Detroit Surprises!

[Blue Room]

Originally posted by bigwali
Folks - Any U2 fans looking for setlist variety and a great show should mark Detroit on their calendar next tour. It is always a great show at an awesome venue and U2 always has some surprises up their sleeve for the Motor City. It's come to be expected! Well done U2!

Really? What suprises have they had the last two tours prior to this in Detroit? Typically Detroit gets one show, which means a fairly standard setlist. The only different song on Elevation was really Discotheque, but it had been done quite a bit prior to Detroit on Elevation, it had just taken a couple of week vacation until then. Popmart was the standard third leg setlist in Detroit. The only different thing was Larry receiving his birthday cake. But that obviously had nothing to do with it being in Detroit.

I agree both Detroit shows were great this time. Typically, my experience in Detroit has been that the crowd is semi lame though. Wasnt the case this time, but I certainly dont think Monday and Tuesday were the "norm" there. You may be right, maybe its a new trend that will continue next tour. I hope so, but I certainly havent seen it there in the past.

The best city in the midwest to see U2 in for variety and typically outstanding shows is Chicago, hands down.

[Axver]

Originally posted by StlElevation
New York 10 /14 for Vertigo X2
Philadelphia the 2nd night I believe for Vertigo

Great, thanks for the info.

[Nube Gris]

why isnt 'Original' played more?
Is such a great tune, and live is just

[Chuckver]

Originally posted by Chuckver
I was at the concert last night and can confirm no OOTS. The lady tech was fixing Bono's mike and after that he sang Humpty Dumpty. The start on the show was rocking. The crowd was into every song my ears are still ringing. Bono said Wow a few times after we took over the singing during Elevation and ISHFWILF. I read in the other thread that the setlist was boring I have to disagree. The song may be song that have been played before but the energy and the flow of the setlist was great tonight. Walk on sounded great with the Edge doing part of the singing. Great Great Show. I have a copy of the intended set list not sure how to post it. I got it from a security guard.

[bigwali]

Originally posted by solacevip
Bono was adlibbing like crazy....adding snippets of Marley....and even "rapping" at some points before the coexist speech.

"I feel it in my heart...!"

Yeah, Was trying to figure what who he was emulating in his rapping. Thinking of Kid Rock or Eminem but had no idea. Anyone know?

[bigwali]

Originally posted by Blue Room

Really? What suprises have they had the last two tours prior to this in Detroit?

Well, you piqued my curiosity as to exactly what the surprises have been. So I recalled some and went to the archives for others (thanks Axver and his excellent history website). Some are truly surprises and others may be coincidental but the list is quite interesting. So here it is.

1981-04-18: Harpo's, Detroit, Michigan

• ”I Fall Down” played for the 1st time ever.

1985-03-23: Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan

• “Do They Know It’s Christmas” Snippet (only 5 times played ever)
• “We Are The World “ Snippet (only 3 times played ever)

1992-03-27: Palace Of Auburn Hills, Detroit, Michigan

• Bono Orders 10,000 Pizzas from Speedy Pizzas, A hundred are delivered and some people eat them, others throw them as frisbees.
• "Hello? Is this Speedy Pizza? I'd like to order 10,000 pizzas for Detroit.
  We're at the Palace. Do ya know the Palace? Yeah, I AM serious. I'm very serious.
  You can't make 10,000? Just make as many as you can. OK. What?
  My name is Bono." - Zoo TV tour, March 27 1992

1992-09-09: Pontiac Silverdome, Detroit, Michigan

• Satellite Live Hook-Up to MTV awards with Dana Carvey on the drums while U2 plays “Even Better Than the Real Thing”.
• So Cruel – (Only 4 times played ever).

1997-10-31: Pontiac Silverdome, Detroit, Michigan

• Halloween Night & Larry’s Birthday – Smashmouth opens the set dressed in Halloween costumes.
• Bono comes through the crowd like a prizefighter in a robe to start the concert.
• Bono brings a dozen people dressed in costumes onstage during Mysterious Ways.
• Happy Birthday is song twice for Larry’s 36 birthday. (Only 19 times played ever)

2001-05-30: Palace Of Auburn Hills, Detroit, Michigan

• ”In My Life” (Beatles Snippet) sung for the 1st time ever.
• Van Morrison’s “Gloria” snippet sung for the 1st time in the 2001 tour.

2005-10-24: Palace Of Auburn Hills, Detroit, Michigan

• Bono has problems with is microphone and sings "Humpty Dumpty“ snippet.
• "Walk On' played for the 10th time this tour.

2005-10-25: Palace Of Auburn Hills, Detroit, Michigan

• Dedication of “One” to Rosa Parks (Detroit Civil Rights Pioneer).
• “MLK” & “People Have the Power” snippets.
• Standard setlist changed to include “Gloria”, “Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses”, “Crumbs from your Table” and “Bad”.

[Blue Room]

Originally posted by bigwali


Well, you piqued my curiosity as to exactly what the surprises have been. So I recalled some and went to the archives for others (thanks Axver and his excellent history website). Some are truly surprises and others may be coincidental but the list is quite interesting. So here it is.

1981-04-18: Harpo's, Detroit, Michigan

• ”I Fall Down” played for the 1st time ever.

1985-03-23: Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan

• “Do They Know It’s Christmas” Snippet (only 5 times played ever)
• “We Are The World “ Snippet (only 3 times played ever)

1992-03-27: Palace Of Auburn Hills, Detroit, Michigan

• Bono Orders 10,000 Pizzas from Speedy Pizzas, A hundred are delivered and some people eat them, others throw them as frisbees.
• "Hello? Is this Speedy Pizza? I'd like to order 10,000 pizzas for Detroit.
  We're at the Palace. Do ya know the Palace? Yeah, I AM serious. I'm very serious.
  You can't make 10,000? Just make as many as you can. OK. What?
  My name is Bono." - Zoo TV tour, March 27 1992

1992-09-09: Pontiac Silverdome, Detroit, Michigan

• Satellite Live Hook-Up to MTV awards with Dana Carvey on the drums while U2 plays “Even Better Than the Real Thing”.
• So Cruel – (Only 4 times played ever).

1997-10-31: Pontiac Silverdome, Detroit, Michigan

• Halloween Night & Larry’s Birthday – Smashmouth opens the set dressed in Halloween costumes.
• Bono comes through the crowd like a prizefighter in a robe to start the concert.
• Bono brings a dozen people dressed in costumes onstage during Mysterious Ways.
• Happy Birthday is song twice for Larry’s 36 birthday. (Only 19 times played ever)

2001-05-30: Palace Of Auburn Hills, Detroit, Michigan

• ”In My Life” (Beatles Snippet) sung for the 1st time ever.
• Van Morrison’s “Gloria” snippet sung for the 1st time in the 2001 tour.

2005-10-24: Palace Of Auburn Hills, Detroit, Michigan

• Bono has problems with is microphone and sings "Humpty Dumpty“ snippet.
• "Walk On' played for the 10th time this tour.

2005-10-25: Palace Of Auburn Hills, Detroit, Michigan

• Dedication of “One” to Rosa Parks (Detroit Civil Rights Pioneer).
• “MLK” & “People Have the Power” snippets.
• Standard setlist changed to include “Gloria”, “Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses”, “Crumbs from your Table” and “Bad”.

OK, first off, I dont count snippets as drastic setlist changes because they are not. Bono has done tons of snippets throughout the Vertigo tour and other tours. ALOT of markets can claim premieres and/or the only performances of little snippets.

1. Unf. Fire, Do they Know Its Christmas and We Are the World was snippeted several times during 40 throughout the tour. It wasnt unique to Detroit.

2. 1981 Harpos was not the first performance of I Fall Down. It premiered the prior show in Cincinnati

3. 1992 The Palace, the pizza thing was unique. But had nothing to do with songs or a setlist. The setlist was the standard for the first leg.

4. 1992 Silverdome. Satellite hook up from Detroit as only done because it happened to fall on the same day as the MTV Music Awards. It wasnt like they picked Detroit to do that specifically. Just fell into the schedule. So Cruel was unique, but it was also done in Boston and Chicago and premiered in Boston (Foxboro). Also, the entire Silverdome upper deck was empty. Not exactly U2 mania in Detroit.

5. 1997 Silverdome (as I indicated before) fell on Larry's birthday. It had nothing to do with it being Detroit. Its not like the band said, we have to play Detroit on Larry's birthday. It just worked out that way in the schedule. Happy Birthday?? I wouldnt even count that as a song being played. Bono sang a few line acapella. The actual setlist was standard for the third leg. Costumes on stage was because it was Halloween. Not because it was Detroit.

If you read my post, I said the Vertigo shows were great. But I dont think the snippets you listed make Detroit the U2 hot spot at all. I was at all the shows in Detroit from 1992 on, and they were all good. But most were standard shows. Just compare the minor things you pointed out to some of the major setlist shake ups and full song premieres that have occurred in markets like Boston, Chicago and New York. Its not even close.

Maybe Detroit will start to develop a reputation like the other markets I listed specifically already have. I dont think its there because they played 2 great shows there on the current tour. They played 4 or 5 GREAT shows in Chicago on this tour alone.

[Hewson]

Originally posted by bigwali


1997-10-31: Pontiac Silverdome, Detroit, Michigan
[*]Bono comes through the crowd like a prizefighter in a robe to start the concert.

I don't think I'd count this as particularly unique to Detroit.

[bigwali]

Originally posted by Blue Room


OK, first off, I dont count snippets as drastic setlist changes because they are not. Bono has done tons of snippets throughout the Vertigo tour and other tours. ALOT of markets can claim premieres and/or the only performances of little snippets.

1. Unf. Fire, Do they Know Its Christmas and We Are the World was snippeted several times during 40 throughout the tour. It wasnt unique to Detroit.

2. 1981 Harpos was not the first performance of I Fall Down. It premiered the prior show in Cincinnati

Yeah, I agree Boston & Chicago are top markets for U2 obviously, that is why they did the DVD shoots there but Detroit has had some surprises is all I'm saying and some were coincidental and some were minor like snippets. What I may see as surprises, others do not but that is OK. Just putting this out there for a historical perspective. Take 1 & 2 up with Axver because that is what he has listed on his website. I wasn't at the shows so I can't verify it.

[Blue Room]

Originally posted by bigwali


Yeah, I agree Boston & Chicago are top markets for U2 obviously, that is why they did the DVD shoots there but Detroit has had some surprises is all I'm saying and some were coincidental and some were minor like snippets. What I may see as surprises, others do not but that is OK. Just putting this out there for a historical perspective. Take 1 & 2 up with Axver because that is what he has listed on his website. I wasn't at the shows so I can't verify it.

Hey, I agree they play good shows in Detroit. I dont want it to look like I'm saying they dont. Detroit is a decent market for them. They would not have done 2 shows this time if it wasnt. The Vertigo shows were great. I just sort of disagreed that Detroit was the hot spot for seeing U2, thats all.

Axver's site is wrong on I Fall Down. I will double check the Feed The World and We Are The World snippets. I believe they did those at both Chicago shows on the Unf. Fire tour also. It may not have been as prevelant as I thought though. But Detroit was not the only place it was done.

[Axver]

Originally posted by Blue Room
Axver's site is wrong on I Fall Down. I will double check the Feed The World and We Are The World snippets. I believe they did those at both Chicago shows on the Unf. Fire tour also. It may not have been as prevelant as I thought though. But Detroit was not the only place it was done.

I Fall Down: Blue Room's right here, I've been told Bono's been quoted as saying it was done the previous night in Cincinnati. Problem is, we don't know anything else about the full setlist of the Cincinnati show and no other U2 setlist sites seem to either, so until the time comes that someone gives us an accurate setlist, we can't update anything. For that reason, I Fall Down appears to have debuted in Detroit when it didn't. (If only more sets from the early tours were known ... )

Snippets: We're not omniscient and we don't have every bootleg in history. I try my hardest to list every single snippet I can find, but I know (especially with early tours) that I'm missing heaps. The two snippets in question were definitely done more often, it's just a matter of actually noting them.

To chime in on a couple of other things:

Walk On: this was actually the fourth performance on tour. The earlier listed dates were snippets during RTSS around the time of Aung San Suu Kyi's birthday.

Happy Birthday: considering this isn't really a 'song', I've very seriously considered deleting this. On the other hand, Bono DOES sing it ... I see the case either way for its inclusion/exclusion.

[neilm]

Originally posted by bono_man2002


I Soooo Have to hear that...even if it was just one line.....

Now all we need is the hookey pokey

It's the Hockey Cokey, not pokey!!

[Ellay]

Originally posted by neilm


It's the Hockey Cokey, not pokey!!

Not in the states it isn't.


I'm a bit disappointed they didn't play the full band version of Humpty Dumpty though.