U2360 – Luzhniki Stadium – Moscow, Russia
photo by @kardanik
For the first time in their career, U2 play the capital of Russia. Security at the stadium is very strict and the place is full of police and military. In the afternoon, police shut down the Greenpeace, ONE Campaign and Amnesty International stands at the stadium. One Amnesty International activist is reported to have been arrested. Police claim the activists organised an ‘illegal rally’. However, as at every U2 show, these volunteers are actually authorised to set up stands and distribute information. In a Greenpeace blog post about the matter it’s stated “U2′s management are puzzled” by the situation and Bono’s been informed of what went on.
The head of Amnesty International in Russia, Sergei Nikitin, has stated that police detained five volunteers who were distributing leaflets and displaying banners for holding an unsanctioned protest at Moscow’s Luzhniki stadium. “I am very sorry about what happened … it overshadowed the concert,” Nikitin said. The activists were later released without charge.
It rained quite hard hard during the show which is attended by Mikhail Gorbachev, “a great hero of mine”, Bono says, “I’ve known him for over 10 years.” Most of the new songs were dropped from the set, except Return of the Stingray guitar and the band delighted the crowd by playing Knocking on Heaven’s Door with Russian rockstar Yuri Shevchuk. Shevchuk has become a significant figure in Russia’s opposition movement since he delivered a rare public rebuke to Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in May.
Reports from fans inside the GA area say Russian police wouldn’t allow the fans to leave the GA area and clashed with U2 security. Fans claim Russian soldiers hindered U2 security when they wanted to move the barricades to let fans out. Other people stepped in to separate Russian solders and U2 security.
U2360 – Olympic Stadium – Helsinki, Finland (II)
Surprise… during the soundcheck for the second show in Helsinki the band rehearses Bad, No Line on the Horizon acoustically, as well as Pride and I will follow (just the riff at first and then full band).
It’s ‘crazy set’ night and U2 prove they are definitely confident and in a great mood this leg of the tour.They mix it up completely, bringing back I will follow, No Line on the Horizon and Pride, as well as Edge and Bono playing a totally new song together called ‘Every breaking wave’ (mp3). “No one’s heard that before, including the two of us…”
Continuing his series of madcap band introductions, this show Bono says: “On my left, on bass guitar, the Aapo of this band, Adam Clayton; behind me on the drums, Lauri Mullen Jnr; to my right on lead guitar, The Eero … and who does that make me, I’m somewhere between Simeoni and Juhani…” Gobbledegook for most, but to the Finns it’s crystal clear. Bono’s refering to a 19th century Finnish novel called Seven Brothers, by Aleksis Kivi. Aapo is ‘logical and peaceful’, Lauri is ‘solemn and a loner’, Eero is ‘intelligent and clever’, while Simeoni is both ‘alcoholic and religious’ and Juhani is the most ‘stubborn’.
Before ‘I still haven’t found’ Bono mentions a lot of U2 family members are in the audience: his daughter Jordan, nephews, nearly all of The Edge’s family including kids Holly, Sian and Levi as well as his parents Garvin and Gwenda who are ‘on the road’ with the band. Bono thanks Gwenda for being the first member of U2′s road crew.
Picture by Oli
Watch parts of the show: part 1 (33mins), part 2.
U2360 – Olympic Stadium – Helsinki, Finland
First of two shows in Helsinki, Finland. It is the first time the band have played here since Popmart (August 09, 1997). Between 3 and 3.30pm the band rehearsed Discotheque (riff), North star, Glastonbury, Miss Sarajevo, City of Blinding Lights.
Around 8pm there appears to be a problem with the screen. It’s fully extended and won’t budge. Crew member Rocco tells the crowd they want to try to fix it. Meanwhile the crowd entertains itself: no less than 3 simultaneous waves go around the stadium. Around 8pm the problem is fixed (video). However, during the show not everything on the screen works as it should. ‘Crazy’ also suffers from technical problems with the backing track.
U2360 – Casa Arena – Horsens, Denmark (II)
The second of two nights at Horsens’ tiny stadium. In the afternoon the band rehearsed. U2gigs.com reports that In a little while, Miss Sarajevo, City of blinding lights, Hold me, thrill me, kiss me, kill me (Bono: “We have to fix this problem. We need another bass sound.”) and Ultra Violet were played. U2start.com reports they heard Pride, Breathe and No Line On the Horizon. (When U2 start rehearsing songs for their shows, it usually takes a few concerts before they actually play them in front of an audience. Helsinki II, get ready.)
Eventually, the band dropped The Unforgettable Fire and Until the end of the world from the set and instead played Ultra Violet after HMTMKMKM, the first time it’s played on this leg of the tour. Having introduced the band as Star Wars characters and luxury cars at previous shows, this time he referred to them as Helena Christensen (Adam), Heidi Klum (Edge) & Brigitte Nielsen (Larry).
Setlist
Return of the Stingray guitar
Beautiful Day
New Year’s Day
Get on your boots
Magnificent
Mysterious Ways
Elevation
I still haven’t found what I’m looking for
Glastonbury
In a little while
Miss Sarajevo
City Of Blinding Lights
Vertigo
I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight
Sunday Bloody Sunday
MLK
Walk On
One
Where The Streets Have No Name
Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me
Ultra Violet
With Or Without You
Moment of Surrender
U2360 – Casa Arena – Horsens, Denmark
(Pretty picture shot by U2gigs.com)
First of two nights in the smallest venue (35,000) on the tour. The Danish crown prince and princess Danish Frederik and Mary are at the show. Bono praises Denmark for its work on debt relief and thanks Helena Christensen for her efforts.
U2tour.de’s live stream
Horsens Folkbladet live coverage
Horsens Folkbladet photo gallery
Pro-shot footage and interview – Danish news on TV2
BT.dk photo set
U2360 – AWD Arena – Hannover, Germany
If you missed our live tweeting from the Hannover show… this video by U2gigs.com captures the wacky mood Mr B was in on the night. You had to be there. Check it out. Near the end of the show another priceless moment happened when we caught The Edge play punching Bono in the chest. These guys are having a great time on stage. Catch it while you can.
U2360 – Commerzbank Arena – Frankfurt, Germany
Second show on this leg of the U2360 tour in Frankfurt Germany.
Live stream can be found here: http://en.1000mikes.com/show/u2tour_on_air
Brussel/Bruxelles tickets/billets
It’s 7 days until the opening of the next leg of U2360 in Turin, and a bit longer before the production hits Belgium on september 22 and 23.
In an email sent today Live Nation Belgium announces they’ll start sending your purchased tickets for the two shows in Brussels in the midst of august.
All this in an effort to prohibit the illegal reselling of tickets (even calling it “criminal practice”) by shortening the time between ticket-dispatch and the show.
Live Nation urges all ticket buyers who have changed address over the past few months (or are about to move) to update their address at: http://www.teleticketservice.com/tts/nl/aanmelden.
MTV posts Brandenburg show videos
MTV has posted all EMA videos, including the three song broadcast from the Brandenburg Gate. Enjoy!
One/Magnificent:
(full screen option on MTV.com)
Sunday Bloody Sunday feat. Jay-Z (and some beeps):
(full screen option on MTV.com)
U2 at Brandenburg Gate in Berlin
Setlist
1. One
2. Magnificent
3. Sunday Bloody Sunday (snippet: Get Up Stand Up, with Jay-Z)
4. Beautiful Day (snippet: Blackbird)
5. Vertigo
6. Moment Of Surrender
Permanent Hiatus
Archives
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