“U2be – The Belgian U2 experience” is one of the most authentic and professionally performed U2 tributes in Europe. A band with international appearance, build on years of preparation and dedication. A “must see” for every U2 lover!
Tribute band U2be started in 2016 as a spin-off of “CU2PLAY – The Belgian Tribute to Coldplay & U2” after CU2PLAY singer Sander Deroo died in a tragic accident at work early 2016. The band has established a firm reputation as a U2 Tribute band since in both Belgium as the Netherlands. After consulting Sanders' family the band decided to stick together and continue as a U2 tribute with another name: "U2be" ... a short and powerfull reference to U2 and Belgium.
After an in many ways very difficult search the band found a qualified singer. In 2016 the band members took their time to work out the new show in detail and get it "stage ready" in view of 2017.
The band
Nick Beernaert, Franky Aneca, Geert Van Renterghem, Mathieu Vandevoorde
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Nick Beernaert
Bono
Nick (or BoNo as his fellow bandmembers like to call him) has got over 25 years of experience on stage as a singer. At first with ‘GIN’ (with his brother Guy and his sister Ilse), later on in coverbands ‘Sugar Mama’ and ‘Chapter 3’ where he met U2be guitar player Franky. Nick is also the singer of funk-coverband F-Rent and performs as a solo or guestartist. He has participated in various national TV shows in Belgium over the last few years : X-factor, The Voice.
Favorite U2 songs...
The fly, Gloria, Invisible -
Franky Aneca
The Edge
Franky is a “self-taught” musician. He picked up the guitar for the first time at the age of 18. By now he has over 20 years of experience on stage. He compensates the lack of theoretical background by selfstudy and practice. As founding member of the band he wanted (after 20 years in various coverbands) to do something quite unique as to stand out of the hundreds of other coverbands. Reconstructing in detail the very typical vintage U2 guitarsound armed with Edge style guitars and a pro-guitar effectprocessor was/is quite a challenge … but one that offered him hours of “tweaking-fun” : trail and error… but head high towards the rehearsal room and stage.
Favorite U2 songs...
The Fly, Even better than the real thing, Bullet the blue sky -
Geert Van Renterghem
Adam Clayton
Geert started his musical story at the age of 12 with the guitar. Very early on, his attention shifted to the lowest notes, and two years later he exchanged the guitar for a bass. A few years later he started taking music lessons, with the organ and piano as his instruments of choice. Over the next 30+ years, the keyboard has been his priority, in various bands with sizes ranging between 2 and 9 members. The bass, however, remained his first love and was never gone entirely. In 2011 he stumbled upon an ad seeking a bassist for a U2 tribute band (and initially Coldplay as well), and did not need further convincing.
Favorite U2 songs...
New Year's Day, The Unforgetable Fire, Vertigo -
Mathieu Vandevoorde
Larry Mullen Jr.
Mathieu is the 'rolling thunder' of the band. As the son of a variety-musician he was already at the age of 12 on Trammelant in De Haan. Many private and music lessons later he became the drummer of many different bands in Bruges and he also gives drum lessons. He can play a lot of different genres, but he likes rock and pop music the most. He likes to play the music from the 80s. He did not hesitate for a second to take part in the U2be audition. He became the new Larry Mullen Jr of the band.
Favorite U2 numbers ...:
Who's going to ride your wild horses, Acrobat and Pride