OZ and NZ shows sell out
U2 fans in Australia and New Zealand are expressing their disappointment of not getting tickets to the shows in their countries, which sold out faster than you can say, “Damn you, Ticketek and Ticketmaster!” The Sydney show sold out in an hour, the Auckland show in 90 minutes, and the Melbourne show in two hours. A second Auckland show was announced for March 18. Second shows in Sydney and Melbourne are expected to be announced tomorrow (Tuesday, Dec. 6).
Tickets to the OZ and NZ shows are already being sold on eBay for more than $2000 each.
Fans who were locked out of the on-sales have an alternative way to score tickets. Over the weekend, ETS, the official tour and travel operator for the Vertigo Tour, announced that it is offering packages for the shows in Auckland, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Sydney. The packages include hotel accommodations, a pre-show party, and concert tickets.
ETS is also offering a contest to win a package for two to see U2 in Sydney. You must register as an ETS Insider to enter the contest.
Update: U2 announced today additional shows in Auckland, Melbourne, and Sydney. Tickets for these shows will go on sale on Monday, Dec. 12 at 9 a.m.
Will You Follow in 2006?
ETS, the official tour and travel operator for the Vertigo Tour, is asking for fan input on the 2006 tour. ETS recognizes that U2 fans travel great distances to see the band, but ETS is wondering how far we will follow.
If you are planning or want to attend any of the shows on the 2006 tour (there will definitely be more dates announced!), please take a minute to read a letter from Don McVie, the president of ETS, about the 2006 tour and answer his questions.
Waiter 'rants' about Larry Mullen
A New York waiter mentions Larry Mullen on his blog ‘Waiter Rant‘.
Nothing but good about the drummer, he’s characterised as ‘unassuming, polite and a good tipper’.
Staff at this waiter’s bistro are under strict policy to treat celebs as everyone else. Weblogger Waiter can’t help but think the policy is a ‘pain in the ass’ sometimes, as he and his co-worker are ‘HUGE U2 fans’:
“So the next time Larry comes in can we ask him to get Bono to front us a loan?” Arlene asks mischievously.
“Be nice.” I agree
“Yeah.”
“If we were a Third World country.”.
“I’ll settle for tickets.” Arlene says.
“Me too.”
Read the full story at Waiter Rant.
Bono and Edge Attend Rally
While U2 fans enjoyed the MTV/VH1 broadcast of the 46664 concert on World AIDS Day (Dec. 1), Bono and Edge attended an AIDS Day rally organized by the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) in Cape Town, South Africa, where Bono addressed a small audience comprised of HIV-positive people and AIDS activists. The U2 singer acknowledged the inititatives that TAC has taken on, saying he was “overwhelmed” by the organization’s work, and paid tribute to the true heroes of the fight–those living with AIDS/HIV.
Live Talking: Q&A with the Author of ‘U2 Live’
The book instantly became U2′s final authority on all things regarding touring history. On tour, I carry a copy in my work box and there’s always one on the band’s aeroplane, largely for solving arguments over important issues like exactly when we first played in Detroit, or the name of that club in Burton-on-Trent where Bono first went body surfing. It would also make us laugh too, like a family photo album, with its occasional painfully frank reports about certain events or performances.”
–Willie Williams in the foreword of U2 Live: A Concert Documentary
The third edition of U2 Live: A Concert Documentary, the definitive U2 reference book, is now available from Omnibus Press. The book includes information, anecdotes, and facts from virtually every single U2 show, from 1976 to 2003, including spontaneous performances with local bands, impromptu sessions with fans and friends, and acoustic jams during radio and television interviews. Filled with more than 500 photographs and insightful commentary, the book has been produced by U2 fans and is specifically designed to revive memories for anyone who has ever experienced a U2 performance.
The author of the new edition, Caroline van Oosten de Boer, talks with U2log.com’s Cindy Trickel about the book.
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U2 News Links
- Bono Honors Queen Elizabeth May 24, 2012Bono was in London Wednesday for a Diamond Jubilee celebration of the arts for Queen Elizabeth, who's in her 60th year on the throne. As the Belfast Telegraph reports, Bono praised the Queen about her visit to Ireland last year: "I wanted to take this opportunity to acknowledge the extraordinary magic that you made on your trip to Ireland last year […]
- 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 […]