Beautiful day: Women return briefcase to U2

By Lisa Heyamoto
Seattle Times reporter

DANIELLE RHÉAUME Northwest friends Cindy Harris and Danielle Rhéaume returned a briefcase stolen in 1981 from U2's Bono.

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Now, a briefcase stolen from the band in 1981 is back in lead singer Bono's hands, courtesy of a yearlong effort by Harris and her friend Danielle Rhéaume.

The carefully preserved brown briefcase was filched during a Portland performance by two women posing as groupies. In addition to a number of Bono's personal items, it contained a notebook full of lyrics meant for U2's sophomore album, "October." Bono later had to rewrite the lyrics in the studio, and the band called it their worst recording experience.

Harris, 44, found the briefcase in the attic of her Tacoma rental house in 1981 when she moved in. She knew right away that it belonged to the band, she said, but didn't know where it came from or how it got there. Meaning to somehow return it, she put it away but forgot about it amid the demands of starting a family.

About this time last year, she got to talking about the briefcase with her then-co-worker, Rhéaume, 27, a huge U2 fan who knew what the discovery would mean to U2 and its followers. "I just freaked out," Rhéaume said. "That's like, the Holy Grail of U2 history."

The briefcase held love letters between Bono and his now-wife, his American work visa and, of course, the lyrics. There were tour schedules, promotional photos and receipts for $32.95 hotel rooms.

Rhéaume called U2's representatives a number of times, finally arranging to meet Bono in a Portland hotel lobby last Wednesday. She and Harris returned the briefcase and shared a laugh with Bono about the hotel receipts.

"That's a life he hasn't led in a long time," Rhéaume said.

Lisa Heyamoto: 206-464-2149 or lheyamoto@seattletimes.com.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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