Irish rockers U2 played a string of concerts in Montreal this week, and with it, made one Montreal man’s fan fantasy a reality.
Humble 23-year-old dental school student Ryan Luxenberg got the once-in-a-lifetime chance to play on stage with the band.
“In the past I would imagine in my head, ‘Wow, that would be so cool if Bono would pick me and go up on stage," said Luxenberg, who has a passion for music and U2 in particular.
He brought a small, handwritten sign that read “Age 23, Can I play?” to Tuesday's concert at the Bell Centre, hoping against hope -- and Bono saw it.
“He saw my sign a little bit earlier, a song before. He said, ‘What do you play?’ So, the fact that he just acknowledged my sign and we had a little moment was amazing. So, I said, ‘Anything, anything,’” said Luxenberg.
Before the next song, Bono came back to him and asked, “Where's that dude who can play guitar?”
After making sure he really could play, the band launched in to one of Ryan's favourite U2 numbers, Desire.
“I wanted to play Desire. I love that song,” he said.
The stars had to align for Ryan to end up on stage: He had run in to one of his bandmates at the Bell Centre who had a better spot on the floor.
“He grabbed me, pulled me over, we switched spots. He said, ‘Put up your sign. I want you to take my spot now,’” he said.
U2 fan Ron Weeks was at the show and gives Luxenberg's performance high marks.
“Especially at the end juncture when he kind of had the microphone that's when it really came through. I think it just gave him that extra boost, you know?” said Weeks.
And even though Ryan can play and sing with the best he's committed to three more years of dental school - but if that doesn't work, he’s got something to fall back on.
Watch Ryan's performance here:
