Bono calls for 'Europe of Mercy'

Bono calls for 'Europe of Mercy'

Bono has called for a Europe of mercy to refugees as U2 played its first concert since the Paris attacks.

The Irish rock stars were among those to cancel high-profile gigs in the French capital following Friday's terrorist attacks, which saw at least 129 killed and hundreds injured.

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Is it Getting Better?

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Raised by Wolves

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Refuse to Hate

18 Years Since the Last Belfast Concert

A lot has changed since U2 last played Belfast, in 1997.

Heck, a lot has happened since U2 last played a gig.

The Irish rock legends had just completed two nights of a four-night run in Paris last week when Islamic State terrorists struck the French capital.

The band's shows on Saturday and Sunday were dramatically called off, with frontman Bono lamenting, "This is the first direct hit on music that we've had in this so-called 'war on terror' or whatever it's called." 

And on Wednesday night, the band returned to live action in a city that has witnessed its own share of bloodshed over the years.

The SSE Arena must be amongst the smallest venues the supergroup has played in years.

And they were determined to create an intimate atmosphere for their fans.

Bono entered from the back of the hall, striding along a walkway and holding his fist aloft triumphantly, before joining guitarist the Edge, bassist Adam Clayton and drummer Larry Mullen, Jr, on stage.

"We're a band from the northside of Dublin called the U2, formerly the Hype," the sunglasses-sporting vocalist announced.

The foursome were welcomed like heroes, and the feeling was mutual.

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U2 Belfast: Bono and the gang rock SSE Arena with Innocence & Experience gig  

"You are heroes to us," Bono told the sold-out crowd.

"It's great to be here in the heart of Belfast."

Opening track The Miracle (Of Joey Ramone) harked back to the days before U2 had ventured outside Dublin.

But even then, they were tuned into the news coming from the north.

"What was happening up here made a big impact in our teenage years," Bono said.

The first few numbers were played punk-style, four guys in a row, blasting it out.

The jolting riffs of Vertigo had the whole arena bouncing, while a massive I Will Follow got everyone singing along.

And Iris (Hold Me Close) was a deeply personal tribute to Bono's late mother.

But it wouldn't be a U2 show without some grand spectacle, and the video screens were soon sparking into life.

Sunday Bloody Sunday saw a procession of murals from both loyalist and republican areas, alternating with the slogan, 'Remember the victims'.

And despite the events of the past week, the band didn't flinch from using explosive sound effects and a striking car bomb graphic to introduce Raised by Wolves.

Nor did they drop the controversial video footage they have been using during the song itself.

A roll call of notorious Northern Ireland terrorist atrocities played out on screen, from the Miami Showband Massacre to the Omagh bombing, ending with a dedication to all the victims of the Troubles, with an emphasis made on 'all'.

There was no explicit commentary about Paris during the set, though the iconic Eiffel Tower peace logo was shown alongside the message, 'Stronger than fear'.

The Syrian Civil War was also referenced in powerful images during a brooding Bullet the Blue Sky.

If things could get a bit heavy at times, the quartet also knew when to switch gears into big, roof-raising hits.

An Italian fan was hauled on stage to dance with Bono for Mysterious Ways, while With or without You closed the main set in epic fashion.

It may have been a difficult few days for U2 - for the world - but last night proved you can't keep a good band - or their audience - down.

Belfast Goes Off without a Hitch

U2 urged their fans to remember all victims of terror as they played their first concert since cancelling two gigs in Paris in the wake of last Friday's atrocity. 

There had been fears that last night's concert would focus only on victims of loyalist terrorism after guitarist The Edge vowed the band would play Raised By Wolves.

U2 Refuses to Change Set List in Belfast

November 12, 2015

U2 have said they will not leave out a song paying tribute to victims of the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings when they play in Belfast next week.

Guitarist The Edge remains adamant that the song Raised By Wolves - which is accompanied by onstage visuals of the 34 victims and the sound of explosions going off - will stay in the setlist.

Concerns over Belfast Gig Overblown?

The sometimes pompous and overbearing Bono can be accused of many things but the U2singer has been anything but one-sided in his condemnation of the perpetrators of violence here - no matter which side they're on.

Concerns Arise over Belfast Gig

They won't arrive in Belfast for three weeks but already U2 have stirred up a major political controversy.

The Irish supergroup have included a musical and pictorial tribute to the victims of the 1974 loyalist bombings of Dublin and Monaghan as part of their stage set for the new iNNOCENCE and eXPERIENCE tour which is currently playing to packed audiences at London's O2 area.