure you can guess how that night went... I was instantly hooked! Unforgettable Fire changed my feelings for U2 music and after seeing them perform I bought all of U2's albums. I was very impressed with Unforgettable Fire's ability to look, sound and perform like U2 but most of all I was impressed with their ability to completely change my opinion on U2 music.

ME: When did you decide you wanted to make a doc about them and how did you go about doing it?

MICHELLE: I have been working in the Film & TV industry since 2001, mostly working as an Assistant Director. I have had aspirations of being a director for a very long time. So, in 2009 I decided to take the bull by the horns and direct my own project, which was a short film entitled ‘Lott Oh’. Making that film reminded me of why I got into this business in the first place. So in January of 2011 I started thinking about what my next project should be. I wanted a completely different genre than my last project, which was a comedy about a small time gambler with an anxiety problem, and a completely different formula than the projects I currently worked on as an AD on Law & Order: SVU & the big C. I went out that night with a bunch of friends to see Unforgettable Fire perform and the idea was born. That night in particular was different than most shows I had seen them perform. It was at the Canal Room in Tribeca, NYC and they were better than I had ever seen them and the crowd was absolutely going nuts watching them. Even though I had been following the band for about seven years (and they even played at my wedding), I had never asked them questions about their personal lives. For some reason that night while watching them perform I had a bunch of questions running through my head... ‘Do they do this for a living? Do they do this to pick up chicks? Why aren't they in an original band if they are this good at playing? How long have they been doing this? Does the lead singer (who calls himself Tono) actually think he is Bono?’ I wanted the answers to these questions.

I called the manager to arrange a pre-interview to get some of these questions answered and to see if I felt the members of the band each had an interesting enough story to make a documentary about them. I was impressed with their stories and told a camera assistant on my then current TV show about my idea and he volunteered his time to help me film. After, the other camera assistants on the job found out they volunteered their time as well. I shot the first "concert" and interviews at the Canal Room in New York City two weeks later.

ME: Was it difficult to get licensing of the U2 songs to put into the film?

MICHELLE: It was impossible. I put through a request and heard nothing at all for months and months. When I finally did get an answer it was an email saying that my request had been respectfully denied. I naively never thought this would be the answer. I thought the worst that could possibly happen is that they would charge me an exorbitant amount of money per song for festival rights. After talking to everyone I know in the music and television industry I was told to research Fair Use practices for Documentaries. I got legal aid and per their recommendations had to cut down every song that was in the film. My director's cut was 83 minutes and the current cut with the lawyer's recommendations is now 56minutes. I had to lose my entire opening sequence which showed quick clips & close-ups of the band members leaving their day jobs, getting to the gig, unloading their equipment and putting on their U2 inspired looks all while "The Streets Have No Name" (performed by Unforgettable Fire) played in the background. This was my favorite part of the film and a sequence I had edited in my head while listening to "The Streets Have No Name" everyday while driving to work and stuck in traffic, all before I had shot a thing.

ME: Do U2 know about them? What do they think?

MICHELLE: Unforgettable Fire has performed in front of U2's manager Paul McGuiness and the lead singer Tony Russo has been hired by U2's camp (as a Bono look alike) to go to VIP parties before U2 shows and pull raffle tickets etc. He was also featured in an episode of 30 Rock on NBC as a "guy who looks like Bono". As you can see in the film Tony has met Bono outside of a U2 show and I believe also once at a hotel. That all being said I don't think U2 really "knows" about them. If they did I think they would be impressed with this tribute band's ability to look and sound like them and capture the essence of their live performance.

ME: I got a sense from the band that some of them would love to break free and do their own things some day. Do you think that is true? Or are they living their dream already?

MICHELLE: I think both of these statements are true. Both George (drummer) & Craig (bass player) have been in many original bands and Craig is still also in an original band called Roadside Poets. Craig has written a ton of songs and continues to write all the time. He sang one of his songs for me in his house while playing the guitar and I truly loved it so much I included it in the documentary. That being said I think they are living their dream every weekend playing in Unforgettable Fire. Bars & clubs pay them for going to a gig and singing their favorite songs in front of a crowd that rocks out to them, respects them and treats them like they are the real thing.

ME: The band played at the Sonoma Film Festival. Many said they were better than U2 and had more energy. Have people told you that?

MICHELLE: I don't know if anyone has ever told me that they were better than U2 but I do believe that they may have more energy than them. I have to say that I have been to two U2 concerts, one in Vegas and one at Meadowlands / Met Life Arena, both huge venues. I have seen Unforgettable Fire perform between 60-70 times? When I go to a U2 concert or any big concert at any big venue there are always issues to deal with. ‘Where am I going to park? ‘How much are the tickets? Once I get there it costs a ton of money for beer or a snack and there are long lines to purchase these things and then once I actually get a beer I hope that I don't have to go to the bathroom because then I would have missed half the concert.’ When I see Unforgettable Fire it usually doesn't cost more than $10-$20 (depending on the venue), I can get a big group of friends to come with me, and it is much easier to get a beer or go to the bathroom. The night is just more fun, less stress and you can even get up on stage and dance during "Mysterious Ways" (which I have done on occasion).

ME: How has the reaction of audiences been to your film?

MICHELLE: The reaction from most audience members to my film has been overwhelmingly positive. I have had audience members from all walks of life see the film. Some people were connected to the music from the start, some were in their own bands, some were U2 fans, some were not U2 fans. But the thing that people have said to me the most after watching the film is that they are engrossed in the stories of these four guys from the start. That is what entertains audiences and keeps them watching. The fact that they play U2 music and play it well is secondary to the story of these four guys. Once someone has given the film a chance they usually end up loving U2, if they hadn't before, or reinvigorating their love of U2 music, loving Unforgettable Fire, loving each of the guys in the film, and loving the film itself. 


ME: Do you think the film will put the cover band more on the map?

MICHELLE: I think it could put them more on the map literally. I have already had people from Oklahoma ask me if the band would come perform for them down there and they performed at the Sonoma Film Festival for filmmakers and fans. So I think it is already happening.

ME: What was it like to premier in Sonoma?

MICHELLE: Sonoma was such an amazing place to have my film screen. It had previously been privately screened in Tribeca for family and friends and had been in a small film festival, Bare Bones in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Arriving in northern California and driving to Sonoma was one of the most beautiful drives of my life. The scenery was picturesque and the town was so cute and had such amazing restaurants and wine selections. It seemed as if the whole town was involved in the film festival, which made it easy to go up to anyone randomly on the street and ask them to come to my film screening. It was very organized and offered free accommodations for my producer and I. All of the events were fun and I made some really good friends that I still keep in touch with.

ME: What do you hope to accomplish now? Are you at work on another film?

MICHELLE: I hope to get ‘Unforgettable Fire: The Story of a U2 Tribute Band’ into as many more festivals as I can. I stopped submitting it for awhile, while dealing with my clearance issues and while re-cutting my film. I am not currently working on another film but am back to my regular "gig" as a Key 2nd Assistant Director on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. I am currently prepping the last episode of the season and then will go on hiatus for a couple of months. In that time I hope to plan my next project, something different than any of my previous projects. 


Interview by Vanessa McMahon

Visit the film’s official website here: http://www.gobblegoleproductions.com

'Unforgettable Fire: The Story of a U2 Tribute Band' (2012 documentary) at 16th Sonoma International Film Festival