Sunday Mirror

12th June 2005

 

BIGGEST AND THE BEST;

BACKSTAGE IN BRUSSELS WITH U2 U2 PROVE THEY ARE STILL THE KINGS

 

BY MAEVE QUIGLEY

 

U2 blew away 50,000 screaming fans as they kicked off the European leg of their Vertigo world tour... and I had the priviledge to be there to witness one of the greatest spectacles on the planet.

 

To roars of excitement from the sell-out crowd, the Dubliners stormed on to the stage at Brussels' King Baudoiun Stadium and proved their title "Biggest Band in the World" all over again.

 

The show opened in spectacular style as Bono leapt onstage to blast into Vertigo, watched by an audience including former president Mary Robinson, number one tennis player Justine Henin and singer Natalie Imbruglia.

 

In front of a red and black backdrop and a steel wall of blazing coloured lights and animation Bono, The Edge, Larry Mullen and Adam Clayton kept their promise by delivering one of their best live shows ever. The atmosphere was electric as the band launched into a selection of hits from their career.

 

And the crowd's excitement was matched by Bono who cried out: "Come on you little box of chocolates. I want to take a bite out of you."

 

Dressed in his customary black shirt, black trousers, leather jacket and shades, Bono teased and tantalised, prancing down the long runways into the audience, leaning over now and again to touch the hands of one or two lucky fans.

 

And as darkness fell on the crowd Bono almost reduced them to tears.

 

Introducing Miracle Drug he said: "I'd like to talk about faith in the future, faith in each other, faith in scientists, doctors and nurses and the people who try to keep us alive.

 

"We have faith in the future, we want to be proud in the future.

 

"And that's where we see our group - in the future. We want to be there.

 

"This song is for the scientists, doctors and nurses - the people who try to keep us alive when we want so badly to be alive."

 

The swirling green screen changed to emulate a medical monitor and suddenly flatlined as Bono ripped off his shades and dedicated Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own to his late father Bob, singing to a black and white photograph of his parents.

 

But the messages didn't stop at the personal - the band immediately upped the tempo again as they blasted into Love And Peace and the anthemic Sunday Bloody Sunday.

 

Bono took the opportunity to comment on the Palestinian situation by tying a scarf to his head emblazoned with the word Coexist.

 

But he used the Islamic symbol of a Crescent as the C, the Jewish Star Of David as an X, trying to drive the message home that no matter what religion you are, there is only one God.

 

He dedicated Running To Stand Still to Mary Robinson, proclaiming her to be a "great Irish woman who fights for human rights all over the world" and ended the song to a backdrop of political prisoner Aung San Suu Kyi reading out articles from the Declaration Of Human Rights.

 

And against a backdrop of African Flags, he called on the people of the world to register their protest against the forthcoming G8 summit.

 

He said: "There are eight people meeting at a golf course somewhere in Scotland.

 

"They will discuss a proposal which will change millions of lives in Africa."

 

Explaining how 6,000 people a day die in Africa from Aids, Bono called on the audience to tell the superpowers that these lives did not need to be wasted.

 

After thanking the band for putting up with him, and the audience for listening to him, he called on the fans to text their protest as an SMS number flashed up on the big screens, saying : "Let's have something for our generation to be proud of."

 

The stadium turned into a sea of light from text messages.

 

After the first encore the band were dragged back on to the stage by the baying crowd, desperate for more.

 

After a stunning version of Yaweh, Bono asked Larry Mullen if he wanted to end with a folk song or a punk rock song.

 

The drummer decided rock would rule, bursting into a repeat performance of Vertigo which sent us home on a high.

 

And after the show, The Edge said the song choice was a last minute decision.

 

He said: "We didn't know whether we were going out on 40 or Vertigo so Bono basically left it up to Larry."

 

U2 manager Paul McGuinness was more than happy with how the show went.

 

He said: "We had a rehearsal for the show on Thursday night and it sounded good so I wasn't worried on that score. But it was a completely different show from the American leg - in terms of visuals, running order and references for example.

 

"I am delighted with the way the audience responded."

 

The band were supported by two Irish acts The Thrills and Snow Patrol.

 

Thrills manager Alan Cullivan said the gig had gone really well for the young Dubliners. He said: "It was a great show and an amazing experience for the band.

 

"We are playing with them again on Sunday in Germany."

 

Snow Patrol treated Belgian fans to two new songs including Chasing Cars.

 

Guitarist Nathan Connolly said the band had been very nervous in the run up to the Brussells gig.

 

He said: "This was our first gig of this size apart from when we played the tsunami benefit in Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

 

"We were really nervous about it and when you get out there in front of all those people you realise you're in a different league. But now we've done it, we can't wait to get to Croke Park as it's going to be amazing to play an audience of that size at home."

 

Massive U2 fan Nathan said he was lost for words when Adam Clayton came into the band's dressing room to say hello.

 

He said: "Adam came in to meet us and we weren't expecting it. I was lost for words but I just got the courage up from somewhere and had a chat with him - he's a lovely guy.

 

"We have been looked after so well and everyone has been really kind to us.

 

"The highlight for me was when Bono dedicated New Year's Day to The Thrills and Snow Patrol.

 

"I was in the crowd and I just went nuts - it doesn't get much better than that."

 

And just before he went on stage, Adam had a joke with broadcaster Gerry Ryan who told him not to let the Irish down. Adam added: "I think about that every minute I am on stage."

 

And for every minute U2 were on stage, it was obvious this Dublin band still have fire in their hearts. U2 are ever-changing and ever learning, never giving in and never giving up. And their return to Croke Park this month will not only mean the world to their Irish fans but will also be a momentous occasion for the band.

 

As for Brussels, U2 successfully dismantled that atomic bomb with an explosion of colour and joy that can only be seen to be believed.

 

After the gig, the band retired to the Conrad to let the adrenalin surge calm.

 

They chilled out with Dublin pals including Simon Carmody and Gavin Friday who is consultant on the tour.

 

Tonight, though, they have to do it all again at the Gelsenkirchen-Schalke Stadium.

 

WHAT THEY PLAYED

 

Vertigo

 

Until The End Of The World,

 

Electric Co.

 

Elevation

 

New Year's Day

 

Beautiful Day

 

City Of Blinding Lights Miracle Drug

 

Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own

 

Love And Peace

 

Sunday Bloody Sunday

 

Bullet The Blue Sky

 

Running To Stand Still

 

Pride (In The Name Of Love)

 

Where The Streets Have No Name

 

One

 

ENCORE ONE: Zoo Station

 

The Fly

 

ENCORE TWO: All Because Of You Yaweh

 

Vertigo

 

(c) MGN Ltd. 2005