Not Diggin' u2

Daily Mirror

September 11, 2015

Northern Ireland

Among the varied and mainly unflattering reputations I have gained over the years, being a U2 "hater" has been one of them.

I get tagged on social media when it's assumed I will go guns blazing about them (I sometimes do, in fairness), I get asked to be a talking head about them and on few occasions, get passionately berated about them by the Bono-fied.

In some quarters of our fair country, it would appear that finding U2 not to be what I was looking for, to be a crime worthy of extradition and flogging against a Joshua tree.

I feel no need to defend my dislike of them, but hell, I will anyway, it'll pass the time for us both.

"One boy washed up on an empty beach"

BONO has offered support to refugees fleeing their homes by changing the chorus of a U2 song mid-concert to help raise awareness of their plight. 

The singer altered the lyrics in Pride (In the Name of Love) to, "One boy washed up on an empty beach" in memory of Aylan Kurdi who was found dead on a Turkish beach He told fans in Turin's packed Pala Alpitour in Italy he did not have the answers to the crisis but that we "must work together" to find the solution.

In a set which featured a screen showing footage of refugees, Bono said: "There is a lot of heartache in the world but there is so much joy in here this evening.

"Watching the news, ordinary people - all of us - seem capable of such great evil and such great love.

"What do you want? A Europe with its heart and borders closed to mercy? Or a Europe with its heart open?"

"We should not use the word **migrant**"

September 7, 2015

As migrants and refugees from the Middle East, Asia and Africa continue to flood Europe, looking to escape conflict in their homes, U2's lead singer addressed the crisis while attending the 2015 Expo world's fair in Milan, Italy on Sunday. 

Bono told the conference that the plight of those fleeing their homes for Europe is being misrepresented. 

Ending Hunger: It Begins with Me

United Nations' World Food Programme issued the following news release:

Ertharin Cousin, Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), thanked U2 lead singer and ONE co-founder Bono, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and Ireland's Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney for their efforts to give voice and support to the world's hungry poor. 

U2 Wins Supreme Court Battle

August 2, 1997

U2 finally found what they were looking for last night.

After weeks of wrangling they were given permission to play in their home town.

A High Court ban on their two open-air Lansdowne Road concerts at the end of this month was overturned in the Supreme Court.

And singer Bono, currently wowing audiences across Europe on the band's spectacular PopMart tour - was delighted.

u2 Sues for Right to Play in Dublin

August 5, 1997

Rock music may not appeal to some people in Lansdowne Road, but the verdict came down yesterday afternoon that the two U2 concerts scheduled for the end of this month can now go ahead. The overturning of this week's High Court ban is good news for the 80,000 fans with tickets for the PopMart gigs. It's even better news for those who will be coming from around the world to hear U2 perform in their home town.

Big Bono Returns

Aggregated Tour Setlist

1.            The Miracle (Of Joey Ramone)
2.            The Electric Co.
3.            Vertigo
4.            I Will Follow
5.            Iris (Hold Me Close)
6.            Cedarwood Road
7.            Song for Someone
8.            Sunday Bloody Sunday
9.            Raised by Wolves
10.          Until the End of the World

Intermission - The Wanderer
Intermission - The Fly

11.          Invisible
12.          Even Better Than the Real Thing
13.          Mysterious Ways
14.          Angel of Harlem
15.          When Love Comes to Town
16.          Every Breaking Wave
17.          Bullet the Blue Sky
18.          Pride
19.          Beautiful Day
20.          All I Want Is You
21.          With or Without You

Encore:

22.          City of Blinding Lights
23.          Where the Streets Have No Name
24.          40

Alts

25.            One
26.            In God's Country
27.            Desire
28.            Elevation
29.            Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of
30.            I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
31.            Bad
32.            The Ocean
33.            11 O'Clock Tick Tock
34.          Sweetest Thing
35.          Miracle Drug
36.          Out of Control
37.          Ordinary Love
38.          The Troubles
39.          Lucifer's Hands
40.          Gloria
41.         Crystal Ballroom
42.         October
43.         Satellite of Love
44.         Party Girl
45.         Two Hearts Beat as One
46.        Zooropa
47.       Magnificent

The Greatest Show on Earth . . . Returns

U2 Appeals High Court Decision

July 30, 1997

The Supreme Court today decides the future of outdoor events in Ireland.

Lawyers for supergroup U2 are appealing against a High Court ban on their sell -out concerts at Dublin's Lansdowne Road.

The judges' decision will decide the fate of shows by superstars like Oasis, the Rolling Stones and Spice Girls as well as the planned Three Tenors classical concert in the capital.

It also affects the Rose of Tralee, the Cork Jazz Festival and the national Ploughing Championship. Justice Declan Costello ruled Bono and co's PopMart gigs were illegal.

His decision followed objections from people who live near the sports stadium venue.

But the judge's decision that planning permission is needed to erect a stage has thrown outdoor events into jeopardy.

The Irish Rugby Football Union, which owns the ground, yesterday applied to appeal. Fans and politicians called for the U2 gigs go ahead.

And the Dublin Chamber of Commerce has also backed the concerts, saying fans' spending could be worth pounds 8million to the local economy.

Declan Martin, the chamber's economic director, said, "It would be a major boost for Dublin.

"You're talking about at least 600 part-time jobs. We're looking at about 80,000 people going to see these shows."

U2's PopMart tour, which costs pounds 1million a week, is expected to gross more than pounds 200 million.

Dublin Residents Sue to Block U2 Concert

July 31, 1997

A LAST-ditch bid by U2 to stage two concerts in Dublin continued at the Republic's Supreme Court today.

It was hearing an appeal by the Irish Rugby Football Union against a High Court ban on two U2 concerts at Lansdowne Road, Dublin, for August 30 and 31.

The High Court blocked the concerts after appeals by some residents in the area.

Yesterday, at the opening of the Supreme Court appeal, a lawyer representing the objectors said he was acting for just three people with addresses at Lansdowne Road and had never met residents associations or officers of those groups.

IRFU counsel Colm Allen said the three people did not constitute a residents association and he insisted there had been consultation between the rugby union and the Lansdowne Road residents association over the planned concerts.

He said residents were not united in their opposition to the gigs.

Mr Allen also said his clients were committed to the observance of the Code of Practice for Pop Concerts and Musical Events, published by the Irish government early last year.

The hearing resumed today and may continue into tomorrow.

More than 80,000 tickets worth IR(GBP)2m have already been sold for the concerts.

Tickets for the first concert sold out within 40 minutes of going on sale in Dublin.

Then U2 decided to have a second concert to allow their fans to see their Popmart show which has already toured the US.

Irish Court Rules u2 Concerts Illegal

Irish Court Rules u2 Concerts Illegal

July 30, 1997

THOUSANDS of anxious U2 fans were hoping today that an Irish court could give them what they're looking for - the go- ahead for the supergroup's Dublin concerts.

An appeal to stage the massive concerts is being made by the Irish Rugby Football Union in the Supreme Court.

More than 80,000 tickets worth Ir(GBP)2m have already been sold for the two concerts which had been scheduled to take place at Lansdowne Road on August 30 and 31.

Irish Sue to Block a u2 Gig?

July 30, 1997

U2 or not U2?That is the question on the lips of thousands of rock fans as the Irish mega stars home-coming concerts were once again plunged in to farcical uncertainty after a Dublin court upheld residents protests and refused planning permission for the shows there had been scheduled to take place at the Lansdowne Road stadium on August 30 and 31.