?uestlove Remembers Being Held at Gunpoint by Police While Listening To U2

Image via ?uestlove’s Instagram

?uestlove has shared a remembrance about a time when he was 16 and police held him up at gunpoint as he listened to U2 with a group of friends. According to the story, which was written in full on ?uest’s instagram, the incident took place as he was “coming from a friday afternoon church youth group event”. Read the story below.

U2′s music haunts me. Always did.I was 16 yrs old coming from a friday afternoon church youth group event. At 8 me & 2 pals went to see their ’88 Rattle & Hum doc. We were sold: it was a half hour to midnight & we had just enough time to run to #TowerRecords & cop their discography. I got the War/Unforgettable Fire/Joshua Tree & Rattle & Hum tapes. Grabbed “Unforgettable” & popped it in the player. I worked in a record shop so I already knew some of these songs. Instantly a fan. A great night of hanging w friends, food, movies & music #FunTimes…..& then….it happened….I became an adult: we got pulled over. Most people’s Rites Of Passage are marked happy occasions like graduation or birth or things you do when in love. Mine was being held at gunpoint at 16. I don’t even know what happened: we were on Washington Ave & then this flashlight blinded us & voice on a PA said “put your hands in the air” dog I almost had an instant colonic. When you get pulled over in a hostile manner you are NOT in your right mind: like giving a speech, or being a nervous contestant on the Price Is Right. Why?! —the only thing I remember was #TheEdge’s trademark delay plug in. I was so scared to turn the tape down (member when Chapelle said black people turn radio off when getting pulled over cause noone wants to get their ass beat to a soundtrack?)—they were itching for us to try something. I hated the guilt of just being me. Nothing more degrading in life than the helplessness you feel when you get pulled over. I questioned everything in my head that night: why did we go out? Did we steal this car? Maybe if we had Keith Sweat or Prince playin they woulda believed us. Sat there 30 mins frozen. emasculated. As they left we STAYED THERE Like 10 mins. Still traumatized. U2 never sounded the same again. Every song= Put your hands in the air now!! Echoing. I felt robbed of alot that night. But the ability to NOT associate that sound w that experience was hard to get over. I Never shared this cause I thought it was silly. But in light of what’s (always been) goin on, I felt it was time. Just wanna thank the guys for inviting us 2nite & for giving me a new beginning experiencing @U2.

A photo posted by Questlove Gomez (@questlove) onJul 23, 2015 at 12:33am PDT

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