Bono jokes, President Medvedev
U2 will fly down to Sochi to meet President Dmitry Medvedev on Tuesday, a day before their first concert in Russia.
The group is set to discuss their anti-poverty campaign Red with the president, although frontman Bono joked about canceling the meeting after hearing that Medvedev was a Deep Purple fan.
“What kind of music does he like? They say he is a Beatle-maniac … Is that true?” Bono asked at a news conference late Sunday, national newspapers reported.
“That’s it. I’m gone,” Bono said, pretending to stand up and go when told by journalists that the president was a big Deep Purple fan. “I’m canceling the meeting.”
At the same time, the rest of the group started humming the riff to “Smoke on the Water,” the veteran rock group’s most famous song, Kommersant reported.
“No, we prefer The Beatles,” Bono said. “I think even Deep Purple prefers The Beatles.”
When asked about U2’s constant campaigning on various issues and the public’s sometimes limited appetite for the group’s causes, Bono said, “I understand the people who respond with, ‘Shut up.’”
“I’m really good at rescuing cats from trees,” bassist Adam Clayton noted at the time.
The group flew into Vnukovo-3, the state airport usually reserved for the government and official foreign guests, on Sunday evening together with their families.
“We want to go shopping, go to the popular places and the war memorials,” Bono said in an interview on Ren-TV. “You’re the lads who saved Europe. And I am proud that we are performing in front of such people. I have always liked the bravery of the Russian people.”
The group headed for a news conference at the Kamin restaurant at Chistiye Prudy, where Bono tried to order a local beer. But when told the place had none, he drank a Guinness and flattered the home audience with the words, “We pretend that we are a great rock group, but as long as we had not played in Russia, that is not true.”
Bono said his wife and children had gone to see the ballet, “Sleeping Beauty.” Organizers said the group planned to visit the Tretyakov Gallery, Red Square, the Kremlin and Dasha Zhukova’s modern art center, Garazh.
The U2 concert, part of their “360” tour, involves a circular stage that looks like a giant alien spider robot — and one of the largest sets in rock history. More than 200 trucks are needed to transport the set.
Part of the concert, Bono promised, will involved a linkup with the international space station and in particular with cosmonaut Roman Romanenko. The group previously spoke to him at a concert last year.
“He had such an amazing haircut,” Bono said.
During the live linkup, Romanenko said: “I want to ask you see something. If you see David Gahan from Depeche Mode, say a big hello from me.”
Local U2 fans who have been waiting for the group to come for more than two decades have prepared a green welcome for the group. “I bet all of us know that the green color and the shamrock are international symbols of Ireland. We in Russia want to welcome our favorite Irish band with these symbols and create a green shamrock field at the stadium for the opening U2 song,” fan organizers wrote on the U2 fan site, U2.ru. “If you have seats or aren’t planning to stand close, you are encouraged to just take something green with you and wave it from the moment [drummer] Larry [Mullen Jr.] appears on stage till the end of the first song.”
Fans will have a party at Radio City near the Mayakovskaya metro station to night, the eve of the concert.
Jay Z and Bono in New Zealand
Hip hop star Jay Z is to join U2 for the band’s tour of Australia and New Zealand later this year.
One of the most successful artists of all time, Jay Z last played in Australia in 2006 and has never played in New Zealand.
U2 and Jay Z will be playing in Auckland on November 25 at Mt Smart Stadium.
Marketing manager Patrick Smith says it’s taken the last four months to secure the show.
He says at least two planes will be needed to bring the equipment to New Zealand.
From there he says around 250 people and 120 trucks will have the task of arranging the set, a 50m-high, four-legged stage with rotating bridges and a giant video system.
Following the show in Auckland, the band will travel to Australia for shows in Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney and Perth.
The band has visited New Zealand five times before. The last in 2006.
A special deal will see some tickets start at $40. However, most people will pay $100 for general admission tickets.
Following the show in Auckland, the band will travel to Australia for shows in Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney and Perth.
Tickets are on sale from September 3.
U2 360 Tour arrives into Moscow
Bono and his cohorts landed at Vnukovo airport on Sunday evening to face a barrage of questions – and explain exactly what they planned to do when they meet president Dmitry Medvedev in Sochi, Kommersant reported.
“Bono wants to get some practical advice on the new album from him,” joked guitarist The Edge. “Where do we go from here?”
But on hearing that Medvedev was a Deep Purple fan, Bono threatened to abandon the meeting.
Joking apart, the musicians want to discuss their charity work, especially the (RED) organisation.
Human rights
With the band’s long-standing links to groups like Amnesty International and Greenpeace, it had long been rumoured that U2 would refuse to play in Russia on moral grounds, due to the country’s poor ratings on human rights and corruption.
That particular issue was not raised at the press conference when the band landed, but Bono admitted the group’s activist stance could be wearisome at times.
“I understand people who tell us to shut up,” the singer told reporters. “I don’t want any trade-off otherwise we would all become a travelling festival – ‘Rock against everything bad’, as our manager says.
“Sometimes I fear that the image of retired superheroes may become a reality. Let’s remember that the main work of the band is not to be boring.”
But drummer Larry Mullen added: “Activism is an integral part of this group, whether you like it or not.”
The scale is vital
U2’s concert is scheduled for the cavernous Luzhniki stadium, better known for hosting Olympic-sized sporting events and a far cry from the intimate clubs where the band started out.
“Scale is vital to the music of U2,” Bono added. “We’re like Francis Ford Coppola – he loves an operatic scale.
“Maybe we shouldn’t try to appear in a club. It’s better to perform to 50,000 people who might not see common ground on any subject, except that this evening they need to meet at this place.
“This is a tremendous energy.”
Helsinki II Shake Up
U2 contiues to amaze fans around the world. Helsinki setlist for the second night was a show that featured the premiere of “Every Breaking Wave” and most interesting first time tour arrival of “I will follow” the boys did bring back “No Line On The Horizon” and “Pride”.
“New Years Day and Sunday Bloody Sunday” had been dropped from the show for the first time since the early days of the tour back in 09.
This was a mixxed up show for sure. No Line featured an semi-accoustic sound, which during rehearsals sounded great and the possiblity of mixxing it back into the show was ok. It still needs a little work before we will call it a total accoustic song. “North Star” was on the side lines too as the band introduced another new song ” Every Breaking Wave” a ballad performed by Bono and The Edge. To finish the song out Bono told The Edge to adjust a chord for his finish and total the crowd this was the first time they both heard the song. We don’t rate shows however the boys earned “A+” for a totally different show.
U2 360° To End Year Down Under
In the middle of the night, as the U2 slept in their beds dreaming of the bands arrrival to another city. A update was placed for all to dream about. Yes we have an offical tour annoucement.
Tour Dates announced for Australia and New Zealand: U2360° will visit Auckland, Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, and include U2’s first Perth date since Popmart in 1998.
‘U2 has always been at their best when surrounded by their audience, and this extraordinary production makes that happen in stadiums,’ says U2’s manager Paul McGuinness. ‘It was important to the band that we were able to bring the whole 360° production to Australia and New Zealand so fans could experience the latest of U2’s legendary productions.’
The U2360° Tour kicked off again in Turin, Italy this month and will visit 17 cities, including Moscow and Istanbul, before finishing at the Olympic Stadium in Rome on 8th October. By the time it reaches New Zealand and Australia, U2360° will have been seen by over 4 million fans.
With a cylindrical video system of interlocking LED panels, and a steel structure rising 150 feet from the floor over a massive stage with rotating bridges, the band has truly created an intimate experience for concert goers. Long-time U2 Show Director Willie Williams has worked again with architect Mark Fisher (ZooTV, PopMart, Elevation and Vertigo), to create an innovative 360 design, which affords an unobstructed view for the audience.
‘To have an in-the-round transportable stadium production is something that the touring industry has been trying to figure out for some time. The extra capacity U2 360° gives us means that there are a large number, several thousand in fact, of low priced tickets at every show’, said U2 tour producer/promoter Arthur Fogel, CEO of Live Nation Global Touring.
In keeping with the concept that this tour is more about a unique staging configuration with excellent sight-lines tickets in all 5 cities will be available starting at $39.90 with general admission floor tickets available at $99.90. Additional reserved seat tickets also available starting at $99.90.
Tickets for the U2 performances in Australia and New Zealand will go on sale Friday, September 3rd at all usual outlets. U2.com subscribers will be able to buy tickets ahead of the public on-sale.
Australia & New Zealand Tour Dates 2009
| November 25 | Auckland, NZ | Mt. Smart Stadium |
| December 01 | Melbourne, AU | Etihad Stadium |
| December 08 | Brisbane, AU | Suncorp Stadium |
| December 13 | Sydney, AU | ANZ Stadium |
| December 18 | Perth, AU | Subiaco Oval |
U2 Goes Downunder !
RISH supergroup U2 are returning to Australia for a national tour. The band have announced their tour dates, including a stadium show in Sydney on December 13. The concert, to be held at ANZ Stadium, will mark the return of the band to Sydney after four years.
The band will begin their 360° Tour in New Zealand on November25, before travelling to Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney and Perth.
Tickets go on sale on September 3 - with promoters Michael Coppel and Live Nation Touring expecting enormous demand.
Although only one show has been announced for Sydney, it is highly likely tour dates will be extended.
Rumours about U2’s return to Australia have been swirling for months. The tour announcement is an early Christmas present for many of the band’s loyal Australian fans, who feared frontman Bono’s back injury earlier in the year might have affected plans for a trip Down Under.
The lead singer had emergency spinal surgery in May, which forced the band to postpone the US leg of their world tour, plus major performances including headlining the Glastonbury Festival in England.
U2 returned to touring this month, with concerts in Europe.
Bono said he was ”fighting fit” and thanked fans, and his bandmates, for their patience.
The U2 show, which features an innovative in-the-round experience for fans, also has a range of cheap tickets for Australian concert-goers.
The ”sight-lines” seats start from $39.90 a ticket, with general standing and stadium seats priced at $99.90.
U2’s manager Paul McGuinness said the band were keen for Australian fans to see the production.
”It was important to the band that we were able to bring the whole 360° production to Australia and New Zealand so fans could experience the latest of U2’s legendary productions,” he said.
More than 4 million fans will have seen U2’s 360° Tour worldwide by the time they arrive in Australia.
A source close to the tour has revealed U2 are also considering leaving their enormous set - a three-pronged alien-like tower - in Australia as a tourist attraction, at the end of the tour.
”They thought it was a great idea,” said the source. ”Rather than shipping it all back on a plane, it could become a local attraction.”
Bono Feared Most
U2 singer Bono revealed to Ryan Tubridy that his recent back injury could have left him crippled for life.
The 50-year-old claimed it was only the intensive treatment he received from German doctors that allowed him to retain use of his left leg.
And he also revealed that he was still trying to cope with his injury.
“I had a pretty close call. What was dangerous about it was a piece of disc that had ripped through ligaments had gone down into the spinal canal and I could have lost the use of my left leg,” said the singer.
However, the Dubliner said that his role at the helm of one of the world’s biggest rock bands helped see through weeks and weeks of painful rehab. “Being the frontman in U2 is a great job and a reason for me to stick to what has been a really very hard programme of rehab,” he said. “It consists usually of German doctors beating me up and pushing me into all kinds of positions and exercises. I’m very fit now.
Surgery
“I think it’s something like 11 weeks since surgery so they’re very pleased. It’s really turned my life upside down.”
The singer was speaking to Tubridy from his Finnish hotel room ahead of the band’s latest gig in Helsinki. Bono joked he had been inspired to ring into the show after seeing Gerry Ryan in a dream.
“Gerry appeared to me last night in a dream and said: ‘That fellow Ryan Tubridy used to work making me coffee years ago and I always knew he had his eyes on my gig.’”
He advised Tubridy that the key to following in Gerry’s footsteps was to be himself.
“I suppose he could be very serious but never earnest, which is something I find quite hard,” Bono said of Gerry.
“I always tuned into him for that and you have that, too. You’ll have a great time on this show. They’re big shoes to fill.
“He had a big foot and a big mouth to put it in. You can’t do anything wrong with this spot if you are yourself. That was really the great art of Gerry Ryan, being himself.”
Irish Independent