Bono’s Greatest Gig Ever
The Guardian have asked a panel of artists and writers to describe the concerts that changed their lives. Bono picks a gig by The Clash, at Trinity College in Dublin, 1977:
Can’t remember the set list, can’t remember much about the music, to be honest. I just know that everything changed that night, and I’m sure it was not just for me.
It wasn’t so much a musical event. It was more like the Red Army had arrived, on a cold October night, to force feed a new cultural revolution, punk rock. Marching boots and the smell of sulphur.
As I sat in the box room and stared out the window the next day, it was very clear. The world is more malleable than you think; reality is what you can get away with.
What is your greatest gig ever?
22 Comments
Permanent Hiatus
Archives
U2 News Links
- U2 Fan Survey 2012: Third Set of Results Available May 23, 2012The third set of results from the 2012 U2 Fan Survey is now available, and it takes us through your votes on U2's albums and songs. As a reminder, the survey was open from April 5th through April 30th. We received completed responses from 3,530 fans in 79 countries this year, both of which are down from 2010. We think that's likely due to the band […]
- A Look at My U2 Framed Album Cover Wall (PHOTOS) May 22, 2012How would you like to have a wall in your house covered with perfectly framed U2 album cover art? You could just have your favorite U2 albums on the wall or, like me, you could go all the way and put every U2 album on display in order — like this: That’s one of the [...]This is a post from the @U2 blog.A Look at My U2 Framed Album Cover Wall (PHOTOS) […]
- The Resource Miracle May 22, 2012[Note: This essay appeared in the May 28, 2012, edition of TIME magazine.] It's become the go-to cliché of modern economics. Natural resources are a "curse." When a nation is over-reliant on one or two commodities like oil or precious minerals, corrupt government ministers and their dodgy associates hoard profits and taxes instead of properly […]
- Bono Pays One More Tribute to Steve Jobs May 22, 2012Bono made an appearance via video tonight at the Webby Awards, contributing to a tribute to Steve Jobs. A host of tech legends and celebrities each paid tribute to Jobs in five words or less, a Webby Awards tradition. It looks like Bono’s contribution was recorded within the past week, but that’s just a guess. [...]This is a post from the @U2 blog.Bono Pays […]
- Billboard Music Awards: U2 Top Touring Artist May 21, 2012Gestern Abend wurden in der MGM Grand Garden Arena von Las Vegas die Billboard Music Awards 2012 verliehen. U2 wurden dabei - wie bereits im Jahr zuvor - in der Kategorie Top Touring Artist ausgezeichnet. Neben U2 waren in dieser Kategorie auch noch Bon Jovi, Taylor Swift, Take That und Roger Waters nominiert. ... […]
nice question. hard to answer. I’d say seeing danny lanois for the first time in vienna on oct. 14th 2003. I was standing front row right before him the whole gig and just stared in amazement. I must have made a somewhat awkward appearance. and I’ll never forget the sheer volume that came out of that ac30 when he suddenly cranked up the amp for a solo, my god was it loud. nothing before or ever after was as loud as that amp.
I got a chance to talk to the man after the gig, which certainly was one of the most special moments in my life. I asked him about the use of a certain delay pedal, and he answered in the most self evident way one could imagine. we had a very short but very nice conversation, I thanked him for his work and his music, we hugged, and that was it.
maybe a U2 gig would have been an obvious choice, but as great and dazzeling the couple of U2 concerts were that I attended, it was different for me than the lanois gig.
seeing pink floyd live would certainly blow my mind. and I have to make it to a gilmour show next time he’s touring, what an awful shame I missed him.
nice question. hard to answer. I’d say seeing danny lanois for the first time in vienna on oct. 14th 2003. I was standing front row right before him the whole gig and just stared in amazement. I must have made a somewhat awkward appearance. and I’ll never forget the sheer volume that came out of that ac30 when he suddenly cranked up the amp for a solo, my god was it loud. nothing before or ever after was as loud as that amp.
I got a chance to talk to the man after the gig, which certainly was one of the most special moments in my life. I asked him about the use of a certain delay pedal, and he answered in the most self evident way one could imagine. we had a very short but very nice conversation, I thanked him for his work and his music, we hugged, and that was it.
maybe a U2 gig would have been an obvious choice, but as great and dazzeling the couple of U2 concerts were that I attended, it was different for me than the lanois gig.
seeing pink floyd live would certainly blow my mind. and I have to make it to a gilmour show next time he’s touring, what an awful shame I missed him.
yes, now you mention it, Bono IS a singer in a band.
yes, now you mention it, Bono IS a singer in a band.
What is a box room? Bono mentioned it several times in U2 by U2. Is it some Irish term for a small room?
What is a box room? Bono mentioned it several times in U2 by U2. Is it some Irish term for a small room?
Best gig!!…24.11.2006..U2 in Auckland, first time to be in New Zealand in 13 years and worth the wait!
Best gig!!…24.11.2006..U2 in Auckland, first time to be in New Zealand in 13 years and worth the wait!
I was 15 and my first proper gig was U2 Lovetown on St. Stephens night. I had bunked off school in November 89, took the bus to Dublin and queued outside The Point for tickets. They opened the show with God part2. Great!
Non-U2 highlights would be Tom Waits in the Carre theatre Amsterdam a couple of years ago, Blur in the Royal Festival hall London a few years before that (the only show they played that year) and Nick Cave in Munich on the Abatoir Blues tour which is probably the best gig I was ever at.
Greatest gig disapointment was being outside Madison Square gardens March 16th 1992 and not having a ticket for zoo tv. Made more painful by the fact that the pixies were my other favourite band. I would have killed a close relative to have seen Zoo TV indoors with Pixies supporting.
I was 15 and my first proper gig was U2 Lovetown on St. Stephens night. I had bunked off school in November 89, took the bus to Dublin and queued outside The Point for tickets. They opened the show with God part2. Great!
Non-U2 highlights would be Tom Waits in the Carre theatre Amsterdam a couple of years ago, Blur in the Royal Festival hall London a few years before that (the only show they played that year) and Nick Cave in Munich on the Abatoir Blues tour which is probably the best gig I was ever at.
Greatest gig disapointment was being outside Madison Square gardens March 16th 1992 and not having a ticket for zoo tv. Made more painful by the fact that the pixies were my other favourite band. I would have killed a close relative to have seen Zoo TV indoors with Pixies supporting.
box room n :
lumber room or large cupboard in a house, usu. windowless.
box room n :
lumber room or large cupboard in a house, usu. windowless.
in Ireland the box room is the smallest bedroom in the house. In standard semi-detached houses there is usually one single bedroom just big enough to fit a single bed and not much else. Bono’s ‘box’ room can be seen in the SYCMIOYO video.
in Ireland the box room is the smallest bedroom in the house. In standard semi-detached houses there is usually one single bedroom just big enough to fit a single bed and not much else. Bono’s ‘box’ room can be seen in the SYCMIOYO video.
Toad Place, New Haven CT 1979.
U2 arrives in the US and i was there!
As Bono noted in his memoroy, I don’t remember much about the music or any set list…just these four guys in a punk band with amazing energy. The “passion” wasn’t recognized yet but the energy was exciting.
i’ve never looked back since-
the one thing i do remember is that I was only 15 in a club!!
Toad Place, New Haven CT 1979.
U2 arrives in the US and i was there!
As Bono noted in his memoroy, I don’t remember much about the music or any set list…just these four guys in a punk band with amazing energy. The “passion” wasn’t recognized yet but the energy was exciting.
i’ve never looked back since-
the one thing i do remember is that I was only 15 in a club!!
well for me its a toss up…my first show was 5.21.01 and it was everything and more I could’ve hoped for..but then fast forward to 10.24.05 and I (who never win anything, except a kick in the face) have a ticket that when scanned lets me into the ellipse…yeah..it was the shit…
well for me its a toss up…my first show was 5.21.01 and it was everything and more I could’ve hoped for..but then fast forward to 10.24.05 and I (who never win anything, except a kick in the face) have a ticket that when scanned lets me into the ellipse…yeah..it was the shit…
Pop Mart – Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) – 1998
My first U2 concert ever. I was 18, and ecstatic to see Bono and the guys perform songs that I had celebrated all my life. When Adam hit the first couple of bass notes for “New Year’s Day”, I knew that day was going to change my life.
Some would say that the Pop Mart tour was one of their least inspired ones, but I beg to differ. One of the coolest moments was when U2 brought on stage the drum section from a local samba school to play a solo with Larry. It was even better than the real thing
Pop Mart – Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) – 1998
My first U2 concert ever. I was 18, and ecstatic to see Bono and the guys perform songs that I had celebrated all my life. When Adam hit the first couple of bass notes for “New Year’s Day”, I knew that day was going to change my life.
Some would say that the Pop Mart tour was one of their least inspired ones, but I beg to differ. One of the coolest moments was when U2 brought on stage the drum section from a local samba school to play a solo with Larry. It was even better than the real thing
3 December, 1987. Miami. The Joshua Tree Tour.
The image of flags displayed throughout the stadium is burned in my head. They were hung on upper deck railings, held by fans in the stands, and waved by people on the field. Ireland’s flag was predominant, but those of South American nations were all about, too.
I had experienced the energy before, but that was football. This was music that mattered, and I was affected that night.
Every show since is somehow linked back to the first, and it’s a terrific journey.
3 December, 1987. Miami. The Joshua Tree Tour.
The image of flags displayed throughout the stadium is burned in my head. They were hung on upper deck railings, held by fans in the stands, and waved by people on the field. Ireland’s flag was predominant, but those of South American nations were all about, too.
I had experienced the energy before, but that was football. This was music that mattered, and I was affected that night.
Every show since is somehow linked back to the first, and it’s a terrific journey.