Rehearsals wrap up with yet another set list

Rehearsals wrapped up last night and here's a look at the set list. Remember we will be bringing the most current information from the tour thanks to our fans.

If God will send his angels
Drowning man
Sometimes you can't make it on your own
Sometimes you can't make it on your own (snippet, linked with) / Bad (incomplete)
Walk on
Walk on (instrumental)
Desmond Tutu speech
Ultraviolet
Where the streets have no name
Unknown song, reportedly sounded like chords from Seconds
I'll go crazy if I don't go crazy tonight (remix)
Pride (in the name of love)
(break)
Breathe
No line on the horizon
Get on your boots
Magnificent
Beautiful day
I still haven't found what I'm looking for
In a little while + Rocket man (snippet)
Unknown caller
The unforgettable fire + Strangers in the night (snippet)
City of blinding ligths
Vertigo
I'll go crazy if I don't go crazy tonight (remix)
Pride (in the name of love)
MLK
Walk on
Where the streets have no name
One
Ultraviolet
With or without you
Moment of surrender

Bono's Top Ten Moves - Bone Head and all

1. The Spidey

If Bono were a bit younger, he could audition for the title character in his own Broadway show and get the part. In his never-ending desire to connect with his audience, Bono was notorious for climbing up, climbing down, or swinging from anything he could get his hands on, including light rigging, speaker stacks, fences, sculptures, and at the US Festival in the mid-'80s, the huge banner that hung behind the stage. While Bono insisted on defying gravity, the rest of the band were left to their own devices, continuing to play while no doubt shaking their heads in disbelief. Imagine what they're thinking during the band's Live Aid performance of "Bad," 11 minutes into a six-minute song: "You crazy #*%*#!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHnXOSxka1Q

2. The Hair Whisperer

In the late '80s, Bono got rid of his mullet and cut his hair into a shoulder-length pageboy. At first it was a jarring transition, until it became apparent that this hairstyle was the best bodily prop Bono ever had at his disposal, giving him more options than ever before or since. It started out innocuously enough, pulled back into a ponytail, but then it became a weapon whipping around his head, or sticking to the sweat on his face, causing Bono to compulsively run his fingers through his hair to smooth it away.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdceKu89SxY&NR=1

3. The Shackle

In the video for "With or Without You," Bono throws his arms straight up over his head and crosses them at the wrists for a literal interpretation of the line "My hands are tied/my body bruised..." Bono, I'd like to personally thank you for fueling my rock star fantasies with that particular visual.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdlPjAJFIrw

4. The Rockette

U2 likes to make a big entrance when they come out to play for their fans, and nothing was bigger than the Zoo TV tour. Bono and his mates tossed off every last vestige of their '80s personas and came roaring into the '90s in a blaze of leather and flickering blue light from an enormous wall of television screens. The Edge strikes the first notes of "Zoo Station," and Bono, looking cooler than cool, rises out of the darkness and executes a series of high kicks that rival any of those performed by the famed residents of Radio City Music Hall.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5omeaIIcbc

5. The Boxer

How do you top Zoo TV? Why, with PopMart, of course. Another big entrance by the band as the song "Pop Muzik" blares over the loudspeakers, they enter the venue by walking through the crowd, tuxedoed bodyguards and huge entourage in tow. In his white robe, hood pulled over his eyes, Bono does his best "Macho" Comacho or "Boom Boom" Mancini, jabbing and prancing his way to the ring. And while it may take a few minutes for the crowd to notice, no one seems to care once they realize the muscles aren't real.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1c7U-9gyPsw

6. The Bull

This move was worthy enough to be a part of both the PopMart and Elevation tours, for the song "Until the End of the World." Bono's fingers are his props here, representing the horns of a charging bull as Bono and The Edge attempt to slay each other with rock 'n' roll. The fans are the lucky winners in this dramatic fight to the finish.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5i9OuBJNdbI

7. The Turkey

U2 appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman in support of All That You Can't Leave Behind, shortly after the 9/11 disaster. The band paid homage to the city by playing "New York." True to form, Bono changed the lyrics of the song to fit the occasion, which was touching until, in an effort to become the Statue of Liberty, Bono places his outstretched fingers behind his head to form her crown. Does he evoke the famous symbol of freedom, or poultry in heat? Tough call.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXMSNRDcBMM

8. The Loaded Diaper

This move is most evident in the official "Beautiful Day" video, shot in and around the Charles De Gaulle airport in Paris, France. Anyone who's been a parent will recognize it immediately: Your very young child waddles up to you in a sort of half walk, half squat, clearly uncomfortable. With the camera at such a low angle, we get a most unfortunate view as Bono gives new meaning to the phrase "It's been all over you."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6FwEJwwYcQ

9. Crazy Samurai

During the Vertigo tour, Bono and Larry began the song "Love and Peace or Else" at the tip of the b-stage, while Adam and The Edge remained on the main stage. Larry plays the song on a single drum and cymbal, but at some point flees the scene and heads back to the safety of his kit. Bono takes the drumsticks and starts wailing away on that poor thing, doing his damnedest to smash it to bits. He gets so excited, he's also stomping his feet. Look out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEQSVihLdPo

10. The Upper GI

There's a point in every U2 show that makes you wonder if Bono's pre-show burrito was a bad idea. He hunches over, grabbing his middle or pulling his jacket tighter to his body, and he's clearly feeling something, but what? The song, or the burrito? Let's hope, for all of our sakes, that it's the song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCdHM3i0DWA

50 Days to the start of the world tour

So in honor of hitting the official 50 day mark. Here are 50 things you did not know. (well maybe)

BONO, 44

1. Dropped out of school at 16

2. Sleeps four hours a night

3. Is a fan of George Bush (and finds him very funny); also likes Condoleezza Rice and is pro-Tony Blair

4. Wears a replica of a rosary given to him by the pope, who he calls "the funky pontiff"

5. Regrets having a mullet in the '80s

6. Gets in shape by boxing

7. Drives a beat-up Volvo

8. Keeps his beloved trademark bug-eyed "Fly" sunglasses he wore on the 1993 Zoo TV tour in safe storage in Dublin

9. Years before he was born, a psychic told his mother she would have a son who would be famous in whatever profession he chose

10. Got into so much trouble in high school that he was called "the Antichrist"

11. Gets late-night "firing squad" phone calls from the band after jumping into the audience or climbing scaffolding onstage

12. Is working with Brooklyn-based designer Rogan on a new line of blue jeans

13. Says he needs to be told he's loved 12 times a day

14. Has been married to his high school sweetheart Alison Stewart for 22 years, though she once threw him out of the house during a rocky stretch in their marriage

15. Was a character witness for R.E.M.'s Peter Buck when Buck was on trial for an air rage incident

16. Keeps an apartment on Central Park West

17. Has four children, ranging in age from 2 to 13

18. Gave Christy Turlington away at her wedding to Ed Burns

19. Is allergic to red wine

20. Quit dying his hair jet black because he was "starting to look like Roy Orbison"

ADAM CLAYTON, 44

21. Doesn't drive at night since he had Lasik surgery

22. Though he's not married, he was once engaged to Naomi Campbell

23. Served as best man at Bono's wedding

24. As a teenager, was kicked out of two schools for smoking, drinking and streaking

25. Kept the band together in the early '80s, when the three other members wanted to quit and devote their lives to God

26. Was charged with drunk driving in 1984 and marijuana possession in 1993

27. Says he is now completely sober

28. Admits that he hates responsibility

29. Was so wasted on the Zoo TV tour that the band's bass technician was forced to take his place for a whole show

THE EDGE, 43

30. Was the first member of the band to get married, to high school sweetheart Aislinn O'Sullivan, in 1985 (they're now divorced)

31. Now lives in Europe and in L.A., because his current wife, a belly dancer, is an American

32. Doesn't think Bono should allow himself to be photographed with the pope and George Bush, "and he knows it"

33. Wanted to be a doctor or an engineer growing up

34. U2 lore has it that he actually left the band in the early '80s for religious reasons

35. For years was teased about his record collection, which included nothing recorded before 1976

36. Is so proper that he calls Larry Mullen "Lawrence"

LARRY MULLEN, 43

37. He hates cats (he had a bad experience with one as a child)

38. Is called Dorian Gray by Bono because he has yet to age

39. Loves Echo & the Bunnymen

40. Like the Edge, has a son named Aaron

41. Considers Bono his best friend

42. Is teased for being cheap; U2's manager says Mullen "still has his First Communion money"

43. Worships Elvis Presley

44. Loves to hang out in secondhand record shops

45. Like Bono, he's been with his high school sweetheart since they were 13, although they're not married

46. Is a huge Irish football fan

47. Was painfully shy and still is the quietest member of the band

48. Suffers chronic back pain because he was never taught how to sit correctly at the drums

49. He "cannot tell a lie," according to Bono

50. Has been known to shun the tour bus in favor of traveling alone, on his motorcycle

Beatiful Day - Thoughts

Good Day ! As we are getting closer to the the tour I thought the theme for next week will be live videos. Yup I will be selecting videos from around the world from the last U2 tour. Lots of choices so lets kick off the new week with U2 Beautiful Day - Live @ Slane Castle.

1. Set building has begun. This looks to be massive. I am checking a couple of sources for photos to be able to post something shortly.
2. The Edge still has issues with his home in Malibu (USA) It seems the concept of green space has caused issues with his new home.
3. No Line: So we have been asked to list our fav's in order. Not yet I say. How about you guys tell me first.
4. Tour set list. Now this is one that we have to really think about. What are the songs we want to hear? Can we really go all the way back to the beginning? You tell me
5. What was that “Third Kodak moment. 1987
6. How Old is Adam ?
7. Punters ? Who are they ?
8. Donate ? Sure we are non profit and trying to build a great site with your help
9. Visit our sponsors, why not. Free swag is just that free.
10. Eat an Apple a day - ( click the link >>>>>)

Its offical, Time to download and tell me what you think

Where can you fnd bootleg U2

With the explosion of the internet, fans now have an easy means to contact each other to exchange bootleg recordings. There are many U2 mailing lists which allow for the trade of bootlegs, and still other lists which are dedicated to the trading of bootlegs. Many fans also maintain webpages which list the material that they have for trade. Often you do not need to have recordings to trade to make use of these services, as fans often will offer to make copies for blank CDs and postage in return.
Traditional sources of bootlegs for sale still exist. If you are lucky, you may find bootlegs at your local record store. Mail order is another good source for finding recordings for sale, and there are several music stores on the internet that carry live imports

Who started the band ?

Larry Mullen, Jr., was born on October 31, 1961, in Dublin. He was two years behind Bono in high school but both noticed each other. It was Larry who posted an ad on a bulletin board at school looking for musicians to start a band. Paul Hewson (aka Bono) was born on the 10th of May, 1960, in Dublin. He was a very outgoing person in high school who responded to Larry's note saying that he could play guitar and sing. He really couldn't do either. Adam Clayton was born in Oxfordshire, England, on March 13, 1960, and moved to Dublin after his father got a job flying for Aer Lingus. Although he was not a very good student, he was always very polite to everyone. He was the only bassist to respond to Larry's note. Dave Evans (aka The Edge) was born on August 8, 1961, in East London. His family moved to Dublin a year later. He was often known as a loner early in high school. He took piano and guitar lessons and often played with his brother, Dick. Both showed up to "U2's" first little gathering at Larry's house (60 Rosemount Avenue in Dublin). They set up in the Mullens' kitchen and played the Rolling Stones "Brown Sugar" and "Satisfaction." At this point, the entire group of hopefuls for the band included Larry, Dave and Dick Evans, Adam Clayton, Paul Hewson, and Ivan McCormick .
Bono, which is a shortened version of Bono Vox, his original nickname, got the name through a group of friends who were known as the Lypton Village. The name, which means "good voice" in Latin, was taken from the name of a hearing aid shop in Dublin.
Some reports say Edge was named by Bono because Dave was always on the fringe of things. Other stories suggest Bono gave him the name because of the sharp lines and angles of his face when he was a teenager.
In Lypton Village they thought it strange that you should go by a name given to you by your parents, when that name might not really suit you. The nicknames were often associated with a facial thing and it would then also apply to the person's character. So The Edge had this prominent jaw line & was always on the edge of things: like an observer. Bono's first Village name was: Steinhegvanhuysenolegbangbangbangbang. (!) Paul McGuinness became known as "The Goose."

Where did they get their name ?

In the band's very early beginnings, circa 1978, Adam Clayton asked Steve Averill (formerly known as Steve Rapid of the band Radiators From Space) to help the band come up with a good name. Averill was interviewed by Hot Press magazine in 2001 and gave this answer when asked about how he helped U2 choose the band's name:
"When I first met them they didn't really know what they wanted to do, what type of band they really wanted to be. But they had qualified for the final of that band competition in Limerick and they needed to decide on a name. Adam liked names like XTC, which were short and crisp and could mean a lot or mean very little. So I made a list of ten and I put U2 on the bottom. I thought it was strong graphically and it had a variety of connotations without meaning something specific. It was short and stood out from the band names common at the time. After we discussed the list we decided to go for U2 for all those reasons."
There have also been many stories told about how the band's name is taken from the U-2 spy plane, and those stories gained favor with the connection of the famous Francis Gary Powers U-2 incident which occurred on May 1, 1960, and the fact that Bono was born just nine days later. These stories seem to be a stretch at best, and Averill's answer above makes no mention of the spy plane connection.
Averill, it should be noted, didn't stop helping U2 when he helped choose the name. He was also asked to manage U2 but declined, opting instead to handle U2's visual aspects. Averill and his partners at Four 5 One (formerly Works Associates / ABA) in Dublin also design U2 album covers, t-shirts, backstage passes, tour programmes, and even the symbols on Edge's hats during the Zoo TV Tour.