2009 September | U2Exit.com News Blog

Home » Posts made in September, 2009

At $750K a day, U2′s massive 360 Tour may end year in the red

Posted by SPun2U on Sep 23, 2009 in Tour News | Comments Off

They may be the biggest rock band in the world, playing sold-out shows around the globe on a weekly basis, but that doesn’t mean U2 is rolling in the dough.

The longtime manager of the Irish rockers, Paul McGuinness, has revealed the extreme daily overhead costs on the band’s 360 Tour.

Whether they’re playing a show that night or not, U2 spends no less than $750,000 daily.

“That’s just to have the crew on payroll, to rent the trucks, all that,” McGuinness told Billboard. “There’s about 200 trucks. Each stage is 37 trucks, so you’re up to nearly 120 there. And then the universal production is another 50-odd trucks, and there are merchandise trucks and catering trucks.”

And these expenses don’t count the construction costs of the band’s 150-foot spaceship-like stage, which is called “The Claw.” (more…)

September 21, 2009 – Foxboro, Massachusetts, USA – Gillette Stadium

Posted by SPun2U on Sep 21, 2009 in U2 360° - 2nd Leg - North America, U2 360° Tour | Comments Off

Opening Act(s): Snow Patrol
Setlist:
Magnificent, No Line On The Horizon, Get On Your Boots, Mysterious Ways, I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, Elevation, Your Blue Room, Beautiful Day, Unknown Caller, Until The End Of The World, Stay (Faraway, So Close!), The Unforgettable Fire, City Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo – Stories for Boys, I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight (Remix), Sunday Bloody Sunday, MLK, Walk On, One – Amazing Grace, Where The Streets Have No Name. Encore(s): Ultraviolet, With Or Without You, Moment Of Surrender

September 20, 2009 – Foxboro, Massachusetts, USA – Gillette Stadium

Posted by SPun2U on Sep 21, 2009 in U2 360° - 2nd Leg - North America, U2 360° Tour | Comments Off

Opening Act(s): Snow Patrol
Setlist:
Breathe, No Line On The Horizon, Get On Your Boots, Magnificent, Mysterious Ways, Beautiful Day – Blackbird, Elevation, I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For – Stand By Me, Unknown Caller, New Year’s Day, Stuck In A Moment You Can’t Get Out Of, The Unforgettable Fire, City Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight (Remix), Sunday Bloody Sunday, MLK, Walk On, One – Amazing Grace, Where The Streets Have No Name. Encore(s): Ultra Violet (Light My Way), With Or Without You, Moment Of Surrender

U2 tackle Toronto; Carnegie Hall benefit appearance announced

Posted by SPun2U on Sep 18, 2009 in Appearances, Tour News | Comments Off

U2’s “360” had its galactic orbit around Toronto on Wednesday and Thursday night and the band let loose on some new songs and some insider secrets.

Wednesday night saw “Your Blue Room” in the setlist, which debuted in Chicago last week. “Until the End of the World” found its way in there, as did one of my personal favorites “Stay (Faraway So Close)”.

“Our first night on the majestic half continent you call a country- Canada”, the band honored the crowd. And as for something out of the blue, Adam is “the only man in U2 who uses face cream”. Whether that is true or not, Adam looks hot onstage and off, so maybe that’s his secret.

Thursday had the band playing to another excited 65,000 people. “Stuck in a Moment” and “Mysterious Ways” were performed. And another debut was made. A little boy got the chance to go on stage with Bono, and even wore his sunglasses. I hope that boy had his family taking pics of that!

U2 also announced that they will be appearing in NYC on October 4 at the famous Carnegie Hall. Livedaily reports that the band will join “An Evening with Gavin Friday and Friends” to benefit the (RED) AIDS charity as well as The Global Fund. Visit Carnegie Hall’s website for tickets.

And, if you happen to be a BIG spender, tickets are still available for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25th Anniversary Benefit at NYC’s Madison Square Garden. U2 will be performing on October 30th with Metallica, Aretha Franklin, Eric Clapton and others. The cheap tickets are all gone, but if you have $2,500 to spend then go for it. I considered going, but decided to invest in the U2 Conference in North Carolina instead. Only two weeks left to go!

For anyone going to the NYC shows next week, the weather is supposed to be isolated thunderstorms on Wednesday and scattered t-storms on Thursday. I really hope that’s a guess and not definite. I hope the crowds in Boston on Sunday and Monday have clear skies, so maybe that good weather will pass on to NYC!

- Jill Marino, Examiner.com

U2 Blackberry app is finally available

Posted by SPun2U on Sep 18, 2009 in News & Rumors | Comments Off

Blackberry owners, often a forgotten group in era of the iPhone app, now have one up on their Apple-owning friends: the U2 Blackberry app is finally available.

Actually, it’s being called a Mobile Album. The audio/visual aspects to the app are audio samples of the album’s tracks, short videos (ranging from rehearsal clips to a Blackberry television commercial) and interviews related to the songs.

App users who want to buy an album download ($9.99) or individual tracks ($1.49 each) are taken to the U2 Mobile Shop that’s powered by 7digital.

The app also has a news feed (it’s the same news that’s available at U2.com) and a photo gallery (a small collection of live shots and promo shot — not as good as the photos gallery on U2.com).

A location-based function that will allow concertgoers to communicate and share their experiences is not yet active. Once that feature is enabled, the Mobile Album will go from a nice little promotional tool to something that actually enhances a fan’s experience.

As it stands, the Blackberry U2 Mobile Album feels more like a learning experience than a fully formed product. Give it a few years and these things will be much improved. (Blackberry)

- Billboard.biz