Outside its America

With America just over the horizon and 20 days to setup and everyone in place for the largest tour. We thought about what we could do over the next few days. Of course we will always have the most current news stories of the day. Videos on youtube from the concerts so far, twitter updates on just about anything U2 you would want to know and our new U2 North American Tour Hot line.

Looking over the past couple of months we began to think if we had a chance to create our ultimate 80's play list what songs would we place on the list and why. Of course we all have a couple of songs that we wished we never liked, however its fact you know you liked Journey and U2 in the same breath........... Gosh who knows why.

We thought about it and all agreed we should all just go visit the 80's man himself and have him select the best 80's play list. What you don't know who the 80's man is ? Steve Spears come on now everyone know where the Pope lives, Everyone knows who shot J.R . and anyone that loves the 80's knows that Steve is the man to see. Check out this old news blog and lets build our list.

Starting my list off will be U2: New Years Day. I was attending SLU( St Louis U) and it as the cold of winter, I would say it was New Years Eve however I don't think so. The song blasted on the radio and just hit me right between the eyes.

The video was one of their first to see heavy rotation on MTV. It was filmed in Sälen, Sweden in December 1982 and directed by Meiert Avis. The band only appeared in the performance scenes of the video as it was filmed in the dead of the Swedish winter.

U2 guitarist Edge revealed in the official U2 biography that the four people riding on horseback in the video that appeared to be the four U2 members were in fact four Swedish teenage girls disguised as the members of U2 riding on horseback with masks over their faces.

This was done as the band were frozen from shooting the video in sub-freezing temperatures the day before. Their biography states that Bono refused to wear any headgear despite the cold weather and had a lot of trouble mouthing the lyrics. The video also features footage of Soviet troops advancing in winter during World War II.

U2 allowed free of charge use of this song in a spot prepared by the European Commission.

Bono and the Boys Lend ColdPlay private jet


Coud it be that Bono's growing soft in his old age, or is this a way of
apologizing for calling Chris Martin a “wanker” and a “cretin,”

In a superbly bizarre twist, the band have flown into their first stadium show of this tour on U2’s plane. Apparently, our regular ride is misfiring. I believe that the big end’s gone, or something like that. The easiest way to deal with this it seems, was to take U2’s “360 Air” jet for a spin. They’re doing UK shows right now, so it’s just sat about doing nothing otherwise.

Drop us a voice mail and let us know

Millennium Stadium Last Stop

2 Months into the European Leg Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Walls is the last stop before heading to America's. Couple of the video highlights. Noteworthy was Bono playing the guitar during Bad.

Tour Moves on to America and the U2 TOUR FANS Hot line is ready Call/SMS (513) 360-TOUR (8687)

Have you met your CREW 360 ?

Jake Berry, the production director for U2 306 had been joking about how large the crew had gotten so large that it might be a good idea to call them CREW 360. Currently about 250 people have the responsibility to bring the worlds largest tour to life every night. Here is a list of some of the crew. Hey FYI don't expect that you scream out one of the names to get a back stage pass.

Remember we told you earlier how tight security would be for the back stage area. Well nothing has changed. So don't expect it. Just go enjoy the show and leave the load in and out to the pros.

DESIGN
Show Designer/Director: Willie Williams
Video Screen Concept: Frederic Opsomer, Barco
Video Screen Kinetic Design: Chuck Hoberman
Production Architect/Designer: Mark Fisher
FOH Audio Director: Joe O'Herlihy
Video Director: Tom Krueger
Video Content Producer: Sam Pattinson
Video Content: Catherine Owens
Video Technical Director: Stefaan “Smasher” Desmedt
Presentation Animation: Adrian Mudd
Lighting Director: Ethan Weber
Associate Lighting Designer: Alexander Murphy
Production and Technical Design: Jeremy Lloyd
Structural and Membrane Engineering: Neil Thomas, Atelier One
Project Leader, Hoberman Associates: Matt Davis
Project Engineer, Hoberman Associates, Ziggy Drozdowski
Video Screen Structural Engineering: Buro Happold, New York
Lead Structural Engineer, Buro Happold: Oliver Osterwind, Barco
Video Screen LED System: Frederic Opsomer, Barco
Membrane Form Finding: Gavin Sayers, David Dexter Associates
Technical Coordinator: Nick Evans
Video Screen Technical Management: Richard Hartman

PRODUCTION

Production Director: Jake Berry
Tour Director: Craig Evans
Stage Manager: Rocko Reedy
Assistant Stage Manager: George Reeves
Production Coordinator: Helen Campbell
Prod Coordinator: Jessica Berry
Tour Coordinator: Alison Larkin
Lights Crew Chief: Nick Barton
Lighting: Temporary Crew Chief through Paris: Rodney Clay
System Crew Chief: Craig Hancock
Lights: Dimmers/Distro: Mick Stowe
Lights: General/Mains: Stuart Lee
Lights: Hi Platforms: Russell 'Bits' Lyons
Lights: Moving Lights: Andrew Beller
Lights: Moving Lights: Blaine Dracup
Lights - Moving Lights: Jake Sullivan
Lights: Chris Keene
Lights: Jessica LaPoint
Lights: Alison Triplett
Lights: Gareth Morgan
Lights: Christopher Davis

LED Tech/Crew Chief: Patrick Van Steelant
Video Engineer: Bob Larkin
Video Engineer: Myway Marain
LED Tech: Jan Bonny
LED Tech: Jeroen Mahieu
Camera Operator: Mark Cruikshank
Camera Operator: Gordon Davies
Camera Operator: Luke Levitt
Camera Operator: Eoin McLoughlin
Video: Olivier Clybow
Video: Tobias Kokemper
Video: Frederik Goemaere, Barco
Video: Jan Paulsen

Head Rigger: Todd Mauger
Rigger: Scott Fremgen
Rigger: Robert Slepicka
Rigger: Dion Pearce
Head Carpenter: Flory Turner
Assistant Head Carpenter: AJ Rankin
Carpenter: Gino Cardelli
Carpenter: Johnny Gonzalez Mendez
Carpenter: Andrew Johnstone
Carpenter: Hajime “Haji” Minatodani
Carpenter: Jesse Thayer
Carpenter: Appy Thörig
Carpenter : "Sox" Shewmake

Head of Automation: Raffaele Buono
Automation Tech: Jack Richard
Automation Tech: Timothy Woo

Crew Chief and Drum Tech: Sam O'Sullivan
Edge Guitars: Dallas Schoo
Keyboards: Terry Lawless,
Adam Clayton Guitar Tech: Stuart Morgan
Electronics Wizard: Colm 'Rab' McAllister
Bono Guitar Tech: Phil Docherty

Wardrobe Associate: Karen Nicholson
Wardrobe Asst: Chloe Bloch
Wardrobe Asst.: Eva Maguire

Monitor Engineer: David Skaff
Monitor Engineer: Niall Slevin
Monitor Engineer /Recording: Alistair McMillian
Consultant : Robbie Adams
Sound Crew Chief: Jo Ravitch
Sound: Ben Blocker
Sound: Dave Coyle
Sound: Hannes Dander
Sound: Thomas 'Duds' Ford
Sound: Chris Fulton
Sound: Kelsey Gingrich
Sound: Pascal Harlaut
Sound: Joel Merrill
Sound: Jason O'Dell
Sound: Vincent Perreux
Sound: Jennifer Smola

Crew Chief CAT Power: Jon Boss
CAT Power: Dennis Crespo
CAT Power: Jason McCabe
CAT Power: Erich Nemier
CAT Power: Michael Tagliabue
CAT Power: Francsisco Reyes
CAT Power: Jimmy Angerami
IT: Joshua Kapellen
Frequencies: Joshua Flower
Health and Safety: Dave Wilke
Ambiance Director: James Jacques
Ambiance Asst.: Mark Caldwell
Tour Accountant: Ian Jeffery
Security Director: Scott Nichols
Personal Chef - Sweet Chili: Sandy Hylton
Catering: Steve Quinn
Catering: Franca Geppert
Catering: Joshua Ireland
Catering: Courtney Keene
Catering: Tai Lopez
Catering: Lindsay McGoran
Catering: Rob Mullen
Catering: Natalie Parkinson
Catering: Chris Ricalis
Catering: Christian Streppel
Catering: Marisa Zoccolan
VIP Party Coordinator: Jared Braverman
VIP Party Coordinator: Jessica Yaccino
Red Zone: Fran Coombs
Merch – All: Paul Nolan
Merch – EU: Graeme Bell
Merch EU: Jonathan Ellis
Merch USA: Richard Carter
Production Security Coordinator: Knute Brye
Ticketing and Security Assistant: Sarah O'Herihy
Ncompass: Andrew Kloack
Ncompass: Joseph Lucchese
Ncompass: Scott Graves
Ncompass: Carl Lyon
Ncompass: Valerie Adamson

VENDORS
Primary Steelwork Fabrication: StageCo
Main Stage, “B” Stage and Bridge Fabrication: Tait Towers
Video Screen Fabrication: Innovative Designs
Video Screen Truss Fabrication: Wi Creations
Video Screen Automation: Kinesys Projects Limited
Membrane Fabrication: Architen Landrell Associates
Polyp Mushrooms: Steel Monkey Engineering
Motion Control System Design: Kinesys
Cigar/Pylon/Spire: Brilliant Stages
PA System: Clair Brothers
Lighting System: PRG
Video System: XL Video

BLUE STEEL
Site Coordinator: Toby Fleming
Advance Caterer: Adrian Morson
StageCo Crew Chief: Johan 'Bellekes' Van Espen
StageCo: António Alves Monteiro
StageCo: Tim Beckers
StageCo: Olaf Brinkmann
StageCo: Austin Brown
StageCo Cees Dazler
StageCo: Arne De Kneght
StageCo: Jo De Wit
StageCo: Mark Gandy
StageCo: Wilco Geerts
StageCo: Rene Havermans
StageCo: Jonathan Hawkins
StageCo: Jan Heylen
StageCo: Hans Koersen
StageCo: Tambani Lokoza
StageCo: Franz Rieger
StageCo: Jasper Ruebens
StageCo: Franciscus Schilte
StageCo: Kurt Schneider
StageCo: Sonya Schubert
StageCo: Yuri Sparidaans
StageCo: Tom Strauf
StageCo: Karsten Truyens
StageCo: Michiel van den Boomen
StageCo: Roman Van Den Dugen
StageCo: Martin van Eijk
StageCo: Jan van Eyck
StageCo: Johan Van Lieshout
StageCo: Jesse Winn

RED STEEL
Site Coordinator: Robert Hale
Advance Caterer: Paul Kennedy
StageCo Crew Chief: Patrick Martens
StageCo: Kim Achterberg
StageCo: Koen Daems
StageCo: Eivind Haugen
StageCo: Ludo Hoebrechts
StageCo: Stefan Jans
StageCo: Christopher Lanosga
StageCo: David 'Cinch' Lanosga
StageCo: Marcel Leederts
StageCo: Thomas Lomanto
StageCo: Marc Melotte
StageCo: Dalibor Misura
StageCo: Lothar Schader
StageCo: Lennart Siik
StageCo: Bjorn Steegen
StageCo: Robert Szerszyn
StageCo: Jimmy Termaat
StageCo: Carly Thomas
StageCo: Janneman Van Battum
StageCo: Bart Van Damme
StageCo: Marco Van de Beek
StageCo: Michel Van Der Veken
StageCo: Erwin Van Duyse
StageCo: Mark van Gorp
StageCo: Jozef Vermeerbergen
StageCo: Gregory Vervoort
StageCo: Jaap Vriens
StageCo: Norbert Wiesinger
StageCo: Ryan Worsham

GREEN STEEL
Site Coordinator: Seth Goldstein
Advance Caterer: Matthew Pierce
StageCo Crew Chief: Hendrik Verdeyen
StageCo: Milt Angelopoulos
StageCo: Jason Bond
StageCo: Wim Carens
StageCo: Wilfried Celen
StageCo: Huckle Cleary
StageCo: Ken De Roovere
StageCo: Andreas Eibl
StageCo: Randall Ellson
StageCo: Magnus Harding
StageCo: Iain Hardwick
StageCo: Ben Hommers
StageCo: Hugues Imschoot
StageCo: Johan Jonckheere
StageCo: Oisin Kelly
StageCo: Janos Kerekgyarto
StageCo: Jurgen Krauts
StageCo: Patrick Lively
StageCo: Erik Muhm
StageCo: Florian Sadrawetz
StageCo: Chris Staal
StageCo: Benny Sterckx
StageCo: Joerg Strobel
StageCo: Marc Van Dijck
StageCo: Rudi van Hool
StageCo: Christophe Van Hostauijen
StageCo: Maarten van Kruijsdijk
StageCo: Pieter van Tulder
StageCo: Florus Van Zaten
StageCo: Bill Yager
Field Cover: Okan Tombulca
Field Cover: Sebastian Tobie
Field Cover: Dirk Boda
Field Cover: Dirk Henneberger
Field Cover: Matthew Kelly
Field Cover: Richard Dunne

U2 Cardiff Setlist and Videos

Now that Europe has been completed and the boys are settled in for the short hop across the pound to start their America tour leg. Last nights show followed the same grand order of the rest of the shows. We have our videos, currently reviewing prior to posting them on our Youtube channel. Turn to channel U2TOURFANS. Also we have launched a new U2 TOUR FANS hotline(513) 360 TOUR. Anyone can call in, send a SMS, Photo, Video or leave comments. We mean anyone, Bono, The Edge, Larry or Adam feel free to drop us a call too. (513) 360-TOUR

  1. Breathe
  2. No Line the Horizon
  3. Get on your Boots
  4. Magnificent
  5. Land of my Fathers (Walsh Natonal Anthem)
  6. Beautiful
  7. Black Bird
  8. Mysterious Ways
  9. Still Haven't Found what I am looking for
  10. Stand by Me
  11. Unkowen Caller
  12. The Unforgetable Fire
  13. City of Blinding Lights
  14. Vertigo
  15. I'll Go Crazy
  16. Sunday Bloody Sunday
  17. Pride
  18. MLK
  19. Walk On
  20. Where the streets have no Name
  21. One
  22. Bad

Encore

  1. Ultraviolet lights
  2. With or Without you
  3. A moment of surrender

Remember North America is right around corner

(513) 360 TOUR

U2 Looking for record breaking gig

U2 hope to make it a record-breaking gig

We will have videos, stories, photos from the show as we report thru out the concert. You can follow us via twitter @U2TOURFANS as well see our youtube channel U2TOURFANS

If you attending the concert check out our hotline number and send an SMS from the show, which can include a photo or audio file. Next stop AMERICA !

U2 2011 Australia Tour

U2 will tour Australia in 2011, leaving its concert stage behind as a gift.

Mark Fisher, who designed the stage, inadvertently announced the band's plan to visit Australia.

Fisher has built three super-structures for U2's 360 Tour.

"My vision . . . is we will turn them into permanent concert pavilions and leave them around the world," he said.

"For example, we will finish one part of the tour in Australia and another in South America."

Mr Fisher said U2 would donate the stages, which hold 180 tonnes of equipment.

U2's Australian tour promoter, Michael Coppel, said no local tour dates were confirmed.

But industry sources said U2 would perform in Australia in 2011.

U2 gig forces cancellation of football match

U2 has officially forced the football match to be called off for tomorrow after leaving Hampden fields in a wreck. Earlier in the week U2 played at Hampden field and officials scrambled to approve the field for "ready for play" however even with sand in the areas most damaged the feld was left unplayable.

"At this time, the match referee declared the match canceled.

"QPFC requested that a further inspection should take place at 6pm on Friday, when the programme of works was completed.

"However, we have been advised that the match referee declared the pitch unplayable and the fixture v Albion Rovers was cancelled at 1pm on Friday 21st August."

Albion Rovers' website stated: "Tomorrow's league match at Hampden against Queen's Park is off due to poor pitch conditions after the recent U2 gig."