Cause that's what other artists do. If I want to have fun and listen to great music, I'll go to an Aerosmith, R.E.M., etc. concert (two of my favorite bands, by the way. I've seen them live and it's AMAZING.) But with U2, I do those things and a lot more. You feel completely different in front of that giant screen, those visuals. It's just unique. And that's why ZooTV and Popmart are the 2 best tours ever and that's why I want to see U2 pushing the limits again. (I don't want in no way Zoo, Part II!) They had their time to rest, now it's time to do something new again.
Willie Williams | Innovative Designs Staging for upcoming Tour
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Cause that's what other artists do. If I want to have fun and listen to great music, I'll go to an Aerosmith, R.E.M., etc. concert (two of my favorite bands, by the way. I've seen them live and it's AMAZING.) But with U2, I do those things and a lot more. You feel completely different in front of that giant screen, those visuals. It's just unique. And that's why ZooTV and Popmart are the 2 best tours ever and that's why I want to see U2 pushing the limits again. (I don't want in no way Zoo, Part II!) They had their time to rest, now it's time to do something new again.
Mrs. Garrison
Rock n' Roll Doggie ALL ACCESS
im really hoping for something along the lines of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, minus the dead fish of course. think how cool it would be if the band landed onstage in the Great Glass Elevator and all of the lighting was controlled by Oompa Loompas? We could all enjoy snacking on rivers of chocolate the flowed out into the crowd as we watched our favorite band, complete with guyliner, take stage and play our favorite songs with a cherry on top.
elevated_u2_fan
Blue Crack Supplier
I really think this time around jetpacks need to be involved 
Aygo
Rock n' Roll Doggie
If so, some of this stuff - specially the thechnology - has already been testes in the last Madonna's Sticky & Sweet Tour. But there are reports of technology malfunctions and, in some nights, the "flexible-screens" didn't want to work or appeared with black holes in the images.
PowerSurge
New Yorker
I really think this time around jetpacks need to be involved
you mean like what Micheal Jackson did?
that was actually kind of cool....even if it really was a stunt man that did it in place of him.
I believe that was quarter of a million a day. Expensive, but the very reason it failed because it was the obvious "upgrade" of the Zoo TV but without the goods (the message, the performances, the quality of the new songs). Eventually the "bigger is better" shtick gets old.
malcolmbeaton
The Fly
- Joined
- Sep 6, 2004
- Messages
- 97
For my two cents, I would like to see U2 try to take Metallicas middle of the venue stage and try to put it in the middle of a stadium, that way there is massive surface area for front row tickets, and you can never really be in the back of the stadium...Im just going under the assumption of stadiums only this tour
And metallica did something really cool....NO VIDEO SCREENS.....and I didnt really even notice the lack of them, because I was amazed just watching the band and listening to the music. Not to mention they had the cleanest loudest pa I have seen in years, not that overdriven PA u2 had on vertigo tour
There going to have to re-invent the stadium show, and this would be a good way to try it.
And metallica did something really cool....NO VIDEO SCREENS.....and I didnt really even notice the lack of them, because I was amazed just watching the band and listening to the music. Not to mention they had the cleanest loudest pa I have seen in years, not that overdriven PA u2 had on vertigo tour
There going to have to re-invent the stadium show, and this would be a good way to try it.
phommel
Refugee
At the end of the concert...The full band will disappear in the horizon
phommel
Refugee
And then the stadion speaker: "Bono has left the stadium!"
ntalwar
Rock n' Roll Doggie Band-aid
There aren't too many options when you're want people behind the stage to have a good view. Selling seats only in front gives many more options, such as Willie Williams' award-winning design for the George Michael tour, which used a curtain that melded into the stage.
dal975
The Fly
I understand your point and I agree with it...I loved Zoo TV and all of its asthetic (sp?) excesses, Popmart...well, not so much, but I appreciated the massive visual show. I loved the elevation and vertigo presentations as well, in fact elevation was my favorite tour. I have no doubt that the Horizon tour will be an extravagant and brilliant show, and I have no doubt that I will love every minute of it.
But in response to your first sentence, why can't U2 do it as well? (the simple show that is.) Where is the rule that says U2 is locked into the over-the-top craziness? What if, just what if, just for once the music spoke for itself? It comes down to taste, obviously, and I would never hint that this anything other than opinion...but you cite good examples of REM and Aerosmith. I submit another is Pearl Jam. Their last tour (2008) was mind-blowing with almost zero visuals, special effects, etc.
Obviously, some folks prefer the lavishness, some prefer the minimalist. I like both. All I'm saying is for the past four world tours, U2 has bombarded us with the most incredible displays of performance technology imaginable (elevation to a lesser extent), and done it brilliantly. What about a radically different approach now, where the music IS the special effect? At the very least, the setlists could be more dynamic and less predictable, bono's "bonoisms" would not be so tied-into whatever is on screen at the moment and would not be so scripted/forced, there could be more acoustic versions, etc.
Finally, as far as overall legacy is concerned, I think U2 has much more to gain by taking a less is more approach for the horizon tour. Twenty years from now, the technological craziness of the zoo tv, popmart, elevation, vertigo and (presumably) horizon tours might blend together in the collective memory. A completely old school, four guys playing the club kind of tour might really stand out as a gem and separate it from the others.
The Disciple
New Yorker
Whatever U think of the man or his music, George Michael's recent tour was a visual marvel.... youtube it....
dal975
The Fly
Oh, you're right, I mean, the Slane concert, I wasn't there of course, but just watching the DVD is incredilble. It is, as you said, mind-blowing.
The problem to me is that they've done already two times (to me Vertigo was really beautiful, but it wasn't really that far from Elevation.) By the way, I love Elevation, but if you keep doing that kinda show in the end it looks that you're doing the same tour forever. And as time passes, I feel that the chances that we'll see more "Elevation Tour style" tours will increase. That's why I prefer the Horizon to be something really different using all new visuals and etc. (But as I said, I don't want in no way Zoo, Pt. 2)
I really think this time around jetpacks need to be involved
it could be the rocketeer tour or something, with the word "rock" in a different colour or something. sorry, i just saw that movie again for the first time in years 
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaanyway, i really don't care how the stage is set up, whether it's elaborate or not. as long as there's a ginormous screen so those of us in the nosebleeds can see them, i'm cool
PowerSurge
New Yorker
Looks like we were BOTH wrong:
Defending U2’s PopMart* : U2 Interference - U2 Fans, Pop Culture Webzine, & More
Shows couldn’t be cancelled or postponed. With a tour costing £400,000 (approximately $709,000) a day—even when the band wasn’t performing—canceling even 10 shows to rehearse would cost the band £4 million (approx. $7.09 million) in costs alone. Doubled up with the lucrative deal with promoters, and the costs of canceling each show would come to up to £10 million (approx. $17.7 million). In actual, and real terms, losing even ten shows may cost them up to £14 million (approx. $24.8 million).
but I was closer
PowerSurge
New Yorker
you went there!
I love it.
If the music is good the visuals really dont matter although im sure they will be more then just 4 people on a stage. What made ZooTV wasnt really the visuals it was the music combined with visuals that fit the theme. Why didnt Popmart do as well because the music was not as good according to most people and thats what in the end people go to concerts for....music.
Aygo
Rock n' Roll Doggie
Totally disagreed. What distinguishes U2 from many other rock bands is the concept: concert/music show vs spectacle. U2 definitely belongs to the second part since the 90's, even on the more minimalist Elevation Tour.
Visual side is important, maybe even more than the music side because music itself is recognition of symbols, images and icons (linguistic signs) in every people's mind.
If you combine the music sign with the visual ones, you'll get an even richer concept.
PowerSurge
New Yorker
Yes.
U2 are synonymous with that. People expect more from them. They've helped turn the live show into a spectacle, that is still about the music...but also about the live experience. I think it would be naive to think otherwise considering how much time, effort, and MONEY go into their shows.
BANZAI
War Child
- Joined
- Dec 8, 2004
- Messages
- 575
What I really would like to see are a lot of walking bridges a few meters above the audience, covering a big part of the arena.
mofo82
Refugee
When I mentioned innovative for U2, I meant that it was new to them, a concept they hadn't explored within their shows and stage setups, not inclusive to anyone who had used it before. It's cool to know others before them were into the technology, but I was simply referencing and comparing U2 to U2. I don't like to use terms like innovative that open up this idea that U2 are the first to do this and the first to do that. But Vertigo had a lot of firsts for U2, and my point being they tried to expand their visibility with the semi-transparent idea of the led curtains. I thought it was smart on their part to use in the arena setting, where a wall would easily reduce the number of quality seats. That's good for the viewer and financially for all parties- more viewable seats, happier fans, more revenues, cooler visuals and new imagery.
OP
OP
subnet
New Yorker
to some extend (maybe a lot), the stage setup and design is bound by the technology available from the lighting and industrial design vendors I listed in my original post.
What I'd like this thread to become is:
thoughts on U2's direction for this next tour
news on any new technological advances with stage design that U2 would employ
cool ideas and reaction from other Saco / Barco / Innovative Designs based tours
hints from Willie himself
What I'd like this thread to become is:
thoughts on U2's direction for this next tour
news on any new technological advances with stage design that U2 would employ
cool ideas and reaction from other Saco / Barco / Innovative Designs based tours
hints from Willie himself
kingofsorrow
Refugee
nope. ayumi hamasaki already did it.
U2DMfan
Rock n' Roll Doggie VIP PASS
I think anything outside of the rather straight-forward Elevation and Vertigo tours will work.
Personally, the stage and the video screens aren't going to matter, that stuff is the gimmick in the first place (not that they aren't cool gimmicks) but what U2 needs is a brilliant concept.
And also Bono shines when he is able to be more theatric, actually perform rather than merely sing.
So I think concerning the tidbits about Bono writing from certain 'character' vantage points on the album we are going to see some more role play, theatrics. Wrap the concept around the whole set but run a strong narrative through the new material.
People generally think of ZooTv, they think of video screens and an onslaught of images but I am thinking more about the theatrics with The Fly, Mirrorball Man, Macphisto, allowing for a stage performance while the song performance is going on, with the staging and video screens being 'added on' to the concept rather than the concept itself.
Personally, the stage and the video screens aren't going to matter, that stuff is the gimmick in the first place (not that they aren't cool gimmicks) but what U2 needs is a brilliant concept.
And also Bono shines when he is able to be more theatric, actually perform rather than merely sing.
So I think concerning the tidbits about Bono writing from certain 'character' vantage points on the album we are going to see some more role play, theatrics. Wrap the concept around the whole set but run a strong narrative through the new material.
People generally think of ZooTv, they think of video screens and an onslaught of images but I am thinking more about the theatrics with The Fly, Mirrorball Man, Macphisto, allowing for a stage performance while the song performance is going on, with the staging and video screens being 'added on' to the concept rather than the concept itself.
kingofsorrow
Refugee
to some extend (maybe a lot), the stage setup and design is bound by the technology available from the lighting and industrial design vendors I listed in my original post.
What I'd like this thread to become is:
thoughts on U2's direction for this next tour
news on any new technological advances with stage design that U2 would employ
cool ideas and reaction from other Saco / Barco / Innovative Designs based tours
hints from Willie himself
what u2 might do is try to use the new OLED technology on a large scale. it's the new step in home television design, but hasn't gotten to large sized tv's yet(as far as i know). not mention it is hella expensive. i checked on a 19" OLED tv from sony and the price was $3,000., but the picture was amazing. no lcd television can touch it.
I think they will use the LEDs in a three-dimensional way - like Nin Inch Nail did on their last tour. That's just the next step and U2 have flirt with that on the indoor leg of the Vertigo tour.
Also possible: that Corbijn gets more involved in stage design or the visual art, like films in background etc. like he did with Depeche Mode and Herbert Grönemeyer.
He's obvious playing a big part with this realease (Film, Book, Magazine, Cover etc.) -
Also possible: that Corbijn gets more involved in stage design or the visual art, like films in background etc. like he did with Depeche Mode and Herbert Grönemeyer.
He's obvious playing a big part with this realease (Film, Book, Magazine, Cover etc.) -
Partyslammer
War Child
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2005
- Messages
- 661
More than whatever pretty light screens they decide to use this tour, I really think they should go for a "in-the-round" stage set up in the center of an arena or stadium this time around. It can be done well as bands like Metallica have shown in the past and it would give more fans a better view.
T.B.
T.B.
schnumi
Refugee
Exactly, it lifts the performance up even higher if you do it well.
And besides that 10 years on people are still talking about Popmart and the bigscreen. It did enhance the experience by a lot i can't see why people won't accept that.
PowerSurge
New Yorker
Any one hear anything about the proposed "sound projection" technology that was supposed to be used on the last tour?
That might be cool.
That might be cool.
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