THIS DAY - U2´S HISTORY: billed as "V2" / as a gospel-twist / smoke machines / Steve Rainford´s b-day / into a winter night / Irving Plaza / Yeats / 102nd 'VERTIGO' show: U2 played a cover of Lennon´s 'Instant Karma'-Edge wants a train set for Christmas-Santa Claus and Elvis at the stage!!

"London Club" tour - december 5, 1979 - U2 perform in Covent Garden, England at the Rock Garden as support for "The Dolly Mixtures", and are billed as "V2", in Melody Maker´s gig guide. They play "Twilight", "Shadows And Tall Trees" and "Boy-Girl". The show gets a rave review in Record Mirror.

"October" tour - december 5, 1981 - U2 perform in Grand Rapids, Michigan at Fountain's Church. "11 O´Clock Tick Tock" has a gospel-twist to it because the audience join in, singing its "Lalalala!" chorus for a long time.

"Pre-War" tour - december 5, 1982 - U2 perform in London, England at the Lyceum Ballroom. Bono's throat is still bothering him, and he asks the roadies in the middle of the show to turn off the smoke machines. Support is "Zerra I" and "The Alarm".

"The Unforgettable Fire" tour - december 5, 1984 - U2 perform in Washington, D.C. at Constitution Hall. During "I Will Follow" a shoving match in the audience catches Bono's eye, "Normally when this group hits the stage, people start dancing with others. Why is this not possible in this prestigous place?" During the encore, Bono introduces Steve Rainford as the "greatest living guitar roadie in the world", and sings "Happy Birthday" for him. Support is "The Waterboys".

"The Joshua Tree" tour - december 5, 1987 - U2 perform in Tampa, Florida at Tampa Stadium. At the end of "Pride(In the Name of Love)", Bono says "There's only one kind of audience that you can take out into a winter night, and they'll sing louder than any singer in any rock & roll band. And that's the U2 audience..." Support is Buckwheat Zydeco, and "Los Lobos".

"ATYCLB" tour - december 05, 2000 - New York, NY - Irving Plaza. Beautiful Day, Elevation, Stuck In a Moment, I Remember You, New York, I Will Follow, Desire, The Ground Beneath Her Feet, Mysterious Ways-Sexual Healing, One-Walk On, All I Want Is You, Bad-Ruby Tuesday.Encore(s): 11 O'Clock Tick Tock, Won't Get Fooled Again. U2 performs a free show for 1,000 people presented by NY radio station 92.3 FM K-ROCK. The show is broadcast on radio across the country. Ramones cover / The Who cover.

Bono recites Yeats at Peace Concert - december 5, 2003 - Bono takes part at the Peace Concert at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC. He uses the stage to appeal for peace and to read a William Butler Yeats piece ("September 1913") accompanied by 24 musicians, including World Bank President James D. Wolfensohn on cello.

102nd 'VERTIGO' show - December 05, 2005 / Boston, MA - TD Banknorth Garden - Institute - U2 played a cover of Lennon´s 'Instant Karma' / Edge wants a train set for Christmas / Santa Claus and Elvis a t the stage! City of Blinding Lights, Vertigo - Dirty Water - Take Me to the River, Elevation, Gloria, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, Beautiful Day, Original of the Species - Norwegian Wood, Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own, Love and Peace or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday - Rock the Casbah, Bullet the Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride, Where the Streets Have No Name, One - She's a Mystery To Me. Encore(s): Until the End of the World, Mysterious Ways, With or Without You, Crumbs From Your Table, Instant Karma (full band), Yahweh, 40. It's a Christmas-themed show tonight, the last one of the year in Boston. Bono says his Christmas list includes 5 million people for the One Campaign, a fire truck, peace on earth, and that Edge wants a train set. During Beautiful Day, Bono sings 'See Santa Claus right in front of you' to a Santa in the ellipse and adds a bit of 'Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)' and 'Jingle Bells.' Fans in the arena make a display of white One Campaign signs during One. Fans dressed as Santa and Elvis dance on stage during Mysterious Ways, and Bono wishes them a merry Christmas. Photos on: U2tours / flickr / flickr-out off