What A Tour! Top Moments From More Than Two Years of 360

What a tour! U2′s seemingly endless jaunt went on and on, as though Larry, Adam, Edge and Bono had finally resolved to never let go of their instruments, happy to circle the globe over and over to the delight of the millions of fans out there.

But, the adventure that began in June 2009 is finally over and with a plethora of shows, moments, and memories from this legendary world tour, I’ve boiled down some top moments from the past two years.

10. Liftoff in Barcelona

After much anticipation, hype, and rumors, U2 unleashed its architecturally striking 360 stage to an unsuspecting 65,000 fans at Camp Nou stadium.

Crowd, critics, and even the band itself seemed in genuine awe by the sheer size (90 feet tall) and magnitude of this new stage.

For the first time in the modern era of outdoor stadium rock, the audience turned into an undulating backdrop to the show. It was a grandiose opening night to what turned out to be a record setting extravaganza for the next two years.

9.  Zurich in the Rain

U2 has always been a band that plays rain or shine, no matter the elements; you can always count on a magnificent experience. This said, no one could have predicted the historical downpour that fell over Zurich on September 12^th 2010, during the 3^rd leg of the tour. The clouds opened up early over the Swiss sky, and instead of drying up as showtime neared, the rain just seemed to get worse.  What no one could have predicted was one of the most unforgettable concerts in U2 history. Fueled by the extreme weather, U2 unleashed a flurry of energy, playing with passion purpose, and even debuting the never heard before gem “Mercy” from the Atomic Bomb sessions. Oh yeah, did we mention Adam Clayton took off his shirt and showed of his bare chest?

8. The Return of Bono 2.0

 

 

On August 6, 2010 in Turin, Italy, U2 played their first concert since front man Bono’s back injury and subsequent emergency that forced the band to cancel 16 North American shows and their Glastonbury headline set.

Yes, Bono was back, and it was a beautiful day for sure, as the band came in full force with a brand new show, including never heard before songs and the return of “Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Kill Me,” not heard since the Popmart Tour.

7. Zooropa

With U2’s tour back in South America, the band continued to slip surprises into its setlists. Case in point: At the band’s stop in Sao Paulo, Brazil, fans were treated to the first performance of “Zooropa” since 1993. Before this, the song had only been played four times before. An inspiring moment for longtime followers of the band who only dreamt about this song ever seeing the light of day proved a preview for many of the remaining shows.

6. Patience Pays: North America Gets a Top Form U2

After a year long delay following Bono’s emergency, the U2 360 tour returned to North America with a sold out show at Invesco Stadium at Mile High in Denver, and boy, did patience paid off for North American fans. With a very different show from the earlier 360 incarnation, U2 came at the peak of their musical powers blasting through set-lists that included spectacular variety, including: “Even Better Than The Real Thing,” “The Fly,” “Zooropa,” “North Star,” and “Out of Control” among many others. In the words of Bono: “Through the wonders of science I’m not just fixed, I’m better!”

5. U2 Beats Pope for Giants Stadium Attendance Record

In the band’s last show at Giants Stadium before it’s torn down, U2 blasted the stadium’s attendance record with 84,472 fans coming out to see the Irish rock band’s show. Pope John Paul II held the previous record after his visit to the stadium in 1995 (82,948).

The significance of the historic feat was not lost on Bono: “News just in,” said Bono from the stage near the end of the night. “We’ve broken every record for attendance in this stadium — including the Pope. Sorry Bruce (Springsteen) — we know it’s your birthday and all.”

Later, Bono added, “I know they’re knocking this place down—we probably won’t be here again before the wrecking ball, but it was a magic place for us as well as the Giants.”

4. U2 Goes Home: 360 Style

U2 rocked fans from across the world in Dublin as the Irish hit new emotional highs on home soil with a spectacular three-concert homestand at Croke Park. In front of crowds waving flags from as far away as Brazil and Japan, Bono said tens of thousands had traveled worldwide to Dublin. “You know the best place to see U2 live is right here,” he said to adoring crowds. With setlists that varied throughout the three nights, songs from all eras where played including “Desire,” “Angel of Harlem,” “Stay,” “The Unforgettable Fire,” and “Bad.”

3. Explosive Night in Nashville

U2 made their first appearance in the Music City since December 1981, and for two hours, they made up for lost time, delivering a transcendent, magical performance for the ages that left fans exhausted, exhilarated, and transformed. But the shocker of the night came after “Moment Of Surrender,” a song the band had used to close nearly every show. Bono started talking to a fan in the audience who somehow managed to convince the frontman to let him come on stage and play guitar on “All I Want Is You.” At the end of what has to be the highlight of this blind man’s life, Bono gave him a little souvenir: his green Irish Falcon guitar. U2’s return to Nashville was an anthology dedicated to the power of music in the universe.

2. Glastonbury

Playing their first festival since the 80′s and with endless hype, support and even criticism, U2 unleashed a combative, frontloaded set calibrated to win the unconverted as they headlined Glastonbury’s Pyramid stage for the first time. Working with an additional video screen, they reach back to the early-90s not just with an opening salvo of songs from Achtung Baby but with the frenetic visual overload of the Zoo TV tour. It finds them at their fiercest and most urgent with The Edge wrenching bolts of noise from his guitar during “Until the End of the World.” With “One” and “Where the Streets Have No Name,” U2 proved the doubters wrong and came on top.

1. The Glorious Return of Ultra Violet (Light My Way)

Ask a hardcore U2 fan to create a top 5 list of Bono’s best lyrics, and you will find the majestic 1991’s gem “Ultra Violet (Light My Way)” in most of them. A song that had been completely ignored since the Zoo TV tour, fans had been clamoring and dreaming to one day hear this beauty see the light of day once again. Dream no more. After a week of rumors and hear say, opening night in Barcelona was the showcase in which the masterful song returned, and boy, was the wait worth it. Complete with a visual spectacle that included Bono dressed in a laser filled leather jacket while a fully illuminated mirror ball graced the 360 stage, fans around the world finally experienced this song live. The emotions, the power, and depth of the tune are still unmatched to many in U2’s catalogue and seeing it come back as triumphantly as ever became the staple of the 360 Tour for those of us lucky enough to experience it live.

– Jaime Rodriguez, Contributing Writer

Honorable Mentions for This List from the Interference Facebook Page:

“One Tree Hill” in Chi-town

“Bad/40” in Pittsburgh

Standing in the down pouring rain in Minnesota

When Bono started singing Rejoice…I was singing and crying and it was magical…

Picture Credits: Barcelona = Publikacciones Espana

Zurich = Matthias Muehlbradt

Turin = Live Nation Italy

Zooropa = Beth Navi

Denver = Rodrigo Baquera

New Jersey = Peter Hutchins

Dublin = Chris Williams

Nashville = Tim Hiber

Ultra Violet = Jonathan Puntervold

Glastonbury = Al De Perez