wordplay: Billy Schear
images: Tahvory

Ever since the Beatles performed there in 1964, many bands have dreamt of playing the nearly mythic Red Rocks.  Out of those few who get the chance, almost none get to do so while in the skin of their heroes.

Every year in August, 26 KBDI Channel 12 hosts a Beatles tribute concert which attempts is made to revive the same feeling that pulsated through the crowd who witnessed the Fab Four play over forty years ago. The event has become somewhat of an iconic occurrence in Colorado drawing masses of concert goers year in and year out.

2008 marks the 25th anniversary of another crucial event in rock history.  In 1983, upon a stage surrounded by ominous torches, while a steady rain beat down on the heads of thousands of ecstatic fans, U2 played a brooding set of thirteen songs later released in its entirety as a video entitled “Under a Blood Red Sky” the name taken from the lyrics of the song “New Years Day.” Next year, KBDI plans to recreate the wonder of this momentous occasion and Denver’s own U2 tribute band named for the famed Red Rocks concert video hopes to be the main attraction.

Billy Bunting, founder of the band, formed his ensemble as a request from a friend to fill a vacant slot opening for Super Diamond on New Year’s Eve 2006. Recruiting fellow U2 disciples: Ted Gravlin aka. “The Tedge” a reference to the U2 guitarist, “The Edge, Todd Brown and Jerry Bosquete, Bunting hopes to ignite a passion unfelt since that hazy day in 1983 when four young men from Ireland were virtually introduced to the American mainstream. 

Originally from Connecticut, Bunting made his way to Denver after spending several years in the L.A. rock scene. He has produced a large body of original work, but admittedly only did so with the live performance at the front of his mind. “I’ve always been more of a performance artist that a musician,” Bunting says.
His background in theater helped psyche him up for what would be his most self important roll, Bono.

Having been compared to the charismatic front man of what is arguably the biggest rock act on the planet all his life, Bunting found the transition to be a smooth one. With similar facial features and a naturally comparable singing voice, Bunting becomes a host for the spirit of the living Bono.

Abhorring compromise, Under a Blood Red Sky painstakingly researches every bit of what goes into their performance. When Bono kneels, Bunting kneels, when the Edge makes a move the Tedge does likewise. They even use the same equipment as their Irish counterparts, right down to guitars and effects racks. “There are cover bands and there are tribute bands, and tribute bands do it right down to scale,” Bunting said.

Under A Blood Red Sky will perform this August 21st at Red Rocks, which will be hosting its final night of Film on the Rocks, a summertime series featuring a film presentation preceded by a local band. This opportunity will not only provide Bunting a chance to prove to the powers that be at KBDI that his is the band to take the stage next year, it is also an opportunity to fulfill a dream he’s had all his life: performing on the same stage as his idols.
“When I told my father that I was realizing a dream that I have had since I was sixteen years old he asked me, what’s next Billy?” Bunting says.

After a few moments of silence, Bunting answered his father’s question.
“To play there twice, after that, probably to meet Bono.”

August 21st @ Red Rocks

myspace.com/UnderABloodRedSkyMusic