By Neil McCormick

Early on in discussions for the launch of the latest U2 tour, Bono floated the possibility that they would become the first band to play a gig on the moon. Larry shot that idea down however. He pointed  out that there would be no atmosphere…

Ah, the old ones are … well, not the best … but the old ones, anyway.

Ever since U2 blew the possibilities for live event staging wide open with their multi-media Zoo TV tour, they have been caught in a peculiar trap: how to satisfy audience expectations for hi-tech, cutting edge spectacle while rooting the experience in the very human, emotional contact with fans that is at the heart of their appeal. In other words, how to make it bigger and more intimate at the same time.

U2 360 is their latest attempt to reconcile these sometimes conflicting demands. It cost over $100 million to stage, and the programme credits run to three tightly printed pages. Purpose built for stadiums, it is effectively a stage within the stadium space. U2 play in the round, roughly in the centre of the venue, complete with bridges and runways, so that no corner is too far from the action, with band members able to move easily around, constantly interacting with different sections of the crowd. Towering over them, standing on four great legs, is a construction housing the lighting rig, speakers and (rising and falling) a vast circular ring of screens on which are displayed artfully integrated images. The whole thing looks like a giant alien spaceship, and the sci-fi theme is pushed throughout, with the band entering to the countdown from David Bowie’s Space Oddity and exiting to Elton John’s Rocket Man. They even pause proceedings for a satellite video link up with the International Space Station in orbit around earth, allowing for some typical U2 calls for global peace and love with a futuristic twist.

Read the complete blog post by Neil McCormick on Telegraph.co.uk >>

(AP) — MADRID – Barcelona city authorities say they might fine band U2 for rocking too long and loudly during rehearsals for their latest world tour.

While the city says it is proud to host the beginning of U2’s world tour, it also said in a statement Thursday that one of its districts received a formal complaint by residents about the band playing after permitted hours and making noise.

The Irish quartet kicked off their “360 degree” tour at Barcelona football club’s Camp Nou stadium by playing 22 songs in front of 90,000 fans on Tuesday.

The show features a large, modernistic four-legged construction which houses what the band calls “giant spherical screen.”

Singer Bono told the audience after four songs, “This has been our neighborhood for the last couple of weeks.”

NEW YORK, July 2 /PRNewswire/ — Tuesday night saw the launch of (RED)ZONES at the first U2 360 Degrees concert in Barcelona where U2 kicked off their new tour to a rapturous sold out crowd of 90,000 fans.

(RED)ZONES are prime location areas directly adjacent to the stage which will be present throughout the U2 tour. The tickets for the (RED)ZONES are available through auction with the band’s portion of the ticket sales going to the Global Fund to help fund AIDS programs in Africa.

“We’re really proud and grateful to have the support of U2 in our work. In a short time, (RED) has raised over $130 million for the Global Fund through partners and events and that money has already supported programs that have reached more than four million people,” said Susan Smith Ellis, CEO, (RED). Read the rest of this entry »

1. Breathe
2. No Line On The Horizon
3. Get On Your Boots
4. Magnificent
5. Beautiful Day / Here Comes The Sun (snippet)
6. I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For / Movin’ On Up (snippet)
7. Desire / Billie Jean (snippet) / Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough (snippet)
8. Party Girl
9. Electrical Storm
10. Unknown Caller
11. The Unforgettable Fire
12. City Of Blinding Lights
13. Vertigo
14. Crazy Tonight (remix)
15. Sunday Bloody Sunday
16. Pride (In The Name Of Love)
17. MLK
18. Walk On / You’ll Never Walk Alone (snippet)
19. Where The Streets Have No Name
20. One

Encore(s):
21. Ultra Violet (Light My Way)
22. With Or Without You
23. Crazy Tonight (normal version)
24. Moment of Surrender

Electrical Storm (1st time played live)

Back in March we first heard that BlackBerry would be sponsoring U2’s Tour (no, not that Tour) that kicked off in Barcelona on June 30th. Well there was no sign of a RIM back at the opening gig, but it does look like the U2 Mobile Album is on the way. A teaser on BlackBerry.com gives a quick run through of what looks to be a “U2 App” with music, photos, tour info and more. No big details on any of it, but certainly good things are to come…at least if you’re a U2 fan. You can sign up here to receive updates on the Mobile Album. Head over to http://na.blackberry.com/eng/u2/ for more info. Hat Tip to Matt for jogging our brains to post on this… we saw the site went live yesterday but somehow forgot to post on it (distracted by that other Tour perhaps).

- Crackberry.com

Check out exclusive footage from U2’s opening night concert in Barcelona! Includes performance clips and fan reactions.

Produced by Mark Haefeli Productions.