THIS DAY - U2´S HISTORY: U2 billed as the U2s / Edge has the flu / The Dalton Brothers appear in the middle of U2's set and it's actually U2's crew dressed up as the band's alter-ego / "he looks like a woman" / last American POPMart / 106th 'VERTIGO' show: ESPN films the concert-"City Of Blinding Lights' for World Cup 2006-Happy B-Day for Frank Sinatra / U2 defend Dublin skyscraper plans / Bono and Ali in NYC!!

"London Club" tour - december 12, 1979 - U2 perform in Uxbridge, England at Brunel University, as support for "The Photos". Again, they are billed as the "U2s" on posters for the event.

"Boy" tour - december 12, 1980 - U2 perform in Providence, Rhode Island at the Main Event.

"October" tour - december 12, 1981 - U2 perform in Hartford, Connecticut at Stage West.

"Pre-War" tour - december 12, 1982 - U2 perform in Genk, Belgium at Limburghall. Not having enough time to do a proper soundcheck, the concert suffers from bad acoustics. Bono also explains that The Edge has the 'flu.

"The Joshua Tree" tour - december 12, 1987 - U2 perform in Hampton, Virginia at the Coliseum. The second night is "The BoDeans" last night as opening act for U2. For their last song, they announce The Edge as guest guitarist. Larry walks on stage with a megaphone, which he quickly hands to Bono who shouts, "The BoDeans, yeah!" repeatedly. "11 O'Clock Tick Tock" is played for the first time since August 25, 1985. "Mothers of The Disappeared" is played for the first time since May 3, 1987. After "In God's Country" Bono says, "Well, we started off about 11 years ago, when I was 16, Larry was 14, Edge was 15 and Adam was 36. We just wanted to be in a band. And the person who owned the worst record collection got to be the drummer. He was particularily fond of 'The Eagles', do you remember them? This is a favorite song of Larry's..it's another 'Peculiar[Tequila] Sunrise'," at which point Bono hands Larry the microphone. Larry's voice breaks and sounds uneven indicating his nervousness about performing in front of a crowd. After two verses, he shakily says, "It's really embarrasing, what can I say? You've been a lovely audience..." Bono comes to the rescue and asks the crowd to sing a few lines for Larry. During a particularily bad version of "Out of Control" in which The Edge forgets to play the guitar solo, Bono explains: "Ladies and Gentlemen. As living proof that anyone can make it to the top: Bono, Edge, Larry and Adam." Bono's speech in "Bullet The Blue Sky" is aimed at the positives and negatives of the United States: "There's kids being ripped off, syringes stuck in their arms, and peope inventing new drugs like Crack so they can fuck 'em up even more....[and the one] where 17,000 people can get together in one night and agree on rock & roll music, as rock & roll is the soundtrack to some kind of change...We got Amnesty International people over here...people working for Third World relief organizations over there. If this is America, I LIKE IT! And I feel a long way from the hills of San Salvador, where the sky was ripped open, and the rain pours through a gaping wound...pelting the women and children...pelting the women and children...who run...and they run...into the arms...into your arms. Look after them." At the end of the night, U2 again pull "The Dalton Brothers" gag. Bono is thanking everyone who had worked so hard on the tour, and specifically points out Joe O'Herlihy who was returning back to Ireland to join his expectant wife. "But there's one person I'd like to thank as without him this whole tour just wouldn't be possible. I'd like to introduce you to him now, Dallas Shocc Dalton. He's over here." Guitar technician Dallas Schoo joins the band on stage, dressed in the typical strange Dalton Brothers clothing. Three more roadies join U2 on stage. "Hi y'all! We're the Dalton gang here! This here is Betty Dalton, there's Alton Dalton, Duke Dalton, and I'm Luke! We're all from Galveston, Texas, except Duke here--he's from Dallas." The 8 musicians perform a strange version of "Lucille" which features Bono singing, "Oh Suzannah, whe know you're doing the best you can, come dance with me, until the morning sets you free..." As "The Dalton Brothers" leave the stage, Bono remarks, "Oh my, Betty...do you grow prettier every day?" Support is "The BoDeans".

"LoveTown" tour - december 12, 1989 - U2 perform in Paris, France at the Palais Omnisports De Bercy.On the second night, Bono calls out B.B. King's band for "People Get Ready" and announces, "We're on tour with these men, and we feel like we're at school learning so much from these people!" During the song, he has trouble finding a girl to play the guitar: "I refuse to believe there's no young lady rock & roll players in Paris!" he shouts. A man eventually comes on stage, and Bono jokes "Well, he looks like a woman...he'll do..." Support is B.B. King.

"POPMart" tour - december 12, 1997 - U2 perform in Seattle, Washington. It is the final POPMart show held in North America. It is a special night. The 100-foot arch is adorned with a Christmas tree, whose lights will go on and off in tune with various songs, and Bono's boxer's cape on this night is red-and-white -- the boxing Santa! During "Even Better Than the Real Thing," a handful of crew come on-stage behind Edge and Bono, all wearing the same muscle-man shirt Bono has worn throughout the tour. During "If You Wear That Velvet Dress," the girl Bono dances with is actually bass technician Stuart Morgan, who promptly grabs Bono's arse before leaving the stage. The show has its more poignant moments, too -- as Bono introduces "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For," U2 fan tosses his Santa cap on-stage. Bono picks it up and puts it on, saying "And the Lord said 'Humble thyself, Bono!'" Later, Bono takes a plastic container of soap bubbles from a fan and sits on the edge of the b-stage blowing bubbles as he sings. As the band heads to the main stage after "With or Without You," Bono brings two fans -- two "Wire" mailing list members -- on stage, and thanks all the fans on "Wire," many of whom have come to Seattle and crowded around the catwalk and b-stage for tonight's show. As the show ends with "Wake Up, Dead Man," Larry and Adam head off-stage -- Bono and Edge are about to follow when Bono walks toward Edge, and after a brief conversation, both take their places and finish 1997 with a duet on "40." To date, PopMart has sold 1.7 million tickets, more than any concert tour of the year, and grossed the band $79.9 million for 46 shows in 37 cities.

106th 'VERTIGO' show - December 12, 2005 / Charlotte, NC - New Charlotte Arena - Institute - ESPN films the concert / "City Of Blinding Lights' for World Cup 2006 / Happy B-Day for Frank Sinatra! City of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, Gloria, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - In a Little While, Beautiful Day - Many Rivers to Cross, Original of the Species, 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. Encore(s): Until the End of the World, Mysterious Ways, With or Without You, Stuck In a Moment You Can't Get Out Of, Yahweh, 40. A half-dozen cameras from the sports network ESPN film the concert tonight. U2 has given ESPN permission to use 'City of Blinding Lights' for its upcoming coverage of the 2006 World Cup. Before the show, U2's crew works with the ESPN crew to shoot the pixel panels as they show the flags of all the countries that will be taking part in next year's World Cup. Before 40, Bono led the crowd in singing Happy Birthday for Frank Sinatra, who would have turned ninety today. **** Some photos on: U2tours

U2 defend Dublin skyscraper plans - December 12, 2007 -  U2's The Edge has defended the band's plans to build a skyscraper in central Dublin. The guitarist has claimed that the building, which has been dubbed the U2 tower, will create a boom for the local economy. In a statement, he said: "It will have positive influence on the perspective of Dublin internationally and encourage further financial investment in the city centre. It is also the intention to build Europe's most sustainable hotel in the heart of Ireland's capital. The design is environmentally as well as architecturally progressive." The tower will reportedly include a penthouse studio for the group. Environmental groups complained about the plans earlier in the month, claiming the building would be a "incongruous blot on the skyline". digitalspy

Bono and Ali in NYC - December 12, 2007 - Photos: interference