U2 Encourage Mask-Wearing Protest


U2 are on the cusp of their 360 Tour, and are asking fans to remember Burmese democratically elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi by wearing a mask featuring her face.

"U2 believe the world must not be allowed to forget Aung San Suu Kyi and every night on the 360 Tour fans are being invited to wear the mask when the band play 'Walk On,' which was written for her," the band's website said today. "Put it on with thousands of others when Larry [Mullen, Jr., drums] and Edge [guitar] strike up the opening bars of 'Walk On.'"

A downloadable mask is on the site with directions, but you'll need Adobe Acrobat Reader to print the file.

"Wear it to work or college," the post on the website reads. "Wear it on the bus or the train. Wear it in the pub or at the shops. And don't forget. Bring it to a U2 show."

Suu Kyi is a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and won elections in Burma in 1990, but the military junta refused to accept the results. She has spent most of the last 19 years under house arrest.

Suu Kyi was recently tried for violating the terms of her house arrest after an uninvited visitor swam across Inya Lake in Yangon, Burma to visit her house twice. The trial was widely condemned as a sham by the United Nations and western nations.

U2 start their world tour in Barcelona on Tuesday. The tour, which is in support of the recently released No Line On The Horizon, hits Toronto in mid-Septem

Mega Summer Show ! What you can expect

U2's 360 Tour: Big Stage, Big Energy

Band also mixing up set list, keeping prices low

Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone

U2
Openers On Select Dates: Snow Patrol,
Muse, Black Eyed Peas
Tickets $30-$253

WHAT TO EXPECT:

Other artists may be scaling down for the recession, but not U2: Their first U.S. stadium tour since 1997's PopMart will be dominated by the largest set ever built for a rock concert, a monstrous stage nicknamed the Claw that will allow them to play in the round. "The crowd will be all around us," says the Edge, on a break from tour planning. "That energy will just make the performances fly." The band is selling some seats for as cheap as $30, as a nod to tough times and to make the shows accessible to young fans.

"We're talking about resurrecting songs we haven't played in a long time," Edge says. "I have a list of every U2 song -- some I can't remember anymore -- even some of the B sides that we've never played live. We were thinking how much fun it would be to play something like [Joshua Tree outtake] 'Luminous Times.' Certain songs from the last couple of tours, we may not play again. We want to find songs that feel fresh and valid."

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LA Times Reports MJ has passed -

We are U2 Fans, however we are music fans too. Today's the music world has lost one of the greatest artists of all time. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and music fans around the world. We will fade to black for 24 hours to honor Michael Jackson the king of pop.

Pop star Michael Jackson was pronounced dead by doctors. (LA TIMES wide release report)

Thursday News from Nou Camp in Barcelona

Looks like the band is getting an early start on rehearsals today. A couple of photos have been taken and posted. Not really much else. We are just counting down to Tuesday. We may elect to chill for 24hrs and come back around on the weekend. Or we may post some thoughts about some re-mix stuff we heard. Comments always welcome.


Stop picking on the rich said Larry


U2 drummer Larry Mullen believes rich and successful people are being unnecessarily humiliated when coming in and out of Ireland, describing this as "part of a new resentment of rich people in this country".

"We have experienced [a situation] where coming in and out of the country at certain times is made more difficult than it should be - not only for us, but for a lot of wealthy people," he said. "So it wasn't personal. It was to do with the better-off being sort of humiliated."

Mullen was speaking in Howth the day before the Irish Sunday Independent exclusively joined U2 in Barcelona last week as they convened for final rehearsals for their world tour and to see for the first time the phenomenal 360-degree stage they have built.

There are exclusive interviews with all four of U2 in this week's Irish Independent.

U2 Barcelona Show down to the wire

As for songs from the new album, I love that the title track is on there. I was hoping for “White as Snow” or “Stand Up Comedy” to make an appearance. I’m also a little disappointed “Sunday Bloody Sunday” wasn’t chosen. I know they do it all the time, but it’s still such a great song. But I’m so intrigued that they pulled out “Angel of Harlem”. I’m going to both New York shows so I’m keeping my fingers crossed they perform it there.

What does everyone else think? Rants or raves (Remember way back in the day we named the site Rants and Raves)about this rehearsal list? Which city are you seeing the band in? I can’t wait for October to roll around!

Before we get to far ahead of ourselves, we do have some new sponsors that would like to give major Thanks and Shoot outs to. Of course you can show some love by visiting and of course purchasing something.

  1. Wolfgangs Great U2 videos, Posters and more.

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  4. Apple: Need I say more ? You can download the whole U2 Collection