Meeting U2 After the Concert

[tenacious_b]

How does this work? I was always under the impression that the band would jump into a limo and be clear of the arena right after the last song. Do they come back onto the stage later? Do you have to go around to some secret entrance?

 

[lauren430]

if we told you it wouldn't be a secret now, would it?

 

[RobertWiscy]

U2.com will be providing members with a special keychain that gets you backstage. Trust them. They will be available on TM with a presale code that will guarantee you the keychain with a solid chance of getting the actual keys.

 

[tenacious_b]

U2.com will be providing members with a special keychain that gets you backstage. Trust them. They will be available on TM with a presale code that will guarantee you the keychain with a solid chance of getting the actual keys.

I bet they wouldn't even let you into the arena with that keychain. You throw that thing and you could take someone's head off. Or at least leave a pretty nice dent.

 

[boosterjuice]

U2.com will be providing members with a special keychain that gets you backstage. Trust them. They will be available on TM with a presale code that will guarantee you the keychain with a solid chance of getting the actual keys.

 

[Grindstone]

it varies from show to show, but a lot of times they are out the door in a limo before the lights are even on in the arena.

only chance you have is to wave to them as they drive by if you happen to be in that very spot.

they've come out to greet people in line several times in the past who were waiting around before soundcheck.. but it's a luxury when it happens.

I saw GA 7 times on the last tour, Bono came out to say "hey" at Lexington. And the entire band pulled up and came out for autographs at Baltimore.

both times heavily secured as you can imagine.

I will say, the police escort into Baltimore Arena was extremely impressive! You would have thought the President was coming.

 

[skjuls]

it varies from show to show, but a lot of times they are out the door in a limo before the lights are even on in the arena.

only chance you have is to wave to them as they drive by if you happen to be in that very spot.

they've come out to greet people in line several times in the past who were waiting around before soundcheck.. but it's a luxury when it happens.

I saw GA 7 times on the last tour, Bono came out to say "hey" at Lexington. And the entire band pulled up and came out for autographs at Baltimore.

both times heavily secured as you can imagine.

I will say, the police escort into Baltimore Arena was extremely impressive! You would have thought the President was coming.

Yeah, I've only met the band before the concert. I was Lucky enough to be at the Baltimore Arena when they all came out. I think John Sampson came out and said be cool or whatever and that all four of them would come out. It was awesome. I forgot to bring my CD cover from Indiana so I had to buy a new one ATYCLB CD in Pentagon City for 18 bucks.

I got all four of them to sign and Bono even signed it again b/c I stood there and he came back down the line.

I missed him at Lexington because I got there late. At Indy, some of the band came out but I missed it b/c I had to get back in the GA line (good thing too but I was lucky enough to get front row heart!)

Trying before the show is hit or miss.

Las Vegas, Thomas Mack security was mean to us!! and made us leave the area.

 

[starsgoblue]

only chance you have is to wave to them as they drive by if you happen to be in that very spot.

That happened to me.

Where exactly can you go before the concert. The back of the arena when they go in for soundcheck? When would that be..I'm sure that'd vary to. Details please.

 

[skjuls]

That happened to me.

Where exactly can you go before the concert. The back of the arena when they go in for soundcheck? When would that be..I'm sure that'd vary to. Details please.

It varies but you can look around and pretty much tell. A good sign is there are a lot of fans hanging out there already.

Back of the arena is a start. Look for a place where their cars can pull up (Baltimore) or drive down to get their entrance (chicago united Center).

I usually just followed other fans. Sometimes, their techs will be out there so that is a good sign. I've talk to Dallas a couple of times and I said something like I was from Kentucky and He got all excited and said I am too. (I live in VA now but raised in Kentucky).

 

[Hewson]

People usually meet Larry after the show at a late night roast beef sandwich shop. After a couple hours of pounding the skins, he gets might hungry and sneaks out for a super beef with sauce and cheese. The whole vegetarian thing is a front. Larry actually shed a tear when they knocked down Buzzy's in Boston.

 

[stevec]

How does this work? I was always under the impression that the band would jump into a limo and be clear of the arena right after the last song. Do they come back onto the stage later? Do you have to go around to some secret entrance?

I nearly got hit by one of their silver Mercedes limos after Popmart - does that count as a meeting?

 

[skjuls]

Re: Re: Meeting U2 After the Concert

I nearly got hit by one of their silver Mercedes limos after Popmart - does that count as a meeting?

I would!!

 

[zoopop]

I talk to someone at the Dallas show in April/01 and they said Bono was sitting outside in the grass all by himself. The guy and a few friends went up to him to get an autograph. He said Bono talk to them for a while and he was a really cool guy.

 

[Mucca]

When do they have their sounds checks? 2-3 hours before the show?

 

[Desert Dog]

book a room at the Belliago in Vegas the night of the particular show (if you can afford too after buying tickets for the show). The U2 entourage shoud arrive around 1 or 2am and head straight to the bar.

 

[faithingrace]

Where do I book for San Jose?

 

[ABEL]

i met some of the band members before the concert on the elevation tour here in dallas and also in austin. i got to the arena in dallas around 2pm, and in austin around 11am. usually they came in at a back entrance. like it was said here previously, look for the crowd of fans already there and just ask around. i usually walk all the way around the arena to scope it out if it's a place i'm not familiar with.

meeting the band before the show is 1000 times easier than after. i waited around after the show here in dallas and the crowds were 2-3 times bigger and bono just did a quick little hand shake for a few fans. there were about 2-3 people in front of me so i barely got to see him.

before the show in dallas bono and edge both got out and bono shook as many hands as he could, even spending a couple seconds talking to people...and he even kissed my hand

in austin i even got edge and larry's autographs before the show.

i was told they usually arrive between 3-4 pm. that particular day they arrived a little later, more like 5pm.

be prepared to wait a while, bring a bottled water, and have fun chatting with other fans

 

[artdirector]

I met the band after 2 of the 4 concerts I went to (4 of them). Anaheim and Las Vegas. In Anaheim, Bono walked back up the ramp to the entrance and stood their with his bodyguard signing autographs. After the concert, Adam and Edge hung out with about 7 of us signing autographs and taking pictures. Cool blokes.

In Vegas, fiasco!! But my brother met with Bono one on one while I shook hands and greeted Larry Mullen. Wow does that cat look young. Well thats it.

It may be different this year since we have a crisis in the band. We may have them really low key.

 

[Schmeg]

I really wish they were coming to Providence because I know EXACTLY where to go to find them at the Civic Center; I've used the stage entrance quite a few times myself!

I do have a good idea of where to stalk at the Fleet Center, though; I think I almost parked there by accident when I went to see REM a few months ago.

Someone mentioned the United Center in Chicago; I'll be there both nights in May. Does anyone want to offer up any hints?

 

[Grindstone]

When do they have their sounds checks? 2-3 hours before the show?

yeah, that's about right. The thing is, it completely depends on security at the particular arena and the area that they pull into.

for example, in Atlanta at Phillips.. it runs under the arena.. so you can go down to the bottom level parking lot.. but security was always running us off.. for no reason.

in Lexington it was the same, under the arena.. but there just happened to be a road that the GA line was forming up against that was another blocked off (gated) entrance to under the arena.. so when they pulled in, Bono saw us up there and just walked up to say hey.

in Baltimore, it was more of an ideal situation, b/c the Baltimore Arena is really kind of old.. (there weren't even seats behind the stage, it was a small place" and because of that, the area they load in was rather open and easy for everyone to notice.. you almost couldn't NOT notice it.

it was just a big parking lot next to the left side of the arena.. so they just decided to come out and sign autographs (the lot had been gated off).

its just that some of the newer arenas have like underground garages and it's not that easy... b/c they can just drive in and wont come out at all..

so it sort of depends on the venue.

 

[annej5]

I have heard they usually stay at the Ritz-Carlton and sometimes you can catch them going in. Does anyone know for sure?

 

[Iskra]

It used to be you could meet up but from what I've heard you now have to pay 40 bucks (check written out to Sebastian) and that gives you a pre-meet but not guaranteed.

 

[skjuls]

yeah, that's about right. The thing is, it completely depends on security at the particular arena and the area that they pull into.

for example, in Atlanta at Phillips.. it runs under the arena.. so you can go down to the bottom level parking lot.. but security was always running us off.. for no reason.

in Lexington it was the same, under the arena.. but there just happened to be a road that the GA line was forming up against that was another blocked off (gated) entrance to under the arena.. so when they pulled in, Bono saw us up there and just walked up to say hey.

in Baltimore, it was more of an ideal situation, b/c the Baltimore Arena is really kind of old.. (there weren't even seats behind the stage, it was a small place" and because of that, the area they load in was rather open and easy for everyone to notice.. you almost couldn't NOT notice it.

it was just a big parking lot next to the left side of the arena.. so they just decided to come out and sign autographs (the lot had been gated off).

its just that some of the newer arenas have like underground garages and it's not that easy... b/c they can just drive in and wont come out at all..

so it sort of depends on the venue.

Bono told us why the band was able to come out at Baltimore. He said that since Butch Vig was sick. They were able to do their soundcheck later and he said something to the effect that the band (U2) was running late.

He also said that if Garbage was able to play that nite, they would not have been able to meet and greet with us due to time constraints. Hell, they had to practice Please during the soundcheck and that was amazing to hear while waiting in the gA line.

 

[Roach Daddy]

Heck,

You've bought a ticket to a concert - not an invitation to a meet and greet. Enjoy the show and go home - don't be a sado. They're not gods.

 

[Shawn Bonneau]

In Montreal October of 2001, I cought the guys doing soundcheck inside the Molson Centre. I didn't get a chance to meet them, but I could hear Edge and Bono chatting a bit as it picked up thru the mics. They ran thru a couple of songs. This was while I went inside to get tix.

SMB

 

[bloodysunday972]

The advise here is spot on.

It really depends on the place. But your best bet is to catch them as they arrive for Soundcheck. I met Edge in Austin around there although the funny thing was he rolled his eyes with all the Bono chants.

After show is really no good unless you happen to be at the hotel there staying at.

Typically SC is always the best chance ull get. I remember in Austin Bono signed 2 autos and 1 was for a girl in a cowboy hat.....she's been pulled up on stage quite a few times that tour.


Anyway thats my advise

 

[bonoed]

last time they didn't stay anywhere really, they flew to their "base" in their jet each night. On the other tours a lot of us got to meet them at hotels, but they're too big now to be taking buses city to city, they'll probably still fly in and fly back after each show to whereever their "base" is.

 

[bonosloveslave]

book a room at the Belliago in Vegas the night of the particular show (if you can afford too after buying tickets for the show). The U2 entourage shoud arrive around 1 or 2am and head straight to the bar.

If they play at MGM, wouldn't they stay at MGM?


So if you have GA tix, but the best chance to meet them is before the show, do you pretty much have to choose between waiting in the GA line and waiting where they are likely to come out?

 

[bloodysunday972]

The rumor is LA is home base because they can fly in and out of shows without problems and also the thing about the family issue makes that good as I believe Edge has a home in LA or something......anyway just ideas.

 

[bonosloveslave]

Also, for the Vegas shows, wouldn't you be able to follow them to whatever hotel they are at without actually having to stay there, because any one can come in for the casinos?