PLEBA Misc U2 News and Articles #2

[BonoFox1]

Croke Park prepares for U2 arrival



22/07/2009 - 15:31:05
The stage is set for U2’s massive homecoming this weekend with organisers promising fans a show to remember.

A giant steel claw which rises to 11 storeys high is being constructed above the pitch in Dublin’s Croke Park, where the rock band will perform three concerts.

Around 240,000 tickets have been snapped up by fans from as far as Japan, Brazil, Canada and the USA, with hotels across the city fully booked.

It is estimated the series of gigs – on Friday, Saturday and Monday – will boost Dublin’s economy by €50m.

U2 tour director Craig Evans said it was a thrill to be back in Dublin.

“This is the only city that we will do three shows in,” said Mr Evans.

“To be able to bring this show, with this design and stage system, to Croke Park is absolutely the highlight of what will be a two-year world tour.”

Mr Evans said fans can expect the biggest, most spectacular, and the most impressive U2 show that they have ever seen before.

“The goal of this tour was to see U2 play stadiums in a full 360 configuration, which had never been done before,” he added, during a visit to the venue.

“It’s an incredible feat to take an engineer’s structure like this, that is travelling in over 100 trucks, build it, use it and then take it down.”

It has taken a week to construct the 360 degree custom built stage, which includes 550 tonnes of steel, 56 tonnes of video screens, rises to 11 storeys high, and covers 43,000 square feet.

Peter McKenna, stadium director of Croke Park, said 300 construction workers are building the stage, with a further 2,500 people working at the venue during the weekend.

“This is up to the limit of what we do, it’s like three All Ireland’s back to back,” said Mr McKenna.

“These aren’t just concerts, they are truly international events.

“It really is without doubt the biggest stage that has ever been in Ireland.”

Gates open at 6pm with the first support acts taking the stage at 6.30pm.

MCD and garda urged concert-goers to follow traffic plans in the area and respect local residents.

Traffic officers also reminded fans driving to the show on Monday that it will coincide with the opening of the new Ikea store off the M50 and that the start College Green bus corridor.



Read more: Croke Park prepares for U2 arrival | BreakingNews.ie


Croke Park prepares for U2 arrival | BreakingNews.ie

 

[BonoFox1]

U2 stage set 'the biggest in rock history'


RONAN MCGREEVYU2's stage show for this weekend's series of concerts at Croke Park is the biggest in rock music history, the band's tour director has said.

The colossal edifice, which resembles a giant claw, is nearly 60 metres high and the same distance wide.

It is currently being put in place for the concerts which take place on Friday, Saturday and Monday nights.

Craig Evans said the band had spared no expense in putting the 360 tour together and the travelling party numbered around 500 people with 2,000 people in each city being involved in ancillary activities such as ticket sales and promotion.

Mr Evans said the band have been “thrilled for a long time” about the prospects of playing three concerts in their home town. However, he expressed regret that the full 360 experience of playing in the round will not be available to Irish fans because of the layout of Croke Park.

The audience will not be allowed on Hill 16 behind the main stage because of health and safety concerns.

“It's a shame. we're subject to the design and physical limitations of every stadium. With the power and access and safety requirement and sound requirement, this stadium just doesn't allow it," he said.

"We looked at every option we could to put people back there. We wanted to be able to utilise that. It is fantastic when you see it in the round.”

However, fans will be able to go to the pitch area at the back of the stage giving a semblance of the band playing in the round.

Tickets are still available for Friday and Monday night's concerts. Promoter MCD's spokesman Justin Green said fans were coming from as far away as Brazil, Japan, Canada and the US to watch U2 play their home town and the event was attracting 300 foreign media personnel.

He also said the Irish Hotels Federation was on the record as saying that this was one of the first weekends of the year where all hotels in the city are booked up.

Gardaí urged motorists to avoid the Croke Park area in the lead-up to the concerts especially on Monday when Ikea opens in Ballymun and Dublin city's new bus gate at Trinity College opens.

Unfortunately, heavy showers are forecast for Friday, though Saturday should be a better day. Monday is likely to see more of the same so fans are asked to dress for the weather.




U2 stage set 'the biggest in rock history' - The Irish Times - Wed, Jul 22, 2009

 

[BonoFox1]

Thursday, July 23, 2009U2 'claw' gets a grip on Croke Park ahead of homecoming gig




McGREEVYAS A live band, U2 are used to making gargantuan statements of intent, as evidenced by their Zoo TV and Pop Mart tours.

Nothing the band has attempted before compares, though, to the giant claw-like edifice which will be the band’s stage for their homecoming concerts starting tomorrow night.

Standing 60 metres tall, it is nearly as high as the stands surrounding it on three sides at Croke Park. The four sides of the claw extend across a third of the pitch.

A small army of crew were yesterday putting in place the lighting and sound, and sweeping rainwater from the stage area which is dwarfed by the roof overhead.

The set is meant to achieve a sense of intimacy allowing the audience to get close to the band, yet also creating a sense of scale.

“It is the biggest of all time. It is bigger than anything U2 or The Rolling Stones have done previously,” said tour director Craig Evans.

He added the band had been talking about playing their home town for a “long, long time”.

Mr Evans declined to say how much the stage set-up has cost, but it was “more than I would be thinking about”.

U2, he explained, think about what they want from their live gigs and then think about the costs afterwards.

“I’ve never seen them consider it from that point of view [money]. It was about doing what it takes to provide the show for the fans,” he said, though he conceded their 360 tour was “still a very successful business”. The concert will have the biggest video screens for a concert and a specially designed sound system. Despite the technological wizardry, the challenge of playing fully in the round has been defeated by the layout of Croke Park because the terraced Hill 16 end presents health and safety issues.

“We looked at every option we could to play the full 360° show that we have been taking to every stadium,” said Evans. “Unfortunately, with the power and the access that goes into that area, and the safety and sound requirements, it simply does not allow us to do it.” However, fans will be able to go to the pitch area at the back of the stage giving a semblance of the band playing in the round.

Gardaí have issued warnings about traffic restrictions around Croke Park which are likely to be particularly heavy for tomorrow and Monday’s concerts because it coincides with rush-hour. They are also warning of potential heavy volumes on Monday when Ikea opens in Ballymun.

Though fans are coming from all over the world, the concerts tomorrow and Monday are not yet sold out. However, the Irish Hotels’ Federation is reporting the busiest weekend of the year in the capital with most hotels booked out.

The forecast is not good, and fans are urged to bring their rain gear. Heavy showers are forecast for tomorrow evening.

The concerts have raised the ire of local residents because of the concerts and the disruption involved in constructing and dismantling the stage.

Croke Park stadium director Peter McKenna said they were talking to residents. “We are trying to limit the impact these concerts will have and those discussions are ongoing. We are very conscious this is having a huge impact on residents,” he said.

Stage facts: the 360˚ tour


U2 have three custom-built “claw” stages for their tour.
While one is in use, another is being dismantled and a third is being constructed for the next concert venue.
The stage designer is Willie Williams, who has been with U2 since 1982. Mark Fisher serves as architect.
A total of 189 trucks transport the stages around. There are 380 drivers and 12 buses.
The U2 entourage constitutes 550 people.
The video screens weigh 56 tonnes.
The claw-like edifice can take 165 tonnes of equipment freeing up more pitchside space for fans.



U2 'claw' gets a grip on Croke Park ahead of homecoming gig - The Irish Times - Thu, Jul 23, 2009

 

[BonoFox1]

Biggest stage ever’ ready to rock for U2 show
By Sarah Stack

Thursday, July 23, 2009



Read more: ‘Biggest stage ever’ ready to rock for U2 show | Irish Examiner




THE stage is set for U2’s massive homecoming this weekend with organisers promising fans a show to remember.



THE stage is set for U2’s massive homecoming this weekend with organisers promising fans a show to remember.

A giant steel claw which rises to 11 storeys high is being constructed above the pitch in Dublin’s Croke Park.

About 240,000 tickets have been snapped up by fans from as far as Japan, Brazil, Canada and the USA, with hotels across the city fully booked.

It is estimated the series of gigs — tomorrow, Saturday and Monday — will boost the city’s economy by €50 million.

U2 tour director Craig Evans said it was a thrill to be back in Dublin.

"This is the only city that we will do three shows in," said Mr Evans.

"To be able to bring this show, with this design and stage system, to Croke Park is absolutely the highlight of what will be a two-year world tour."

Mr Evans said fans can expect the biggest, most spectacular, and the most impressive U2 show.

"The goal of this tour was to see U2 play stadiums in a full 360-degree configuration, which had never been done before," he said.

"It’s an incredible feat to take an engineer’s structure like this, that is travelling in over 100 trucks, build it, use it and then take it down."

It has taken a week to construct the custom built stage, which includes 550 tonnes of steel, 56 tonnes of video screens and covers 43,000 square feet.

Peter McKenna, stadium director of Croke Park, said 300 construction workers are building the stage, with a further 2,500 people working at the venue over the weekend.

"This is up to the limit of what we do, it’s like three All Irelands back to back," said Mr McKenna.

"These aren’t just concerts, they are truly international events.

"It really is without doubt the biggest stage that has ever been in Ireland."

Gates open at 6pm with the first acts taking to the stage at 6.30pm.

MCD and gardaí urged concert-goers to follow traffic plans in the area and respect local residents.

Officers also reminded fans driving to the show on Monday that it will coincide with the opening of the new Ikea store off the M50 and the start of the College Green bus corridor.





Read more: ‘Biggest stage ever’ ready to rock for U2 show | Irish Examiner
‘Biggest stage ever’ ready to rock for U2 show | Irish Examiner

 

[BonoFox1]

U2 tickets still available as 360° tour fails to go full circle


By Shane Hickey


Thursday July 23 2009

IT has been billed as probably their greatest live show ever -- but there are still tickets available for two of U2's three Croke Park dates which kick-off tomorrow.

Concert promoters MCD yesterday confirmed that despite the hype, the shows have still not sold out, with some tickets still available for tomorrow and Monday night.

And U2's hopes of giving their home fans a full "360 degree" concert have also floundered, despite the band's best intentions. The organisers yesterday insisted they tried to open Hill 16 to fans, but were stymied due to health and safety restrictions.

Dance

While fans will be able to dance around all parts of the massive four-legged "claw" stage, they will not be able to watch from the terraces .

The fact that the gig will not be fully 360 degree, despite the name of the tour, has disappointed some fans.

"It is a shame. We are subject to the design and physical limitations of every stadium that we play in," U2's tour director Craig Evans admitted.

"With the power, with the access that goes into that area, with the safety requirements of what we had and with the sound requirements of what we had playing over, this stadium just doesn't allow for it."

Work continued yesterday on the stage in preparation for tomorrow's opening gig in what has been described as the biggest show in rock history.

Some 240,000 people, from as far afield as Brazil and Japan, are expected to descend on Croke Park for the three homecoming nights.

Gardai outlined a detailed traffic plan for the event which will see a parking ban in the immediate vicinity of the stadium from 10am on concert days.

Event controller Sophie Ridley said 800 stewards would be safeguarding the Croker crowd along with 150 gardai. And while people have been told to dress for the weather, she said they should not bring umbrellas.

Friday is expected to be bright and sunny at times but there is the likelihood of showers which could be heavy and possibly thundery. The showers are due to die out during the evening, leaving the night to be dry and cool.

Saturday is expected to be the best day of the weekend with good spells of sunshine. Winds are set to pick up during the day becoming fresh to strong during the evening.

Monday will see rain around the country but it is thought that Dublin will miss out on the worst of this.



U2 tickets still available as 360° tour fails to go full circle - National News, Frontpage - Independent.ie

 

[BonoFox1]

Long arms of the Claw catch up with U2 in Dublin

Thursday, 23 July 2009






U2's ‘Claw' was beginning to make its mark on the north Dublin skyline ahead of the band's three concerts in Croke Park, the first of which takes place tomorrow.


Crews of workmen, teams of cranes and legions of forklifts busied themselves on the Jones's Road pitch, which has been uprooted for the concerts, as the distinctive set began to take shape at GAA headquarters.

Although not yet complete, and without its distinctive wraparound video screen and inner and outer stages, the main stage almost reached above the main stands in the stadium and looks certain to do so once its central ‘antenna' is attached.

The figures are by now familiar: it's 50 metres high, weighs 390 tonnes, costs €100m and requires 180 trucks to move it from venue to venue. It is also a triplet, and while one claw is being put through its paces by the band (as one was in Amsterdam last night), another is being constructed at a different venue and a third is being transported to a different venue again.

“The show itself is probably the most sophisticated show we've gone on the road with,” the Edge said.

He told RTE 2FM’s Gerry Ryan that the latest 360 tour was about breaking down barriers between the band and their audience.

“That sort of spirit and that wish to make a connection ... because that's what this band has always attempted to do, to break down the barrier,” he said.

“And this production is particularly helpful for us in doing that. A U2 show is really about creating that connection and, so far, that's been one of the real features of these shows — that communal sense within the building.”

He jokingly said they had been “playing a few warm-up shows before Dublin” that had been “terrifying but compelling”.

The band are not due to arrive in Dublin until Friday and they are not expected to go through a full rehearsal at Croke Park.

The build-up to the concert has not been entirely controversy-free. Some fans were disappointed that the full 360 show will not be put in full effect over the three Dublin dates. Hill 16, which forms a backdrop to the stage, will remain empty for the concerts.

Residents in the Croke Park area have also been angered by extensive late-night works at the stadium to get it ready.

Long arms of the Claw catch up with U2 in Dublin - News, Music & Gigs - Belfasttelegraph.co.uk

 

[last unicorn]

It's sooooo stupid that they won't be able to play full circle in their home town. They really should have set up the stage somewhere else.

 

[Anji]

BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Stars to mark Hall of Fame's 25th

Stars to mark Hall of Fame's 25th

U2 were inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005 Musical acts including U2 and Aretha Franklin are to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at two concerts.

The gigs, set to take place in New York in October, will also feature inductees including Bruce Springsteen, Eric Clapton and Metallica.

Both Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel and rock trio Crosby, Stills and Nash are lined up to perform together.

The concerts have been billed as "once in a lifetime" events.

Collaborations

Jan Wenner, chairman of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, said they are "designed to celebrate the artists and their music."

Tickets for the concert, which are scheduled to take place on 29 and 30 October at New York's Madison Square Gardens, will go on sale on 3 August.

Other stars mentioned in the concert line-ups include Stevie Wonder and Metallica, with various collaborations and guest stars also planned.

The performances are designed to trace the history of rock and roll, from soul to hard rock.

The proceeds from the concerts will go towards permanent funding for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation and Museum, established in 1984 by Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun who died in 2006.

Earlier this year, Metallica and rap group Run DMC were the latest in the line of artists to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Artists qualify for inclusion 25 years after the release of their first record.

A whole host of UK musicians have also been recognised, including Sir Paul McCartney and Dusty Springfield

 

[Niamh_Saoirse]

Living is Eze but residents plan protest

By Richie Taylor and Louise Hogan

Thursday July 23 2009

HALF of U2 are soaking up the rays in the sun-splashed French Riviera as they take a short break in advance of their three-night Croke Park residency.

Bono and the Edge won't touch down in Dublin until tomorrow morning in preparation for the first of their three Dublin gigs.

The pair are using Nice as the base for their European tour, where they both have homes in Eze sur Mer -- about a 30-minute drive from the airport. Their private MD 80 jet is parked there and brings them back to Nice after each gig.

They headed there yesterday after Tuesday's Amsterdam show to rest and relax before their homecoming shows.

Bono and the Edge will only return to Ireland hours before showtime.

Unlike the 360° tour's opener in Barcelona there will be no lengthy rehearsals here.

But drummer Larry Mullen is basing himself in his Sutton home on Dublin's northside with his family for the length of the European tour.

Bassist Adam Clayton has not revealed where he is staying between shows.

Meanwhile, angry residents plan to stage a protest at Croke Park over the intrusion caused by extensive works to host this weekend's U2 concerts. The pickets have been organised to target work underway at the stadium following the three U2 gigs rather than affect the 240,000 concert-goers. The residents were allocated 200 tickets for the shows.

People from the north-Dublin suburbs surrounding the venue intend to deploy a motor convoy from 1am next Tuesday to disrupt or delay the trucks taking away U2's famous stage and equipment. There will also be lorries arriving at the stadium next week with new grass sods to replace the surface of the pitch ahead of GAA clashes.

Picket

The motor convoy will be travelling down the Clonliffe Road, while at around 7am on Tuesday residents will also stage a picket on St Joseph's Avenue, along which the trucks are also expected to travel along.

Following a meeting attended by up to 100 residents, Pat Gates, chair of the Croke Park Residents' Alliance, said: "This is totally our last option. We have been here for years, continuously we have 11th-hour proposals from the stadium. They shouldn't visit this type of disruption on the residents."

Dublin City Council has permitted continuous 44-hour works from midnight on Monday, July 27, to dismantle the stage.

- Richie Taylor and Louise Hogan

 

[last unicorn]

I guess people always need something to protest against and complain about They're using U2 for publicity, clearly.

And the writer of this article isn't up to date: So far, the band has stayed in hotels in every city they played, including Berlin, where they played just one gig, just as I expected them to. It doesn't make much sense to fly to Nice every time after a gig when you have another one the next day. Do some research, dude.

 

[domo-kun]

^This

 

[dandysweets]

Heroes or has beens? - Features, Day and Night - Independent.ie

 

[dandysweets]

U2 wow fans at homecoming gig - The Irish Times - Fri, Jul 24, 2009

 

[BonoFox1]

FIRST PUBLISHED: July 24, 2009 8:15 PM EDT
LAST UPDATED: July 24, 2009 5:02 PM EDT




DUBLIN, Ireland --
Bono and U2 are rocking 80,000 fans in Dublin as the Irish supergroup’s world tour hits emotional highs on home soil.

A deafening roar welcomed the Dubliners as they launched their three-concert homestand Friday at Croke Park, Ireland’s biggest stadium. The band’s “360” tour switches from Europe to North America in September.

U2 guitarist The Edge said the band always considers its native city the emotional highlight of touring. Bono joked that recent shows in Barcelona, Milan, Paris, Berlin and Amsterdam were mere “rehearsals” for Dublin.

The U2 gigs are injecting an estimated 50 million euros into Ireland’s recession-ravaged economy. Hotels are booked solid. Dublin Criminal Court canceled jury deliberations for the weekend — too many jurors had tickets


U2 Rock Dublin As World Tour Hits New High | Access Hollywood - Celebrity News, Photos & Videos

 

[Bonogirl777]

@ the jurors with tickets!!

 

[OrARoundabout]

Bassist Adam Clayton has not revealed where he is staying between shows.

I thought you Plebans would have locked onto his bachelor pad by now

Meanwhile, angry residents plan to stage a protest at Croke Park over the intrusion caused by extensive works to host this weekend's U2 concerts. The pickets have been organised to target work underway at the stadium following the three U2 gigs rather than affect the 240,000 concert-goers. The residents were allocated 200 tickets for the shows.

O Rly crazy ppl? PROTEST THIS:
"The U2 gigs are injecting an estimated 50 million euros into Ireland’s recession-ravaged economy"

 

[dandysweets]

some reviews from last night (wish i had been there)

Bono and the boys silence doubters with hot show

BELIEVE the hype. Choose joy.

The questions were asked of U2, and they were answered in pretty spectacular fashion at Croke Park last night. Magnificent, if you must.

"I surrender," Bono told the masses as he walked along the outer circle of the famous stage, arms outstretched, wallowing in the adulation early in the evening. He had, in fact, already won us over.

And that was before this stage truly came to life, helping to take the gig to another level entirely after the sun had set. Indeed, starting an hour later may have been advisable. "Look at yourselves," he implored the 80,000.

"Smart, sexy -- in our own way -- undefeatable. Undefeatable."

It takes one to know one, Mr Hewson.

These guys have been under pressure in recent times. The self-styled 'biggest band on the planet' has been struggling, relatively-speaking. They are hardly flavour of the month here in Ireland, partly because of their tax affairs, partly because of our suspicion of success, and partly because, like everything else, they were better in the old days. It meant they didn't sell out 240,000 tickets for Croke Park in an instant. There are suggestions of in-fighting. The latest album was coolly received both here and abroad. The latest tour has had mixed reviews, with one of the shows in Amsterdam earlier this week getting panned by critics and fans alike.

Never mind getting on their boots, perhaps it was time for this lot to hang theirs up?

And so U2 -- one of our biggest success stories -- were left in the slightly-surreal situation of having to prove themselves again. And to their own, and in their own backyard. We should never have doubted them. On this stage there are few who can live with them. We were a little ashamed of ourselves. But we got over it. "I wasn't too sure at the start because I don't have the new album," Alison Crowe said. "But it was good, and then, of course, it just got so much better."

Not surprisingly, the architect was Bono. While apologising to the local residents for the din, four or five songs in, he got to reminiscing. "For all our guests from outta town, and there's a lot of you, this neighbourhood is very emblematic," he said. "It has great doctors and nurses, it has the inmates of Mountjoy prison, and they are all probably listening right now. But it also has the Royal Canal."

Dedicated

Cue a rendition of 'The Auld Triangle' dedicated to Ronnie Drew and the mood changed noticeably. After that it was a simply blistering set. At least from the Hogan Stand it was. From the 'pit', it must have been out of this world.

Many of the fans delayed their arrival at Croker to grab a sneaky last pint before piling into the ground, some taking their places after the band had emerged on to the stage shortly before 9pm.

In truth, those who missed the first four songs won't be kicking themselves too much. Not least because alcohol wasn't an option while inside, but also because it was with 'Beautiful Day' that this gig truly began as the sun set and 'the Claw' came to life.

And it was impressive, although it would obviously have been so much better if fully 'in the round', as we had been promised, but which Croke Park can't deliver.

"Hill 16 is right behind you," as Bono sang later referring to the "rubble of revolution". A pity it was empty, and one of the few disappointments of the night. We ploughed on bravely, however, with the first chords of 'Desire' finally getting those in the seats bouncing freely, rolling back the years while looking at the future. Stadium rock, indeed, with all the pomp and ceremony you could hope for but which we take a little for granted with these guys. It was on an upward trajectory from then until the end. And those who may have been cursing the lack of a pint last night will be glad of the memories they have this morning instead.

Bono kept the preaching to a minimum. He could probably feel the love because of it. But, paradoxically, we wouldn't like it if he ignored the activism completely, and thousands donned a face mask -- inserted in the concert programme -- of Burmese freedom fighter Aung San Suu Kyi.

Hey, we're a tough crowd. But U2 played us expertly. Bono spoke during the week about the "joy" that's inherent in U2's music. Last night was a joy. "This is where we live, we love it," Bono said. "We can criticise our own but anyone else..."

He made a gun sign with his finger and thumb. Call off the assassins.

Bono and the boys silence doubters with hot show - Music, Entertainment - Independent.ie

-------

U2 come home in triumph

Croke Park rocks: Bono and the band show their edge

FOR BONO the shows so far on U2’s 360° tour in Barcelona, Milan, Nice, Berlin and Amsterdam have been merely “warm ups for the main event”: a run of three shows in Croke Park starting last night.

Dublin yesterday became U2ville – radio was playing them back-to-back, in city-centre pubs U2 tribute bands were offering up their best ersatz effort and a small army of overseas travellers embarked on “U2 Walking Tours” of the city – taking in their old recording studio at Windmill Lane and their present one at Hanover Quay as well as their old stomping grounds of the Project Arts Centre and the Dandelion Market.

What struck most on the entry roads to Croke Park last night (a stadium with the finest media facilities know to mankind) were the multifarious hues of the fans – travelling Japanese groups mingled with excitable Argentinians while two women in burkas jointly carried a “Iraq loves U2” placard. The demographic make-up of the 80,000 crowd wasn’t lost on Bono who said from the stage: “I know there’s a lot of out-of-towners here tonight, that’s because they know the best place to see U2 live is right here in Dublin”.

Taking to the stage shortly before 9pm with a piercing sun still in the sky, the full technological bells and whistles of the much-vaunted “Claw” were lost somewhat in the glare. Due to the particular configuration of Croke Park, the 360° tour had to become the 270° tour for the night that was in it – with Hill 16 unavailable.

They gave it socks from the start. Acknowledging the stadium’s historical significance and its proximity to the Royal Canal, Bono dedicated a cover of “The Auld Triangle” to Ronnie Drew, noting the song “was the greatest sound, because it is the sound of home”.

There was a brief intermission early on for a public service announcement a la Bono. He went off on a self-help trip saying “Look at us Irish people – we are smart, sexy and undefeatable ... and there’s nothing we can’t do if we believe it ourselves”.

The music itself is familiar – it’s part of this country’s cultural soundtrack but even the “I can’t stand them but I never miss one of their live shows” contingent (ie the media guest list) were reaching for the superlatives: this was one of the band’s strongest ever live outings. An achingly poignant acoustic version of “Stuck In A Moment”; an evocative “Unforgettable Fire; a rough-hewn garage rock “Vertigo” and a Balearic Beat version of “I’ll Go Crazy” all put the gig into warp speed.

A tribute to Burmese leader Aung San Suu Kyi during “Walk On” saw 60-odd people march around the perimeter of the stage wearing the mask of the political prisoner – an affecting sight.

As darkness fell, the “Claw” crept into life. The biggest ever musical stage structure (at 164ft high it is double the size of the previous biggest ever stage – at one point descending so low it almost touched the artists’ heads.

U2 ended with a broody “With or Without You” and a sadly soulful “Moment Of Surrender” (the song of the night).

It was a sort of homecoming – and a type of triumph.

U2 come home in triumph - The Irish Times - Sat, Jul 25, 2009

 

[last unicorn]

I will never understand how people can deliberately miss out the start of a show just to have a few more pints

Shame some people think it's ok to miss the new songs.

Thanks for posting the articles.

 

[dandysweets]

I will never understand how people can deliberately miss out the start of a show just to have a few more pints

Shame some people think it's ok to miss the new songs.

Thanks for posting the articles.

i agree. it's like missing the first ten minutes of a great film; it might still be a great film but it will be somehow incomplete because you missed the beginning.

 

[hcbiggs2002]

Some people just don't seem to be able to appreciate how good they have it! What I wouldn't give for U2 to play even one concert here in Finland!!

By the way, Silvia I found some great pics on the Berliner morgenpost site and have uploaded them onto the gallery!

 

[Anji]

Will U2 call it a day after Dublin gigs? - mirror.co.uk

U2 have made a secret pact to take their longest ever break from music. So the foursome - with a combined age of 192 - want to make this weekend's shows in their Dublin hometown the greatest ever.

A source revealed: "They are treating it as their last live shows in Ireland and have talked about taking a few years off - they can't go on forever. "If they can't come back with something bigger and better then they won't come back at all.

"The Rolling Stones have kept going out on the road even in their 60s but Bono and The Edge don't want to be doing that. This will be an emotional time for the band and for their fans in Ireland."

U2's 360 degree tour has already sold out dates around Europe and America and the band are as popular as ever. More than 240,000 fans will attend their three Dublin concerts this weekend.

 

[domo-kun]

^Articles like that , just make me wish i was an an-alphabetic.

 

[last unicorn]

By the way, Silvia I found some great pics on the Berliner morgenpost site and have uploaded them onto the gallery!

Thanks. I have seen those pics online and there was a photo in the newspaper that also showed the four of us waiting in front of the Olympic Stadium in Berlin

^Articles like that , just make me wish i was an an-alphabetic.

Don't worry, rumours like that have been appearing for years now. Last time I checked U2 had a 12 year contract with live nation. They have many projects coming up including a 2010 tour, a new album (Songs of Ascent) and the Spiderman musical. Plus they wanted to built a new studio with the U2 tower. Doesn't look as if they'd call it quits anytime soon.

 

[domo-kun]

Don't worry, rumours like that have been appearing for years now. Last time I checked U2 had a 12 year contract with live nation. They have many projects coming up including a 2010 tour, a new album (Songs of Ascent) and the Spiderman musical. Plus they wanted to built a new studio with the U2 tower. Doesn't look as if they'd call it quits anytime soon.

Yeah, I hope they still enjoy it and go on until they can't.
Some people are actually suggesting that they are becoming "old",
just makes me sick , especially when they talk about them quiting.
Makes me want to choke them. Every time you see the boys they still act like they are 30 , and they are really healthy. So I don't see them stopping. Hopefully!

 

[Anji]

ShowBiz Ireland - U2 Boys Home to Party...

 

[last unicorn]

Bono pops in for chat with residents on way to show - News & Gossip, Entertainment - Independent.ie

 

[last unicorn]

Some more reports from Irish newspapers:

Forget swine flu, catch U2 fever - Music, Entertainment - Independent.ie

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0727/1224251384749.html?via=rel

http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/music/the-unforgettable-four-1840657.html

http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/music/u2--rock-elevated-to-a-new-level-1842524.html

http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/...ay-with-three-nights-of-clubbing-1842519.html

http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/music/even-better-than-the-debut-gig-in-barcelona-1842533.html

 

[Anji]

Bono pops in for chat with residents on way to show - News & Gossip, Entertainment - Independent.ie

OMG I think I would have died but happy

 

[KristenCaNaDiAn]

Bono pops in for chat with residents on way to show - News & Gossip, Entertainment - Independent.ie

OMG I would have freaked out

 

[lauramullen]

From now being at Croke Park, I fully understand what the residents are complaining about. The stadium is literally in a neighborhood. There are house right behind it. I mean as in feet. Just picture your house and then having a huge stadium right behind your backyard.