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March 25, 2001
U2 Elevation Tour Takes Off Soaring
3.25.01 - Reuters
By Angus MacSwan
MIAMI (Reuters) - Rock superstars U2 launched their first U.S. tour in nearly four years in classic form in Florida on Saturday night, treating 20,000 devoted, delirious fans to a crowd-pleasing mix of old and new songs delivered with their legendary energy free of the extravagances of their most recent tours.
The Irish rockers hit the stage of the National Car Rental Center arena at Sunrise, near Miami, with the house lights still on and launched into a swinging "Elevation" for their new album "All That You Can't Leave Behind".
For the next two hours they put on a performance in which the songs, not the stage props, were the focus. They played six from the new album but also reached back to the socially-aware anthems of their 1980s glory days for a raft of songs from "War", "The Joshua Tree" and beyond, even bashing out their first ever single, "I Will Follow".
The elaborate stage props, production and high-tech music of their 1990s stadium tours -- the Trabants, the giant lemon and the live link-up with Sarajevo -- were also scaled back. Still, a diamond-shaped catwalk surrounded the stage, along which the indefatigable Bono strutted, sprinted and exhorted the crowd.
Inside the circle were a few hundred lucky fans -- when the black-clad singer strode out on the walk-way, it appeared he was walking along the outstretched arms of the faithful.
Much-Anticipated Opening Night
Fans had come from far and wide for the much-anticipated opening night of the Elevation Tour 2001, which will take a band that has sold 100 million albums worldwide since they started out playing Dublin pubs nearly a quarter-century ago on an 80-date trek through North America and Europe.
"I just love U2 and it's always been a dream of mine to see them on an opening night," said Canadian Justin Luey, who had come down from St. Catherine's, Ontario for the show. A veteran U2 follower, he has tickets for 13 of the dates on the tour.
"It's a connection...everything they write makes sense to me. They care about their audience . They challenge us, " the 25-year-old Internet designer said before the concert kicked off. " I'm not worried at all they'll deliver."
Fellow Irishman Elvis Costello, in Miami on vacation, was among the celebratory guests.
The band followed "Elevation" with "Beautiful Day," a song which helped them to three Grammys (news - web sites) at the music award show last month. Then it was into their back pages for "New Years Day."
Guitarist the Edge (Dave Evans), dressed in a Miami Dolphins T-shirt, jeans and black wool cap, earned cheers for his falsetto singing on the coda of the Dylanesque "Stuck in the Middle". Another song from the new album, "New York" sounded a lot better live than on CD, with an almost Asian percussive beat, that mood heightened by four huge silky screens which unfurled from the gantries and silhouetted the players.
"Discoteque," with Bono splicing in a few lines from disco diva Donna Summer, was one of few songs from their 1990s output. For "Mysterious Ways", Bono lay down atop a video monitor which showed a gyrating dancer and throughout the concert four giant video screens showed the band -- Bono, the Edge, drummer Mullen and bassist Adam Clayton close-up.
Roars Of Approval
The old songs drew roars of approval. "Sunday Bloody Sunday", a plea for peace in Northern Ireland, was just like old times, Mullen rapping out the martial beat, Bono waving an Irish tricolor he'd grabbed from an audience member and singing lines from Bob Marley's "Get Up, Stand Up" midway through the song. "Bad" was another old favorite and the collector's item "Sweetest Thing,," with Bono hammering away at the piano, was a surprise.
Toward the end of the show two "Joshua Tree" songs, "Where the Streets have No Name" and "Bullet the Blue Sky" showed the band at their most fiery, the latter, a song about the 1980s war in El Salvador (news - web sites), featuring searing guitar from the Edge. But the bombast was tempered by some tenderness and the closing trio of songs "With or Without You," "One", and "Walk On", dedicated to Burmese pro-democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, ended the show on a moving note.
"How was the night for you...I hope we didn't f..k up," Bono said by way of farewell to the audience. If one question raised before the tour was are U2 still on the cutting edge or merely this year's equivalent of the Fleetwood Mac reunion, the answer in the end didn't seem to matter.
"It was awesome," said Pete Van Dyke, a 31-year-old advertising executive from Orlando, Florida and a veteran of 13 U2 shows. "It was back to basics, simply the songs. Bono's voice was great."
"Those guys wear it all on their sleeves. They leave nothing on the table."
Copyright © 2001 Yahoo! Inc., and Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
Posted by Jonathan at 03:19 AM | Comments (0)
March 24, 2001
U2 Kicks Off Tour With Unadulterated Rock, Straight From the Heart
Miami-Ft. Lauderdale Elevation concert, March 24, 2001
U2 Kicks Off Tour With Unadulterated Rock, Straight From the Heart
By Neil Strauss, NY Times
SUNRISE, Fla., March 25 — U2 had nothing to hide when it opened its Elevation world tour on Saturday night at the National Car Rental Center here. The concert, which sold out its 18,800 tickets just minutes before showtime, began with the house lights on and the members of U2 casually walking onstage. With the bright, unflattering lights still blazing, the band began to play "Elevation."
The concept was that there is no concept to U2's new tour and album, and that's a brave thing. It leaves no way to hide from mediocrity: if an album or concert fails, the band can't fall back on the old excuse that the fans, the media, the record company or radio programmers didn't get it. After all, there is nothing not to get about the latest version of U2. It's pure, simple, it's-a-beautiful-day rock 'n' roll. And there's nothing mediocre about it: "All That You Can't Leave Behind" is the band's best album in at least 13 years and the concert proved it, because new songs like "Beautiful Day," "Walk On," "Stuck in a Moment" and "In a Little While" (which the leather-jacketed Bono dedicated to his wife as an apology for not being around for her birthday last week) held their own as classics next to the band's older material.
The tour itself, though a far cry from the spectacle of the group's "PopMart," "Zooropa" and "Zoo TV" stadium shows, was superior in many ways because it involved the audience instead of simply distracting it with gimmicks. U2 must agree, because the band is currently accepting offers on its Web site, u2.com, from parties interested in purchasing the giant mirror-ball lemon used on the "PopMart" tour.
At Saturday's two-hour-plus show, the major prop was a red heart-shaped catwalk, which encircled the stage and 300 audience members, placing them in the very bottom of U2's heart, which Bono ran around and posed on all night. Instead of hiding behind the veneer of irony and flash, the band made an effort to make rock 'n' roll a communal experience, not of a narcissistic one.
Bono ran through the sea of fans on the floor of the arena (which the band is insisting be a standing area that is ticketed general admission), carried a searchlight that he shone on each section of seats, and when the show ended, asked with as much humility as a Bono can muster, "Have we got the job?"
This back-to-reality approach almost resulted in a real disaster for Bono, because while flirting with the audience on the raised catwalk three songs into the set he tumbled off the back of the platform onto the floor, where he lay dazed for several moments before he was able to start singing again. For the band, returning to the roots of its music — simply the ardent wail of Bono; the sputtering, ringing full-bodied guitar playing of the Edge; the puissant, rumbling bass work of Adam Clayton; and the march-meets-rock beats of Larry Mullen Jr. on drums — meant revisiting early songs live.
In a move uncharacteristic of recent tours, the band loaded its set with early singles, including "I Will Follow," "New Year's Day" and "Sunday Bloody Sunday" (into which Bono inserted a brief Bob Marley medley and waved an Irish flag a fan handed him).
By returning to the basics with such success, the band has forever labeled its 90's work as having made a wrong turn after "Achtung Baby." But U2 refused to disavow the material. It almost seemed to go out of its way to give a nod to its past tours, performing weaker songs like "Discothèque" and appropriately adding extra visual effects to the songs like videos by the Irish artist Catherine Owens.
Fortunately, U2 is not a band that heeds its own advice. "All that you can't leave behind, you've got to leave it behind," Bono sang in an added coda to "Walk On" to close the show.
But in returning to what it left behind (not a bar-rock band, which U2 was never really meant to be, but an earnest arena-rock band that believes in the power of a right-headed song that tens of thousands of people can sing along with), U2 succeeded in making opening night of its Elevation tour, despite Bono's difficulty getting comfortable onstage at first and his ensuing accidental stage dive, one of the best big rock shows of the past year.
Copyright © 2001 The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.
Posted by Jonathan at 04:48 AM | Comments (0)
March 21, 2001
U2 Builds Stage, Loses PJ Harvey
3.21.01 - Wall Of Sound
While U2 constructs an elaborate stage for its first U.S. tour in four years, opening act PJ Harvey was forced to quit the first shows due to an illness.
Polly Jean Harvey dropped out of the first four shows of the tour, which begins Saturday in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and she has also axed four gigs from her own March tour of Europe. The alternative rock singer, who is suffering from a bad fever according to the Toronto Sun, is planning to join the band April 2 in Houston, Texas.
The Corrs - four Irish siblings who blend traditional Irish music and instrumentation with a contemporary pop sound - will be the openers for at least the first two shows of the tour.
Meanwhile, the band has been hard at work preparing for its Elevation Tour 2001. According to a Miami Herald report, the act has rented Miami Arena, at a cost of $3,500 a day, to allow a crew to construct its elaborate stage.
While details of the design were being kept secret, Miami Arena's general manager, Robert Franklin, told the paper that the stage was "gigantic, almost in the shape of a diamond. It's a very impressive set, that's for sure."
When the band announced the tour, members promised a "more personal" feel than its most recent outing - the 1997 PopMart tour, with its infamous giant lemon.
In lieu of these concerns, the stage will feature banks of large television screens, as well as an area within the stage where fans enter. The band will rehearse there in the next few days.
Saturday's sold-out show will be the first of 80 dates in North America and Europe.
The tour comes on the back of a successful outing at this year's Grammy Awards, where the act - which formed in Dublin 25 years ago - won each of the three awards for which it was nominated. The single "Beautiful Day" won the band prizes for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group.
U2's latest album, All That You Can't Leave Behind, was ineligible for Grammys, because of its late October release. The LP has sold more than 2 million copies in the United States since its release.
Copyright © 2001 ABC News Internet Ventures. All rights reserved.
Posted by Jonathan at 03:23 AM | Comments (0)
March 17, 2001
Bono Discusses Debt Relief With Powell
3.17.01 - The Irish Times
Bono brought his campaign for debt relief for developing countries to the US State Department tonight, where he had a meeting with Secretary of State Mr Colin Powell.
Bono and Mr Powell also talked about Africa and AIDS, two other humanitarian concerns of the U2 lead singer, State Department spokesman Mr Richard Boucher said.
Mr Powell told Bono he was glad the singer was using his fame to work on something good, a State Department official added. Bono replied, 'Our audience is smart and aware.'
"A lot of individuals in the private sector, coming from a lot of different backgrounds have been very important to some of these issues and we listen to these people. ... We're in a new age, a democratic age when there are a lot of players besides the government," said Mr Boucher.
Mr Powell, who was about to go to the White House for an Irish event, learned from Bono the correct pronunciation of taoiseach.
Last year, Bono played a part in persuading the United States to provide $435 million in debt relief to some of the world's most indebted poor.
Copyright © 2001 The Irish Times/ireland.com. All rights reserved.
Posted by Jonathan at 03:24 AM | Comments (0)
March 16, 2001
Bono Honours Boss
3.16.01 - dotmusic
U2 frontman Bono will pay the ultimate tribute to the boss of his record label by inducting him into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next week.
Chris Blackwell, the founder of Island Records, will receive the honour at New York's Waldorf Hotel on March 19th.
Bono will induct Blackwell in the non-performer category, after the legendary music business figure signed U2 over 20 years ago.
Moby, the Foo Fighters and 'N SYNC will join Bono as presenters at the 16th annual ceremony.
Steely Dan, Queen, Michael Jackson, Paul Simon, Aerosmith and Ritchie Valens are amongst the other musicians set to be honoured.
Copyright © 2001 dotmusic.com ltd. All rights reserved.
Posted by Jonathan at 03:26 AM | Comments (0)
March 10, 2001
U2's Slane Gig Sells Out In Minutes
3.10.01 - BBC News
The Slane one-day festival, this year headlined by U2, has sold out in just over half an hour.
There was frenzied demand as the 80,000 tickets for the August event at Slane Castle, near Dublin, went on sale at 0700GMT on Saturday.
U2, who recently picked up an outstanding contribution award at the Brits, will play Slane at the end of a sprinkling of UK dates as part of their Elevation tour.
The ten-hour event at Slane will also include Red Hot Chili Peppers, Coldplay, Kelis, JJ72 and Relish.
There were angry scenes in Dublin after fans that had waited outside ticket outlets since Friday morning missed out to those booking over the internet or by telephone.
In Dublin, one youth was arrested and extra police officers were called in as disappointed fans were turned away from Ticketmaster on Grafton Street.
Last month U2 turned back the clock by playing their smallest UK venue for nearly 18 years at the Astoria in London.
For many years the band's lavish stage sets and huge demand for tickets has meant they have tended to play stadiums and outdoor venues.
Return to Slane
Concerts at Manchester's MEN Arena, Birmingham NEC and London's Earl's Court mark a return to indoor venues for U2.
The Irish quartet, who will play a string of north American and European dates beforehand, then go to Slane where 20 years ago they supported Thin Lizzy.
Slane, 20 miles north of Dublin in County Meath has been a historic concert venue for 18 years, hosting acts from Queen to Bruce Springsteen during the 1980s.
Recent headliners include Bryan Adams last year and Robbie Williams in 1999 and the Verve played their last concert there in 1998, an occasion attended by then-Northern Ireland Secretary Mo Mowlam.
Copyright © 2001 BBC News. All rights reserved.
Posted by Jonathan at 03:28 AM | Comments (0)
March 06, 2001
U2 Prepare To Elevate Europe
3.6.01 - music365
U2 have announced the first details of the European leg of the globetrotting 'Elevation' tour.
The European jaunt begins in Copenhagen on July 6 and will take in 16 cities culminating in a homecoming gig at Slane Castle, Dublin on August 25. It is 20 years since U2 last played Slane Castle as support to Thin Lizzy.
Those European dates so far are:
Copenhagen (July 6)
Stockholm (9)
Cologne (12)
Munich (15)
Paris (17)
Imola (21)
Zurich (23)
Vienna (26)
Berlin (29)
Utretch (31)
Antwerp (August 5)
Barcelona (8)
Manchester Evening News Arena (11)
Birmingham NEC (14)
London Earl's Court (18)
Slane Castle, Ireland (25)
The first tickets to go on sale on Friday 9th March are for the UK concerts and prices are: Birmingham NEC - £32.50 and £40; Manchester MEN - £32.50 and £40 London Earl's Court - £37.50 and £45.
Tickets for the UK dates can be booked via credit card on 0870 243 9009 (24 hour), online at www.buyupfront.com, direct from the venue box offices and from the usual local outlets. Tickets for Slane can be booked by telephone on 1890 925 100 (Republic of Ireland) or 0870 243 4455 (Northern Ireland and UK.)
Copyright © 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 365 Corporation plc. All rights reserved.
Posted by Jonathan at 03:29 AM | Comments (0)
March 02, 2001
U2 to Play Slane Castle Fest
3.2.01 - Rollingstone.com
Chili Peppers, Coldplay and Kelis to join U2 in Ireland
U2's Elevation tour will conclude with an August 25th date at Slane Castle, marking the band's first concert appearance in Ireland in four years and the twentieth anniversary of their last performance at the castle back in 1981 when they opened for Thin Lizzy. The band also recorded its 1984 album, The Unforgettable Fire, at Slane Castle.
The performance will be part of a one day, ten-hour, outdoor music festival also featuring the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Coldplay, Kelis and new Irish acts JJ72 and Relish.
"We've waited a long time to do this," says drummer Larry Mullen. "It's going to be a beautiful day."
U2's North American tour is set to kick off on March 24th in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida before wrapping up June 22nd in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The itinerary for the European leg of the Elevation tour has not been set.
Tickets for the Slane Castle festival go on sale March 10th at www.ticketmaster.ie.
CHRISTINA SARACENO
Copyright © 2001 RollingStone.com. All rights reserved.
Posted by Jonathan at 03:30 AM | Comments (0)