One of the biggest bands in the world kicked off its tour May 14 with a little help from a wine store in Coquitlam.
The liquor store at the John B Pub got a call from a wine expert putting together a selection of wines for the band U2. The consultant was specifically looking for wines with vintages from each year the band has put out an album.
In this case, the store was able to provide wines from 1980, 1981, and 1997.
Roberta Black, the store’s manager, said the three wines were red, two from California and one from Australia. While she wouldn’t disclose the cost of the wine, she did note they were rare and expensive.
Black also told the Tri-Cities NOW the wines were to be delivered to the band in a special packaging that looked like a tour box.
She explained the pub doesn’t advertise its wines in the basement cellar, suggesting the wine consultant knew what the store might have.
“They know that this is a place that’s been collecting wine for a lot of years and we have rare and special things that you just don’t find in a regular store,” she said.
Black also said it’s not the first time the store has had a brush with celebrities, noting it supplied wine to a catered dinner for Elvis Costello and Diana Krall.
"We’re always happy to help anybody out, it doesn’t matter who they are,” she said.
The pub’s manager Owen Coomer, an avid fan of the band who attended both Vancouver U2 concerts, said he was stoked about the pub’s connection to the band.
“They’re my favourite band of all time,” he said, joking that he would have had no problem hand-delivering the shipment to the band.
“I just think it’s cool there’s a connection [to the pub], even if they didn’t physically go in there.”
