Zootlesque said:
Isn't it true though that generally contemporaries don't open for each other? It seems it's always a smaller band opening for a bigger more well known one.
I could see a one or two time type of thing, but that's about it, if it ever happened.
U2 and REM had a very similar career for quite awhile, although REM never quite hit the JT/ ZooTV biggest band in the world thing... Unfortunately their careers have sorta divided with the last few albums.
They are both bands that started out "college" bands(something that later on got called 'alternative') and went mainstream, for the most part on their own terms. In a way these two bands opened up the doors for the alternative rock scene. They've almost been in-step except REM a few years behind. But they both had some underground hits, then the one major single, then the next album just exploded.
U2 had IWF, SBS, NYD, but then they had Pride; the next album JT.
REM had Radio Free Europe, Fall on Me, then had End of the World and One I Love; the next album Out of Time.
After they hit mainstream both re-invented themselves a few times, they both had the respect of their peers, both have played with different genres, worked with their heroes, and for the most part never had any of the typical RnR pitfalls...
Unfortunately REM had a member leave and lost a little momentum, although the new album seems to be one that will turn some things around for them.
Anyways I'm rambling...