Frontman Bono said band members were excited to be performing again for their Australian fans, with U2’s last official visit being in 1998 during the Popmart tour.

"It’s the best pleasure to be here," Bono told Network Ten. "We’ve waited a long time for this."

The band headed to the Gold Coast, where they were staying at the five-star Palazzo Versace Hotel.

Bono, guitarist The Edge, bass player Adam Clayton and drummer Larry Mullen Jr were here in March, at the tail end of the year-long Vertigo world tour.

But the tour was postponed in Sydney when The Edge’s daughter became seriously ill.

Eight months later, U2 has returned for next Tuesday’s opening Australian concert at the Queensland Sports and Athletics Centre in Brisbane.

The break gave Bono an opportunity to launch his initiative (RED) in the US, which will raise further funds for women and children suffering HIV/AIDS in Africa.

The band also recorded a cover of punk anthem The Saints Are Coming with Green Day to assist those affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Negotiations continue for Bono to make a guest appearance at the inaugural Make Poverty History concert in Melbourne on November 17.

U2 will play two dates at Sydney’s Telstra Stadium, one at Adelaide’s AAMI Stadium and two at Melbourne’s Telstra Dome, before heading to New Zealand.

- By staff writers and wire services, News.Com.Au

Related posts:

• U2’s Vertigo Tour Hits The Road Again!It's official! At last we can confirm the rescheduled Vertigo//2006 shows. U2 will hit the road again in November. Starting in Brisbane on November 7th , U2 will play further dates in Australia, New Zealand and Japan before finishing in Hawaii on December 9. Kanye West will join the band...
• Vertigo Tour Dates Vertigo - 4th Leg - Latin America & Pacifica 02.12.06 Monterrey - Estadio Tecnol?gico 02.15.06 Mexico City - Estadio Azteca 02.16.06 Mexico City - Estadio Azteca 02.20.06 S?o Paulo - Est?dio C?cero Pompeu De Toledo (Morumbi) 02.21.06 S?o Paulo - Est?dio C?cero Pompeu De Toledo (Morumbi) 02.26.06 Santiago De...
• U2 do their bitTHEY may have drummed up significant publicity for fighting poverty, but the Irish group U2 grossed about $50 million from concert ticket and merchandise in their two weeks in Australia. The Vertigo Australian leg was a stunning financial success, and is expected to be the highest-grossing rock show of the...