U2 - THE Band

I was excited to learn of U2's plans to stream their final tour stop in the USA, live on YouTube for free.

With over 97,000 tickets sold to the Pasadena Rose Bowl show in California, this was the largest concert ever streamed online and another first for U2 who produced the first concert performance to be shot in 3D for a theatrically released film.

Paul McGuinness, U2's manager told of U2's desire to share their music across the Internet: "Fans often travel long distances to come to see U2 - this time U2 can go to them, globally." And that is just what happened on Sunday, October 25, 2009. With the co-operation of YouTube, 10 million streams from 188 Nations made it possible for millions to watch this fabulous U2 concert..

Every since I heard that THE band was going to be going on a world tour in 2009, I've been trying to figure out a way to get to at least one performance. Europe was out of the question for me this year and the concerts in the United States, although closer, were still not easily to be on my "to do" list.

Being a Vancouverite in my younger days, I really thought that would be my "Beautiful Day." It didn't happen though, it may just as well have been at the "end of the world" the Vancouver stadium sold out in a matter of hours.

When I read that the concert was to be broadcast live on YouTube I thought I'd died and gone to heaven! I started to email my friends and even hurriedly advertised on my U2 lens and through Squidoo squidcast. Sorry if I missed you.

The show was absolutely astounding! David Bowie's "Space Oddity,"played as the band readied to take the stage. Some say that the mammoth set that towered over the stage resembled a spacecraft -- a bit like a gigantic invader from the '80s arcade game Galaxian but I thought that it looked like a giant crab. I have to accede, though, to the former as the theme of the concerts was, "time and space."

Right from the beginning the lighting was magical; the hulking 90-foot-tall structure "crab/spaceship" throwing a beautiful red glow eluminating the vast crowd of over 95,000, probably one of the largest number of fans ever present at the Rose Bowl .

I was thrilled at the presentation of old and new songs lufted our way over the state-of-the ark sound system with no hestitation from one great arm-waving song to the next.

Halfway though the show Bono gave tongue-in-cheek introductions to the band members. He described the Edge as a mad scientist and an alien visitor, whose mission has "gone where no other guitarist has gone before." Bono added, "He's Mr. Spock to us, he's the Edge to you." The other members did not get off lightly either. Adam, always a charmer, was compared to Clark Gable and Larry to James Dean. He referred to himself as a cross between Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito with a little Dennis Hopper thrown in and then did a bit of that actor's heavy breathing from the film "Blue Velvet." lol

Among the songs sung were the new, Breathe, Get on Your Boots, Magnificent and Mysterious Ways but they brought it back to the space theme with "In A Little While" after which an astronaut at the International Space Station gave a reading via video.

Bono, as usual, got a little political near the end of the program asking, "Radio Tehran, can you hear us?" as the band ripped into "Sunday Bloody Sunday" the bands most touching song.

"God will put a wind at our back and a rising road ahead, if we work together as one," said Archbishop Desmond Tutu in an on-screen message late in the concert. That vision of nations and individuals opening up to one another is at the core of U2's mission. This extravagant tour gave the band another way to enact it and made for a whole new concert experience in the process.

Our family thoroughly enjoyed the two hour YouTube transmitted show. What a wonderful gift to the world of U2 fans!

All photos courtesy of Will Borden

The most recent photo I have of U2 as they unveiled their 'space station' in Barcelona on June 30th and 90,000 Spanish fans gave it lift off.

The groundbreaking new stage production, designed by Willie Williams and Mark Fisher, was the first thing to hit the audience as they arrived at the venue - its four huge legs stretching across the hallowed home of Barcelona FC and suspending a giant spherical screen delivering crystal clear 360 vision throughout the huge stadium.

The space station soon made contact with another one, and to the astonishment of all in attendance, Bono called up the astronauts orbiting planet earth on the International Space Station. They immediately appeared live on the gigantic screens. "Very nice to hear you," said one astronaut as the microphone floated around the cabin. "Commander, can you see Barcelona?" asked Bono.
"Right now the most beautiful sight in our cosmos is the blue planet earth," came the reply.

Larry, Adam and Edge joined in the conversations with the space travellers, each of whom held out a sheet of paper, creating the phrase, "The Future Needs A Big Kiss."

Along with some serious chat about the fragile beauty of the earth seen from space, Larry wanted to know if the earth was really round. "Actually, that's classified..." came the reply. "Escape yourself and gravity" goes a line in "Unknown Caller" and considering this was its live debut it immediately sounded like a classic to stay in the set for years. Must have sounded pretty cool hearing an entire stadium rhythmically chanting, "Restart and re-boot yourself."

Another striking moment was when Bono dedicated "Walk On" to Aung San Suu Kyi, democratically elected leader of Burma in 1990 but under house arrest for most of the years since. As the electronic screens weaved lower and elongated spectacularly over the stage, huge images of Aung San Suu Kyi appeared just as dozens of people began walking slowly along the external stage runway, each holding up her mask. "Let her face be your face," said Bono, as people all around the stadium began pulling out their own masks and wearing them.

Many flights to Paris land in the Charles de Gaulle International Airport, France's largest airport. The airport, named after the national hero and former president, is where U2 filmed their video for "Beautiful Day."

U2 singer Bono has been awarded with the 'Man of Peace' prize by the Nobel peace laureates for his efforts to stem African poverty and disease.

Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe, host of the event, handed Bono the Peace Summit Award in the presence of five Nobel winners.

Bono told the crowd, which included fellow Nobel laureates, "This is a very big award for me, because let's be honest this is as close as I am going to get - as close as a rock star is ever going to get to the Nobel Peace Prize. I am an over-awarded, over-rewarded rock star. You are the people who do the real work. So I am very, very pleased to be in such esteemed company."

A big CONGRATULATIONS to Bono for all his efforts!

SPIDERMAN battled his most powerful foe of all - the Broadway slump. The news service reports the musical based on the Marvel comic book hero, written by Bono and the Edge from U2, did indeed take residency in the Hilton Theatre this year as the "chilly wind of a US recession" blows through the theatre district of New York City.

According to recent reports Julie Taymo is confirmed to have directed and Bono and The Edge have written the lyrics and score.

staging a musical version of Spider-Man early next year.

The most expensive production ever seen on Broadway, Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark, certainly had grand
ambitions. "It should be a hallucinogenic experience for theatre goers," Bono told one reporter. "The myth of the
arachnid and the elasticity of these characters - you can turn theatre upside down." Directed by Julie Taymor (of
The Lion King fame) and with a budget in excess of $40m, it promises to combine opera with punk rock and will be,
according to our man in the specs, "something the likes of which no-one has seen or heard."

The Edge has also said that partnering one of the world's great rock bands with a comic-book character is not as
improbable as it might first appear. "Every rock'n'roll star probably started out as the geek who got bullied on in
school, and eventually their form of revenge was to write songs or learn to play guitar."

We are returning to a time when our fate is inextricably entwined with that of U2,

It would be wrong to think that there was no direct benefit for Paddy in the inauguration of Obama. After all, U2 performed at the pre-inauguration concert, and U2 will almost certainly be the only Irish business to make a profit in 2009. A very big profit, no doubt, with a new album and a world tour.

And let's get one thing straight here: it is absurd to suggest that the release of the new U2 single was timed to coincide with the inauguration of the President of the United States.

These days, it is far more likely that the inauguration of the President of the United States was timed to coincide with the release of the new U2 single.

And for poor old Paddy there must be some encouragement in the fact that U2 is not just the only business that will make a profit in 2009, and probably next year and the year after that, it was also making a profit in 1999, and in 1989, and possibly even in 1979.

So it seems that we are back where we started, with the only Irish guys who actually know how the world works.

Not only have they achieved the remarkable feat of making money before, during, and after the Celtic Tiger, they have also apparently managed to hold on to it -- we didn't see Bono holding the microphone at the Mansion House,asking questions about Anglo Irish Bank.

We won't be seeing the lads getting wiped out by some Ponzi scheme anytime soon.

But we did see them on stage with Obama, and for all Irish people, good and bad, this was quite a relief. The way things have panned out for them, they are looking once more to U2 to embody their version of the trickle-down theory. What is good for them is good for Paddy.

Once more, they have become a vital national interest. Once more, they have become perhaps Ireland's only national interest.

THE band, U2, have recorded a track for a new charity initiative!

Photo of The Edge and Bono courtesy of NYMag.com

The Edge has spoken.

When The Edge calls, you pick up. Especially if you're a music magazine like MOJO and The Edge is giving a progress report on U2's still-delayed 12th studio album.

The Edge confirmed that the working title is still No Line on the Horizon. "What does it mean?" asked the MOJO interviewer. "It's like when you're moving forward, but you're not exactly sure what you're heading towards. That moment where the sea and the sky blend into one. It's an image of infinity, I suppose-a kind of Zen image," said The Edge. The Edge is kind of philosophical.

The Edge guitarist also reported that most of No Line's material comes from sessions with super-producers Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois, who also helped with writing.

The Edge confirmed some tracks: "Moment of Surrender" is seven and a half minutes long and "Unknown Caller" comes from sessions the band did while in Fez, Morocco. But The Edge was not an unknown caller. He was The Edge.

The Edge further described his sense of the record. "It's a record of two halves," said The Edge. "One half is songs that came virtually fully-formed out of sessions we did with Brian and Danny-stuff we've only played once or maybe twice and that's it: just the raw moment of creation. Then the other half is material we've kicked around a while and went through the usual cycle of versions and incarnations."

The Edge presents you with a paradox to ponder. "It sounds like a U2 album but it doesn't sound like anything we've done before and it doesn't really sound like anything that's happening at the moment." The Edge has spoken.

(Mahatma Gandhi)"We must become the change we want to see in the world."

The music of U2 has always been about heart and mind, body and soul. Down through the years the band have successfully thrown a spotlight on the work of key campaigning groups who are trying to make the world a better place.

Sunday, July 19/09

While U2 will get an ecstatic welcome from the 240,000 fans who have paid to see their three homecoming concerts in Croke Park next weekend, it is nothing to the praise that is being heaped on them by the capital's business community.

"U2 is the greatest band of all time!" said Lord Mayor Emer Costello. "The enduring quality of their music over three decades combined with their campaigning zeal to address injustice globally have made them a worldwide force. Their love of and pride in their home city is renowned and has ensured Dublin's place on the world stage."

John Power, chief executive of the Irish Hotels Federation, said: "Whenever they perform they radiate all that is positive about Ireland. Their three day concert in Croke Park, the best band in the world, in one of the finest sports stadiums in the world, surely sends a message to their multi-million international following that Dublin and Ireland has so much to offer."

Aebhric McGibney, Policy Director, Dublin Chamber of Commerce, said: "U2 are wonderful ambassadors for Ireland and their eagerly awaited return to Croke Park for these three concerts is a timely and much needed boost both in promoting Dublin as one of Europe's top cities to visit but also in injecting some much need money into the local economy.

These concerts are attracting thousands of fans from all over the world and during these times are a welcomed huge economic boost of over to the economy of Dublin and Ireland. It is also an opportunity for Ireland to showcase our culture and heritage, showing the world what we do best."

Frank McGee, CEO Dublin Tourism, joined in, saying: "There is a great buzz when U2 are in town, there is a great sense of anticipation. They are the biggest band in the world and when they play their home town, it is extra special.

The benefit that a U2 concert brings to a local economy is tremendous. In terms of tourism and promoting Dublin and Ireland you couldn't buy it and then there are the benefits to the local economy which needs all the help it can get.

A U2 home concert is the equivalent of Ireland winning the Grand Slam five times in the one season at home. Apart from the magnet that U2 offers all year round in attracting visitors to Dublin to see where U2 get their inspiration, over 250,000 will attend the concerts, all spending money on food, drink and accommodation. If only we could have one every year!"

The GAA president, Christy Cooney said: "Croke Park has witnessed many memorable occasions both sporting and entertainment but few can measure up to a U2 concert. U2 are great ambassadors for this country and these concerts bring a lot of positive media attention to this country which is something we need in these difficult economic times."

- Niamh horan Entertainment News Reporter

Jason Adams brother's youngest son, Magnus, who is like a towheaded four-year-old version of Owen Meany (adorable and precocious and unintentionally hilarious), marched into the kitchen the other day, unannounced, to declare his top three songs of all time to his brother:

"Vertigo" by U2
"Oh L'amour" by Erasure
"I married my dream girl" song from the FreeCreditReport.com commercial

Who knows where a kid hears a tune by a British synth-pop duo that came out nearly two decades before he was born -- let alone why he likes it?

What songs do your kids love? Are they more random than Magnus' favorite jams?

Here is what some parents have written about their children's taste in music.

Linda
My 4 year old niece is madly in love with the Killers right now. We always have to listen to Hot Fuss when we're in the car. Her mother always tries to skip "Andy You're a Star" which drives my niece crazy. She always protests, rolling her eyes and saying, "Mom, you have to like it, it's by The Killers." A girl after my own heart, l

omacolt
My 12 year old likes everything from Elvis, The Beatles to The Partridge Family, ACDC, Van Halen, and Metallica. All kinds of music. This comes from listening to my music and playing Guitar Hero. I try and give them a range of different music to listen to than one kind because there is so much good music out there. Also it makes it easier to find a radio station or CD we can all listen to together.

Danny
My 5 year old has loved Louis Armstrong for a couple of years. The Beatles (especially "Hello Goodbye," or as he calls it "The Opposite Song). Glenn Miller Orchestra, especially "In the Mood" and "Chattanooga Choo Choo." Bruce Springsteen especially "The Pete Seeger Sessions." John Fogerty.

Emily
When Mac started using the song "You Me and the Bourgeoisie" by the Submarines for it's iPhone commercials, my then eight month old son was completely riveted. He now dances when ever he hears it. To note: we bought him the Honeysuckle Weeks CD for his first Christmas, and my husband I discovered a great band as a result. The kid's got taste.

Amy
My 6-year old's favorite song is "Bittersweet Symphony" by the Verve. U2's "Vertigo" ranks pretty high for her, too.

marymary
A couple of summers ago when the song was on the radio every five minutes- my then 6 year old love the song "Girlfriend" by Avril Lavigne. He still loves it and sings along when he hears it!

Troy Brownfield
My four and two-year-olds are Ramones nuts. My two-year-old actively requests "Rockaway Beach" by name. They're also into anything super-hero related (for example, any theme song or bit that can be associated with a
super-hero).

U2 has amazed millions of fans across the world with their great rock classics. See Bono (vocals), The Edge (guitar), Adam Clayton (bass), and Larry Mullen Jr. (drums) showcase one of rock's best shows! U2 has taken on the world on tour!

The tour started June 30th, 2009 in Barcelona
July 7 and July 8 - San Siro - Milan
Jul. 11th and 12th, 2009 - TBD Stade de France - Paris
Jul. 15th, 2009 08:00 PM Nikaia Stadium
Jul. 18th, 2009 08:00 PM Olympiastadion - Berlin
Jul. 20th, 2009 08:00 PM Amsterdam Arena
Jul. 21st, 2009 08:00 PM Amsterdam Arena
Jul. 24th, 2009 TBD Croke Park Stadium
Jul. 25th, 2009 06:30 PM Croke Park Stadium
Jul. 27th, 2009 06:30 PM Croke Park Stadium
Aug. 6th, 2009 05:00 PM Slaski Stadium - Katowick
Aug. 14th, 2009 TBD Wembley Stadium
Aug. 15th, 2009 05:00 PM Wembley Stadium
Aug. 18th, 2009 05:00 PM Hampden Park - Glasgow
Aug. 20th, 2009 TBD Don Valley Stadium
Aug. 22nd, 2009 TBD Millenium Stadium
Sep. 12th, 2009 07:00 PM Soldier Field (Chicago, IL)
Sep. 13th, 2009 07:00 PM Soldier Field (Chicago, IL)
Sep. 16th, 2009 07:00 PM Rogers Centre (Toronto, ON)
Sep. 17th, 2009 07:00 PM Rogers Centre (Toronto, ON)
Sep. 20th, 2009 TBD Gillette Stadium (Foxboro, MA)
Sep. 21st, 2009 07:00 PM Gillette Stadium (Foxboro, MA)
Sep. 24th, 2009 07:00 PM Giants Stadium (East Rutherford, NJ)
Sep. 25th, 2009 07:00 PM Giants Stadium (East Rutherford, NJ)
Sep. 29th, 2009 07:00 PM FedEx Field (Hyattsville, MD)
Oct. 1st, 2009 07:00 PM Scott Stadium (Charlottesville, VA)
Oct. 3rd, 2009 07:00 PM Carter Finley Stadium (Raleigh, NC)
Oct. 6th, 2009 07:00 PM Georgia Dome (Atlanta, GA)
Oct. 9th, 2009 07:00 PM Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, FL)
Oct. 12th, 2009 TBD Dallas Cowboys New Stadium (Arlington, TX)
Oct. 14th, 2009 TBD Reliant Stadium (Houston, TX)
Oct. 18th, 2009 07:00 PM Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (Norman, OK)
Oct. 20th, 2009 TBD University of Phoenix Stadium (Glendale, AZ)
Oct. 23rd, 2009 07:00 PM Sam Boyd Stadium (Las Vegas, NV)
Oct. 25th, 2009 07:00 PM Rose Bowl (Pasadena, CA)
Oct. 28th, 2009 07:00 PM BC Place Stadium (Vancouver, BC)

I have followed the U2 - 360 Degree Tour from Milan until it's production in Vancouver, B.C.

I have downloaded the videos from the city/stadiums where performed.
Enjoy!

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame celebrated its 25th anniversary this week with two shows from Madison Square Garden.

November 1st, at the second of the two shows in New York this week, Mick Jagger joined U2 on stage for a few songs, Lou Reed was up there with Metallica, Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top, Ray Davies from The Kinks, Lenny Kravtiz, Bruce Springsteen, Black Eyed Peas, and the sisters Annie Lennox and Aretha Franklin were reunited in song.

Check out the setlist for night 2 of the 25th anniversary of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Introduction - Tom Hanks
Great Balls of Fire - Jerry Lee Lewis
Baby I Love You - Aretha Franklin
Chain of Fools - Aretha Franklin & Annie Lennox
New York, New York - Aretha Franklin
Think - Aretha Franklin & Lenny Kravitz
Respect - Aretha Franklin
Drown In My Own Tears - Jeff Beck
Possibly additional instrumentals - Jeff Beck
People Get Ready - Jeff Beck & Sting
Let Me Love You Baby - Jeff Beck & Buddy Guy
Foxy Lady - Jeff Beck & Billy Gibbons
A Day in the Life - Jeff Beck
For Whom the Bell Tolls - Metallica
One - Metallica
Turn the Page - Metallica
Sweet Jane - Lou Reed & Metallica
White Light/White Heat - Lou Reed & Metallica
Iron Man - Ozzy Osbourne & Metallica
Paranoid - Ozzy Osbourne & Metallica
You Really Got Me - Ray Davies & Metallica
All Day and All of the Night - Ray Davies & Metallica
Stone Cold Crazy - Metallica
Enter Sandman - Metallica
Vertigo - U2
Magnificent - U2
Because the Night - Bruce Springsteen, Patti Smith & U2
I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - U2 & Bruce Springsteen
Mysterious Ways - U2
Where is the Love - Black Eyed Peas & U2
Gimme Shelter - Mick Jagger, Fergie & U2
Stuck In a Moment You Can't Get Out Of - U2 & Mick Jagger
Beautiful Day - U2

The DVD of this night will be awesome! I'll be standing in line for it.

U2 MUSIC BOSS DIES

Friday November 28,2008
The music boss who gave legendary Irish rockers U2 their first big break died.

Irish music executive Rob Partridge, who handed the Beautiful Day hitmakers their first album deal, passed away following a battle with liver and bowel cancer. He was 60.

Partridge signed U2 to Island Records in 1980 when they were struggling to make it into the music industry.

As the label's head of press, Partridge went on to act as the band's publicist for over a decade.

Bono has paid tribute to the late music mogul, saying, "Rob Partridge was the first person in the British Music Industry to sing our praises. He not only had an eye for upcoming talent, he was a nurturer... a person who would educate you about the kind of obstacles you were going to meet and how to get over them... a rare human being."