Stage Set, Band Arrived, Ready 2 Rock !

The band is touring South Africa as part of its 360 Degrees Tour that was launched in 2009.

After the Sunday gig at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg the 22-time Grammy Award-winning band will move to Cape Town to perform on February 18.

Tickets went on sale in October and by yesterday 101,000 had been snapped up. The stage will allow all fans at the 11,0000-seater stadium to have a clear view of the group.

The stage, designed by Willie Williams, who has worked on 10 productions with the band, was built by Belgian company Stageco. It is 24,7metres high and can support up to 180tons.

The steel stage also includes a cylindrical video screen, that weighs 54 tonnes.

Launched in support of the group’s 2009 album, No Line on the Horizon, the tour won the Billboard Touring Award for highest grossing tour in 2009 and last year.

The group, which is led by Bono, was formed in Dublin (Ireland) in 1976 and has sold more than 150 million records.

Big Concerts Big Trouble

The South African Roadies’ Association says it will picket U2’s show at Johannesburg FNB Stadium Feb. 13 because it claims that several firms associated with the gig are employing racist policies.

E-mail correspondence seen by Pollstar indicates SARA chief Freddie Nyathela believes a picket may be the only way his members can draw attention to their cause.

Nyathela sent an open letter Feb. 4 to the numerous sponsors and service providers associated with U2’s South African shows.

It named promoter Big Concerts, production house Mushroom Productions, labour broker Running Crew and numerous companies in the Gearhouse Group as being companies that have failed to involve black production staff when top acts visit the country.

“The South African Roadies Association intends to mount a picket backstage at the U2 Johannesburg concert venue during U2’s visit to South Africa, to highlight the travesty and affront that such sponsorship and service use support of untransformed companies represents,” the open letter said.

It also attacked telecoms company 8ta, a major sponsor of the U2 dates, and hospitality service provider Warwick Events for being involved with the shows. Both companies are otherwise said to have strong commitments to skills transformation and employment equality.

It wasn’t possible to get comment from U2 manager Paul McGuinness or agent John Giddings at press time.

The threat of a picket is just the latest turn in what The Sowetan called Nyathela’s “silent but raging war.” Copies of the correspondence between the SARA chief and most of the rest of the South African live music business suggests he’s been anything but silent.

Big Concerts chief Attie van Wyk, whose company is promoting the U2 shows with Live Nation, has already had to take legal action because Nyathela openly accused the firm of racism.

Van Wyk and Gearhouse managing director Ofer Lapid deny that their decision not to use SARA crew is based on racist grounds, pointing out that at least half of their workers on any given show day are non-white.

In the last four months, Nyathela’s outbursts have also angered Technical Production Services Association chairman Robbie Blake, after he’d offered to mediate between SARA and the various live music companies.

Blake offered to set up a meeting between all sides and would have scheduled it for January, but that wasn’t soon enough for Nyathela and their correspondence appears to have come to a vitriolic end just before Christmas.

Nyathela looks to have failed in his attempt to set up a skills session between his members and U2’s crew.

The act, which hasn’t played South Africa since 1998, is also playing Cape Town Stadium Feb. 18.

The Johannesburg venue has already had its own production hiccup as last week it was discovered that thieves made off with all its power cables. The FNB released a statement assuring punters that the problem would be rectified long before show day.

Big Concerts has also rescheduled the Kings Of Leon shows that were postponed because drummer Nathan Followill needed surgery on a torn shoulder. The act will play Johannesburg and Cape Town in October.

Duals Track List

In a email to U2.com club only members the Fan Club-only CD track list was released. 

Here’s the full list:

  1. “Where The Streets Have No Name” / U2 and Soweto Gospel Choir
  2. “The Wanderer” / U2 and Johnny Cash
  3. “Falling At Your Feet” / Bono and Danny Lanois 
  4. “Miss Sarajevo” / Passengers and Luciano Pavarotti
  5. “Slow Dancing” / U2 and Willie Nelson
  6. “The Saints Are Coming” / U2 and Green Day
  7. “Sunday Bloody Sunday (Live from Auckland)” / U2 and Jay-Z
  8. “One” / U2 and Mary J Blige
  9. “When Love Comes To Town” / U2 and BB King
  10. “Stuck In A Moment You Can’t Get Out Of (Live at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame)” / U2 and Mick Jagger
  11. “The Ballad Of Ronnie Drew” / U2, The Dubliners, Kila, A Band of Bowsies
  12. “I’m Not Your Baby” / U2 and Sinead O’Connor
  13. “Stranded (Haiti Mon Amour) – Hybrid Mix” / Jay-Z, Bono, The Edge, Rihanna
  14. “Drunk Chicken / America” / U2 and Allen Ginsberg
  15. “Amazing Grace” / U2 and Soweto Gospel Choir

 

Thieves Stallout U2 in SA

JOHANNESBURG — Officials blame thieves for power problems at South Africa’s main World Cup stadium, but the stadium manager promised Friday the lights will be on in time for a U2 concert.

The theft of power cables in the area around Johannesburg’s FNB Stadium led to fluctuations in supplies that can damage generators and other equipment, stadium manager Jacques Grobbelaar said Friday. City Power spokesman Sol Masolo said his utility had asked police to investigate a case of cable theft in the matter.

Cable theft, widespread in South Africa and elsewhere, is likely to increase with recent global copper price rises.

A national soccer league game scheduled for Saturday at the stadium had to be canceled to allow for repairs before the U2 concert, Grobbelaar said.

Grobbelaar said U2 is expected to draw 98,000 fans, making the Feb. 13 concert a bigger event than the World Cup final, when the stadium hosted about 94,000 people.

U2's 'claw' arrives at Soccer City

The large, four-legged steel structure named the “claw” holds the sound system and video screen.

“The stage set features a 360-degree configuration… this unique design affords fans the opportunity to surround the entire stage as it has no definite front and back,” said Stadium Management SA chief executive Jacques Grobbelaar.

“Johannesburg is about to be gripped in “U2 fever” in anticipation of the build up to the concert, to be held on Sunday, February 13,” he said.

“The event is set to rock the city [and] preparations are well underway.”

A massive crowd was anticipated and management was preparing to host die-hard fans who would camp overnight in the surrounds of the stadium.

“For us this is extremely exciting to be hosting a global band of this stature and we have launched additional hospitality seat tickets in the Gold Club to accommodate all the U2 fans,” said Grobbelaar

Build it and they will come !

“There is no stadium big enough in Atlantic Canada so we will build one and they will come,” he said in a statement. “The impossible will become possible. Moncton will host the last North American U2 360 Tour date and it promises to be the biggest and greatest entertainment spectacle in Atlantic Canada history.”

Iconic rock band U2 has confirmed it will play an outdoor concert at Magnetic Hill in Moncton on July 30.

The Moncton concert is the last date on U2’s North American tour and is the first time the band has played in Atlantic Canada.

“The Moncton show is set to be the final date of the U2 360 Tour in North America and we’re really looking forward to bringing this now legendary 360 production into Atlantic Canada for the first time,” said Paul McGuinness, U2’s manager, in a statement.

The Moncton stop will have a special appearance with Montreal’s Arcade Fire. As well, the band Carney will open for U2.

Moncton Mayor George LeBlanc said the city is honoured to have U2 play at the outdoor concert venue, which has already hosted major bands, such as the Rolling Stones and AC/DC.

“To host one of the biggest bands, on one of the biggest stages, as part of one of the biggest tours for their final North American date is an honour,” LeBlanc said in a statement.

The concert stop in Moncton will also see some changes to the Magnetic Hill concert site.

Donald K Donald, the concert promoter, said there was no venue in Atlantic Canada big enough to hold the concert, so they are altering Magnetic Hill to fit the band’s stage.

“There is no stadium big enough in Atlantic Canada so we will build one and they will come,” he said in a statement.

“The impossible will become possible. Moncton will host the last North American U2 360 Tour date and it promises to be the biggest and greatest entertainment spectacle in Atlantic Canada history.”

Ticket prices will go on sale on Feb. 8 and range from $29.50 to $275. The general admission tickets are $65.

It wasn’t long after speculation started last week about U2’s pending concert date started that hotel rooms in southeastern New Brunswick started filling up.

A standard room is now going for more than $200 and some hotels are charging $379.

Along with the Rolling Stones and AC/DC, the Eagles and Bon Jovi have also played outdoor concerts at Moncton’s Magnetic Hill site.

U2 New Album Release Due in May

Paul McGuinness has reiterated that U2 is planning to have a new album out in May, in time for the North American leg of the U2 360 tour. 

Amazon.de – the German branch of the electronic commerce company – has listed the as-yet-untitled effort to come out on May 27.

No other details were available at press time about the release date.

The Irish band have been working with Black Eyed Peas star Will.i.am and David Guetta on their follow-up to 2009’s ‘No Line On The Horizon’.

In December, Will.i.am said that songs he had recorded with U2 had “blown” people away when he previewed them at a party last year.

Meanwhile, U2’s Bono and The Edge are currently putting the final touches to the broadway adaptation of Spider-Man

South Africa More Tickets

Additional tickets now available for next month’s shows in Johannesburg  on February 13th and Cape Town on February 18th.

‘The U2 360° Tour is ready to roll into South Africa, and now that the production has been set, promoters Big Concerts and Live Nation have announced that the sight-lines in both venues are even better than anticipated and as such a selection of excellent tickets starting at R401 have now just been released.

Tickets in both cities are still available through Computicket (www.computicket.com or 083915800).  In addition a few select hospitality packages are still available through Warwick Hospitality on 011.385.9879. 

South Africa More Tickets

Additional tickets now available for next month’s shows in Johannesburg  on February 13th and Cape Town on February 18th.

‘The U2 360° Tour is ready to roll into South Africa, and now that the production has been set, promoters Big Concerts and Live Nation have announced that the sight-lines in both venues are even better than anticipated and as such a selection of excellent tickets starting at R401 have now just been released.

Tickets in both cities are still available through Computicket (www.computicket.com or 083915800).  In addition a few select hospitality packages are still available through Warwick Hospitality on 011.385.9879. 

Moncton Press Conference Today

Live Nation Global Touring holding press conference at noon today in Moncton. Easily one of the biggest concerts to ever rock the Maritimes is expected to be officially announced today.

But HRM Mayor Peter Kelly says there is no sour grapes that iconic rockers U2 are reportedly playing in Moncton, not Halifax, this summer.

“That’s great for them. That’s great for Atlantic Canada and I wish them well,” Kelly said yesterday. 

The concert would be the latest feather in the cap for the New Brunswick city in landing major events. 

The Rolling Stones and AC/DC have all played out of the Magnetic Hill concert site, and last September, Moncton hosted the first-ever regular season Canadian Football League game east of Quebec at its new 20,000-seat outdoor stadium. 

“We can’t keep fighting over everything,” Kelly said, referring to talk of a rivalry existing between Moncton and Halifax in landing these marquee events. “Everybody can’t get everything. We have to share those resources. They have done well and I wish them well with this concert.”

There are no outdoor shows coming to the Halifax Common this summer because of the Canada Games oval, but Kelly said there may be at least one major one on Garrisons Grounds. 

He offered no specifics, but said “there have been some discussions with some groups.”

“I can’t get into any specific names,” he said. “I’ve heard quite a few names, but the fact is that I don’t want to impact those negotiations.”

U2 Coming To Moncton, Possible ?

Although U2 originally had no plans on the horizon for additional shows this summer, it appears they might have one or two more surprises up their sleeves, including a final North American show in late July in the Maritimes as part of their 360 world tour.

Possible July 30 concert at Moncton, N.B.’s Magnetic Hill has been given a bit more clout. When a Pittsburgh concert was announced for July 26 at Heinz Field last October, the band’s online newsletter originally dubbed it as “the final date on next year’s rescheduled 360 tour.” But the news item has had its wording edited, stating Pittsburgh to be the “final US show,” making an additional Canadian date possible.

Various media outlets in Atlantic Canada are speculating about the logistics of bringing the massive claw-like stage to the proposed site, but the venue has staged shows in previous years by The Rolling Stones, Tim McGraw and The Eagles. Other outlets report an official announcement could be made as early as next week. The buzz has resulted in many of the hotels and motels in the region being fully booked for late July.

So we will call this a rumor for now -

Bono and Guetta Smashing Good !

David Guetta is looking forward to the ”challenge” of producing U2, and says he’s ”honored” to have been approached to work with them .

David Guetta is looking forward to the “challenge” of producing U2.

The French DJ confirmed he has been approached by the Irish rockers about making tracks together, and wants to take part in their next project, which lead singer Bono has previously described as a “club-sounding record”.

David - who has worked with artists including Rihanna, Flo Rida and Black Eyed Peas before - said: “We met with Bono, and I was really excited, really honored because he proposed me to maybe produce some tracks for the next U2 album.

“I’ve been more and more open to different styles of music, and obviously electronic music is still my main thing, but I just love music. If it’s good, it doesn’t matter what style.

“After those collaborations with all these urban artists, I thought it would be a real challenge for me to try to go in that direction.”

He also admitted that he has started working on some ideas for the ‘Vertigo’ rockers, adding to MTV: “I started a few ideas already, yes.”

U2’s “club” record is as yet untitled, but producers said to have been approached to work on it, as well as David include will.i.am of Black Eyed Peas and Lady Gaga’s producer RedOne.

The band - which also features guitarist The Edge, drummer Adam Clayton and bass player Larry Mullen Jr. - are also presently said to be working on a rock album, called ‘Songs Of Ascent’ with producer Danger Mouse, who has previously worked on records for The Black Keys, Beck and Gorillaz.

A third project linked to the group is a conceptual soundtrack to Bono and guitarist The Edge’s Spider-Man musical, which has been beset with problems, but is now due to open on Broadway in New York in March

U2 donates over $6 million

Music Generation is the new national musical initiative that will aim to provide a musical education for 10,000 disadvantaged children over the next three years in Ireland.

U2 contributed $6 million towards the cost of the new scheme which is also supported by the American Ireland Fund. The band decided to support the project when the state funded pilot scheme, which operated in Ballyfermot and Co. Donegal was unable to be rolled out on a national scale because of financial issues.

The money will help provide a series of local music, education partnerships performed by established music teachers, musicians and administrators.

The project aims to offer free of charge or subsidized music lessons to school children either in or out of the classroom.

Music Generation aims to set up a dozen partnerships throughout Ireland. The Department of Education has committed to publicly funding the scheme after 2015.

Organizers are hopeful that over the next five years, the initiative will be established enough to offer all children the opportunity of a musical education.

Rosaleen Molloy, the director of Music Generation said that Ireland was trailing the European average, as only one percent of secondary school children receive tuition in playing instruments or singing. The European average is between six and eight percent.

“Not only does it give you the technical skills of learning how to play an instrument, a music education gives you skills that you need for life, a great sense of confidence, discipline and team-working,” she said.

“The gift that U2 and the Ireland Fund have given to our young people goes way beyond musical skills. It is giving them an empowerment and a belief in themselves,” she added.

While none of the members were present at the launch yesterday, a statement from guitarist The Edge said they had been lucky enough to learn music at school and that the scheme would prove beneficial to all those involved.



Bonarroo 2011 Line up, U2 ?

Not so fast before you book your tickets to TN, USA. Wait until you hear an official announced line up. It seems that the Paste Magazine mistakenly posted a fake “leaked” line-up for the Tennessee festival on Wednesday morning, sending every stoner in the country into a frenzy. No surprise there, considering the poster featured a dream line-up with U2, Death Cab for Cutie, Drake, and Neil Young amongst the hoped-for performers.

We’re hoping that the folks at Bonnaroo use the poster as a guide when they’re making their phone calls, but Bonnaroo guests usually aren’t announced until early- to mid-February.

Remember we said this was a fake ! 

Melissa From San Diego Loves U2

We have been collecting U2 fans stories for a couple of years. We thought about how we would want to share them with you.  Here is a storie of  “Mel from San Diego” she claims that U2 is “not her music era” However one song turned her world upside down and changed her views of music forever. Do you have a U2 story you want to share ? Send your story, photo’s and video to “fanmail at u2tourfans dot com”

Melissa Take it away

“I am 26, born in 1984. As you can imagine, U2 is not definetely NOT my music era. I have 2 older sisters. Cynthia, who is 12 years older than me, and Melina who is 6 years older. I am the youngest. I never imagined liking U2 so much.

I remember, the first song I heard of U2 was “One”. This was @ 1992, 1993 I believe, when Acthung Baby came out. I was around 8 or 9.

The song that stuck in my head, after hearing my sister play that album over and over again all night was “Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses”. That “hey hey sha la la ” chorus stuck.  The song rocked me to sleep. 

I remember that a couple of days later I sneaked into my sisters room and looked desperately for the cassette. Bon Jovi’s “Bad Medicine” cassette was in one tape recorder.
I didn’t even know what the cassette looked like, not even who sang it.
I finally found the cassette that had the song ONE on it so it felt right to play it. I listened to the whole tape till my “Sha la la” came out. I haven’t stopped listening to U2 since then.
I consider myself one of the biggest U2 fans out there. I eat, breathe, dream U2.
I can finally die in peace knowing I had Bono like 2 meters away from me at The Rose Bowl in Pasadena. I was walking with my husband to the entrance ti the gate when I suddenly hear sirens.
I saw a convoy of Black Cadillacs coming my way. I stopped. My heart pounding. Suddenly, Bono rolled down his window, made the peace sign and drove in.
OMG I felt I was having a heart attack. Why didn’t I take pictures? Don’t know. But somebody got in on tape.”


“and see that fat girl jumping up and down with the white shirt, you’ll imagine WHY she is so happy…..those 3 seconds of my life that he passed by me seemed eternal….. That fat girl is meeee.. :)”



Comment:  U2 Fans come in all sizes, ages, colors, reglions and most of all they are just like you and me.

U2 music honors Dr King

“Pride (In The Name Of Love)” is an old favorite song which deserves play today on Martin Luther King Day.  The song comes from their career-expanding 1984 album, The Unforgettable Fire.  The album was produced by Brian Eno who encouraged a more atmospheric and ambient sound, a major change in direction for the band.  Their previous three records had been produced by Steve Lillywhite.  The album also featured an elegy to Martin Luther King, called “MLK.”

The Unforgettable Fire also marks their long-term collaboration with photographer and director Anton Corbijn.  Corbijn collaborated most notably with Joy Division on the video for the 1988 release of the single “Atmosphere”, Echo and the Bunnymen and Depeche Mode.  Corbijn recently directed Control (2007) which was about the band Joy Division and The American (2010).

The lyrics make reference to Jesus being betrayed with a kiss, as well as referring to the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.  All came in the name of love.

Adam Clayton finally becomes a father

Adam Clayton /U2TOURFANS 2010 Adams Clayton has finally become a father.

The Sunday Independent newspaper has revealed that 50-year-old Clayton, for years the bad boy of the group, had a child with his French girlfriend last year.

He is said to be over the moon.

Clayton was the bad boy best known for his rocky relationship with supermodel Naomi Campbell.

In more recent times it was revealed that his long-time personal assistant had allegedly been ripping him off.

Those bad times seem to be behind him now and the U2 bassist is looking at a more settled life with his new addition.

It took a while.

“I think one of the great things about bands is that they allow you to be irresponsible for longer — whether or not in the end that’s a really healthy position to take,” Adam told Q Magazine in 2001.

“I guess I’ve been lucky in that I f….d about until my mid-30s and now I can have more of a balanced outlook. I think not having a family and kids, I know what I need.”

He was a wild child.

Bono once stated that “we lived through him vicariously for a few years. I was hoping that he’d do something like buy a yacht and we could all hang out on it. Because all of us were too embarrassed.”

U2 adds a third show in La Plata

The Irish band U2 has added a date to the Estadio Unico de La Plata. The new show will be on April 3rd, also add  Muse as guest band 

The other two dates will be March 30 and April 2. For both, the tickets are sold out

U2 agrega un tercer show en La Plata

Delay again !

The Spider-Man musical scored by U2’s Bono and The Edge has again been postponed - this time in order to allow the cast rehearse a new ending.

‘Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark’ has been plagued by problems, including lead actress Natalie Mendoza pulling out earlier this month following an onstage injury, as well as numerous other delays. In December, another actor from the musical was hospitalised after falling off the set. It will now open officially on Broadway in March, reports BBC News.

The show’s producer, Michael Cohl, said that the delay will be “the final postponement”.

Meanwhile, Bono and The Edge have also been personally working on the show again recently in light of its problems, bringing in producer Steve Lillywhite to work with the cast on its music, reports Deadline.com. Although its problems have been highly-publicised, tickets for the musical are reportedly selling well. 

Kings of the castle

It was a homecoming of sorts, but one fit for rock royalty. The historic Dromoland Castle flung open its doors in extraordinary circumstances this week for returning global superstars U2.

Despite being closed for Christmas, staff at the five-star hotel went back to work just for one night on Monday to welcome U2 singer Bono and guitarist Edge. The rockers had their travel plans disrupted by snow and needed somewhere suitably palatial to hole up for the night.

The stay came about after U2′s Principal Management contacted the 16th Century castle, where a luxury suite costs €950 a night, to ask if they could put up some VIPs.

Dromoland Castle manager Mark Nolan said: “Principal Management told us the band had been flying back to Ireland from the latest leg of their tour in Australia. But because of snow their flight had been diverted to Shannon.

Bono had asked if it was possible to spend a night in Dromoland Castle before returning to Dublin.”

Mr Nolan had to tell U2′s management that Dromoland Castle was closed for Christmas — but said he would see what could be done.

The Dubliner then rang around staff to ask if they would cater for the biggest rock stars in the world.

“No one said no, in fact we were inundated with requests from staff to help out, unsurprisingly,” added Mr Nolan.

But with Bono and the Edge arriving at Dromoland in a matter of hours, the kitchen at the castle was shut with the head chef away.

So the hotel boss sought the help of his wife Maria to lay on the catering.

Faced with a famished U2, luckily Mrs Nolan had been doing some cooking for Christmas — including a family-sized shepherd’s pie, which she served when the musicians arrived at the castle.

The impromptu dinner party included 10 of U2′s road crew and bass guitarist Chris Wolstenholme from English rock band Muse, who had been the support act on the Australian leg of U2′s tour.

During the meal they were entertained by a trad band, with Bono lending his vocals to their set of Irish airs.

Sources say the party went on well into the night, with the members of the rock band joined by the skeleton staff at the castle.

Suites

Later the group retired to their luxury suites, which feature cottage-style decor based on 18th Century botanical drawings and upholstery designed by the French fabric house Pierre Frey.

The next morning, after making them breakfast, staff waved the band off as they went to catch a train to Dublin’s Heuston Station. Dromoland Castle confirmed that U2 were paying guests during their stay.

“U2 were the nicest people you ever could meet and very engaging. They were especially appreciative of the efforts the staff at Dromoland had made. We would happily welcome U2 back anytime,” said Pamela Foley, rooms division manager at Dromoland Castle.

Set among 410 acres of park and woodland, Dromoland Castle is regarded as one of Europe’s top luxury retreats.

Former US presidents Bill Clinton and George W Bush have both stayed there, as has Hollywood actor John Travolta.

U2 begin the next leg of their world tour in Johannesburg, South Africa, on February 13.

- Ken Sweeney Entertainment Editor