Decision ‘08

A U2 Story For The Road

I was a freshman at the University of Texas. U2 played 2 nights at the Summit in Houston to celebrate the release of their breakthrough The Joshua Tree, and the album had been out a grand total of three days when I saw them from about the 20th row, lower deck, six o’clock. 85% of the crowd knew every word to every song on that 3-day-old album, and they played all but one of the tracks, if memory serves me. The air was electric, and when I looked around during the brilliant “New Year’s Day”, from the equally brilliant album War, as the arena literally shook, I spotted the guy with the worst seat in the house, behind the stage, very top row. He was pumping his fists in the air…

Tonight, we can be as one, tonight…

5 Responses to “A U2 Story For The Road”

1 Dennis Says:
October 28th, 2005 at 11:59 am
It’s always interesting to see a veteran band and watch what happens when they break out their old stuff. With some, that’s when you see people heading to the bathroom.

When U2 starts in with “The Electric Co.” or “I Will Follow,” I’ll bet you see everyone bopping their heads and singing along just as loud as they did on “Vertigo.”
2 William Thrash Says:
October 28th, 2005 at 2:33 pm
I caught their Achtung baby tour…

My tickets put me up in the top row behind their stage so all I would see was their backs?

But I was happy.

Guess what? Some dud in a hat and flashlight comes up before the show and asks for my tickets. Now, they had already been torn at the gate. I wasn’t going to just hand my tickets over to some nut and then have some usher throw me out for not having a ticket. I physically pulled my tickets away from the guy and stared him down.

Then he says, “look the band had me come up here. It’s what they want.”

“Huh?” says me.

“See that empty row there down in front?”

I trained my binocs to an entirely empty front row….

So I sat in Row 1 seat 1 to the right corner of the stage right in front of the speaker. Bono did his corner stage handshake mid-song and there I was.

Been a diehard fan ever since. And sorta deaf…. no ear protection….
3 William Thrash Says:
October 28th, 2005 at 2:34 pm
Also had better seats than Billy Crystal (somewhere in the 8th row) and Billy Idol (front row, side balcony).
4 too many steves Says:
October 28th, 2005 at 5:56 pm
My last U2 live experience was during the Achtung Baby tour at the Providence Civic Center. We were about 15 rows from the stage, parallel with the mini-stage that they performed the acoustic stuff on. The crowd was mixed - old guys like me, college kids, and parents with teenage kids - and the smell of dope occasionally wafted past. Throughout the show a guy behind us was frequently lighting up. The place was rockin. The band performed “Bad” during one of the encores. My brother and I were standing on our chairs during the song, like everyone around us, and at one point my bro tapped me on my shoulder and pointed for me to look behind. Sure enough Mr. Spliff was sitting in his chair, chin on his chest, asleep or passed out. His girlfriend (quite attractive btw) was sitting next to him rubbing his back and looking very, very, irritated. We laughed and enjoyed the rest of the show.

I know I’m late to this post, but have a great time Marc and stay (mostly) sober if you want to enjoy the ENTIRE show!
5 Mark Says:
October 29th, 2005 at 2:52 pm
William, great story…too many steves, you, too…