beckhamcrosses

I was just so happy to see them, and in all the pics you know the whole band is happy, smiling Like Adam was. . enjoying themselves, Edges family are all healthy, and they are just playing kick arse shows, with a lot of emotion and honesty. . . What more can I ask?

Bono makes emotional plea to NZ 27 November 2006 By CATH BENNETT U2 front man Bono made an emotional plea for One Tree Hill to be replanted after visiting the spot that sparked one of the band's most famous songs. His Irish supergroup became passionate about the Auckland landmark after their Kiwi roadie Greg Carroll took them there in the early '80s. When the Wanganui sound engineer died in a motorbike accident, Bono wrote the song One Tree Hill in his honour and dedicated the album on which it appeared, The Joshua Tree, to Greg. Bono was gutted to return more than a decade later to find the tree gone. The 125-year-old Monterey pine was felled in October 2000, six years after Maori activist Mike Smith attacked it with a chainsaw. Standing where the tree once dominated the Auckland skyline, Bono said: "Somebody plant a tree on that beautiful hill. "Someone take some seeds up there." U2's return to New Zealand - for packed concerts on Friday and Saturday at Auckland's Mt Smart Stadium - coincided with the 20th anniversary of Greg's death. Reminiscing about the Kiwi roadie he loved like a brother, Bono told fans: "We spent some time here when our friend was lost in a car accident. "We went to the tangi - the funeral for Greg. "It was a really important and very moving occasion to be with him and his family. "I've often thought that if in Ireland we had that, I'd have been there for a few weeks when my father Bob died." U2 played One Tree Hill at both their Mt Smart Stadium gigs. The band's manager Paul McGuinness, whose sister Katie dated Greg, said it would not be possible to play Auckland without the song. "We asked Greg's family to come as our guests. We've kept in touch with them." Greg hooked up with U2 when they were in the country in 1984 on their Unforgettable Fire tour. He joined as a soundman, and became Bono's personal assistant, touring Europe and North America. Greg, nicknamed G-Dub, was knocked off his motorbike by a drunk driver and killed in Dublin in 1986. He was 26. A devastated Bono, drummer Larry Mullen and several members of the U2 entourage brought his body back to New Zealand for his tangi at Kai iwi Marae, near Wanganui. The three-day tangi was led by Greg's uncle, Maori music legend Dalvanius Prime. Bono read a poem and sang. Dalvanius' sister, Barletta Prime, said: "It was just so fabulous of the band to bring him home." Greg's aunt Barletta said he loved the time he spent with U2. Greg was a devoted member of the Ratana Church, and after the tangi Bono and Larry visited the religion's temple, Te Temepara, before heading back to Auckland to visit One Tree Hill which Greg loved. At the time, Bono said: "In the short time we had together Greg became flesh and blood, he felt like my brother. "He was one of those guys of whom you say, 'He's too good for this world.' "We haven't and I don't think we will ever get over his loss."

Crazy Kiwis!

Bono the Warrior rocks Auckland with U2 25 November 2006 Bono and the boys rocked Auckland as U2 played to a 45,000-strong Mt Smart Stadium crowd at the first of two sold-out shows. Phil Taylor soaked up the atmosphere. Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullin Jr became warriors for a night. The foursome - with Bono proudly displaying a New Zealand Warriors jacket - were heroes to all on a night that shone with stars, cellphones and glow sticks. With lighting razzamatazz to rival Time Square, downtown Tokyo or Amsterdam at New Year's, U2 once again dynamically claimed Auckland as their own, renewing the special bond that goes back to the Irish super group's beginnings. Bono had combed hair in a new wave cut when U2 first delivered I Will Follow to the masses, New Zealand being the first vinyl nation to put it top of a singles chart. The Edge had fluffy hair when he first came to town. He was in his customary dark beanie and goatie, this time round. They brought the love and peace then and now, but these days they also carry it in three jet aeroplanes and a load of shipping containers. The Vertigo tour is as spectacular as any rock show this country has seen. Fans heading to Mt Smart Stadium for the second night should get excited. Twenty years on after those early Aotearoa OEs, I Will Follow still lifts the soul and heels, played with a commitment that shows U2 are still into it as much as ever. The fire inside burns on. Then again, who wouldn't enjoy playing to 45,000 enthusiastic, hand-waving fans around the world every night? This Auckland audience, who Mexican waved under house bulb towers before U2 opened with City of Blinding Lights, was ready for some payback. The group knew. It's been eight months since they understandably had to postpone the original dates. Then the heavens dumped rain on everyone up until U2 hit the stage. As good as Kanye West and his supporting performers were opening - especially the strings and selection of classic samples - the rain, wind, crowd chatter and rising buzz was distracting. Thankfully, U2 have Auckland the party it was well in need of after two months of World Cup Rugby 2011 stadium wrangling. And those believing a new "inflatable dinghy" stadium will take first offers of music tours after 2011 were clearly shown that Mt Smart can still rock with the best of them. It has a crater. And earthly acoustics. Bono, described by a female friend as a man who knows how to endear himself to a crowd, immediately reaffirmed the home fans' loyalty, keeping the faith by wearing a Warriors' emblem on his back. The jacket was gone after half a dozen numbers, but his sweetest move came later as he plucked a young strawberry blonde from the audience for dancing, snuggling and serenading. Another friend called her "hot chick." What she had was charm, style and poise, as well as the hearts and minds of Bono's swooning admirers. The tenderness in which he delivered With Or Without You to her on bended knee was genuinely gorgeous, a moment to stop an uptight city. To the purists, there may have been one or two missing, but the two-hour show also included Vertigo, an energising Beautiful Day, Elevation, The Fly, Mysterious Ways, Miss Sarajevo, Sunday Bloody Sunday, New Year's Day, an awesome Angel of Harlem, Where The Streets Have No Name, Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own, Kite, Pride and In the Name of Love. At a time when we're divided on so many things, Bono reminded us that it's unfortunate there's no tree been planted on One Tree Hill. It's sound advice, as the way the anthem tribute united everyone as it always has shows the feeling could be repeated by seedlings being nurtured and grown on the summit of Maungakiekie. Kia kaha, U2. JOHN SELKIRK/Dominion Post DOUBLE HEADER: Guitarist The Edge joins singer Bono on the microphone as Irish band U2 rock Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland. U2 ON TOUR GALLERY http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,0a19875a267373,00.html

U2 kite fetches $1230 on Trade Me 06 December 2006 A kite released by U2's lead singer Bono during one of the band's Auckland concerts last week has fetched $1230 on Trade Me, with proceeds being donated to development agency Oxfam New Zealand. Two of the 40,000 U2 fans, Claire and Hayden Keam, caught the kite as it floated above them during the last song and promptly put it on the online auction site in a bid to raise money for Oxfam. The auction closed at 2.20pm yesterday and a bidder by the name of "paitid" will hand over their cash in a three-way exchange with Oxfam and the Keams. "I'm stoked that we've been able to raise some money for Oxfam," Mrs Keam said. "I'll miss having the kite on our wall, but knowing that the sale of it will mean that the money will be used to help people that are so much less fortunate than us is brilliant." Mrs Keam said the Tauranga couple had decided to sell the kite on Trade Me and in honour of Bono's own campaign to end world poverty, they decided to give the proceeds to charity. "We talked around and looked on the Internet and we did our own research and Oxfam is one of the organisations he supports," Mrs Keam said. Executive director of Oxfam New Zealand Barry Coates said he was looking forward to showing the Keams how the funds they raised will make a huge difference to people living in poverty. Mr Coates said a large portion of Oxfam New Zealand's income came from members of the public and all of them had their own story of commitment to poverty reduction. "This is a particularly delightful story of how an individual can seize an opportunity to fight for better lives for the world's poor," he said. "We want to thank not only Claire and Hayden, but the thousands of New Zealanders who support our work," he added. "The change we see throughout the world because of the commitment of individual Kiwis is inspiring." However, Bono's kite fell short of the $22,800 one Trade Me buyer spent on the handbag former All Black captain Tana Umaga walloped a team mate with to calm him down during a night on the town in Christchurch last year.

A most impressive U2 site, with over 500 live concerts to download (audio) . . . http://www.u2start.com/ join . . and enjoy . .

Radiohead, Arctic Monkeys . . .

Really? so do I ! I feel a need to be jumping up and down, surrounded by 40 or 60,000 people listening to U2, it is what I have been acustomed to the fast three weekends!!!!!!!!!!! Hey I did post the audio of Saturdays show on the page before this. . also Friday's audio should be up REAL soon http://www.u2newzooland.com/ join us here.

Confirmed!! coming to New Zealand next Feburary! . . . . Yay for me!

Both shows! infact the last four shows they did!! (2 x Melbourne, 2 x Auckland) and Sydney II thrown in for good measure . . . . ALLL GOOOOOOOODDDDD!!!!! Friday 24 Nov City Of Blinding Lights Vertigo / We Will Rock You (snippet) Can't Stand The Rain (snippet) / Elevation I Will Follow New Year's Day Beautiful Day / Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (snippet) / Here Comes The Sun (snippet) One Tree Hill Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own / One Tree Hill (snippet) (Correct? Mac) Love And Peace Or Else Sunday Bloody Sunday / Rock The Casbah (snippet) Bullet The Blue Sky / When Johnny Comes Marching Home (snippet) / The Hands That Built America (snippet) Miss Sarajevo Pride (In The Name Of Love) Where The Streets Have No Name Pride (In The Name Of Love) One Encore(s): The Fly Mysterious Ways With Or Without You The Saints Are Coming Angel Of Harlem Kite Saturday 25 Nov (download) City Of Blinding Lights Vertigo / She Loves You (snippet) Elevation Until The End Of The World I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For / In A Little While (snippet) Beautiful Day / Blackbird (snippet) Angel Of Harlem Walk On / You'll Never Walk Alone (snippet) Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own Bad / 40 (snippet) Sunday Bloody Sunday Bullet The Blue Sky / When Johnny Comes Marching Home (snippet) / The Hands That Built America (snippet) Miss Sarajevo Pride (In The Name Of Love) Where The Streets Have No Name Pride (In The Name Of Love) One Encore(s): The Fly / (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction (snippet) Mysterious Ways With Or Without You The Saints Are Coming Desire One Tree Hill

Have you been to Ireland before? . . . one of these days I will bore you with the spots to do the U2 stalking!

Yup - thanks for posting the pics of Bono in the Rugby jerseys! it was such a funny part of the show! geez two awesome shows!! I still dont know what to do next weekend . . I have a need to jump up and down listening to U2 surrounded 50,000 crazy people!

For Wendy, Caz, Danielle & Denise. . . Cause I know you like Edges Butt! oddly enough, this is my GF's favorite picture too. . .

Beautiful Day from last night: here

I got to the front of the stage on Edges side of the stage, so they stand about 2 metres away from me. . . . An Cat, just a simple point and shoot, 6 mega pixels, and had settings set to 400 ISO, and best quality so that I could zoom in on the computer when i coome to edit them and not lose too much of the quality. . . and I guess after 5 shows, I kinda know where they will be for what song, so you are prepared and it is good practise! at 5 shows. Iriden, yeah please spread the U2 love around onto the U2 Italian board. . . . one of your friends over there sorted me out with some great live stuff so no problems . . . wanabacoa - Thanks for posting the youtube! . . . U2 are off to 3 shows in Japan, and then Hawaii.. . . WHAT WILL I DO NEXT WEEKEND? ARRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH

OK, a quick one. . I have just got in. . 1am. . . and another kick arse show! each one just gets better than the last. . . . um . . . may post pics, we were at the back, my chick, sadly isn't a U2 fan and so this is the only show I took her too. so we were at the back, no eclipse for me!. . still she took some cool shots while on my shoulders. . . . . . but anyways. . . . Highlights - Walk on - Acoustic Bono and Edge by them selves. . . OMFG!!!!! Bad!!!!!!! went off. . . no Love and peace which was good!! SBS was amazing - Bono wore an All Blacks jersey, and then took it off to reveal his emerald green (trash) underneath!!! . . bless him. . . they popped in a few snippets of an old Split Enz classic (I Got you) in Elevation. . . . geez. . . U2 just keep getting better. . and they closed with One Tree Hill. . . Breath taking, speechless, spent, exhausted, ringing ears, 5 shows. . . . 3 best weeks of my life! . . . . Lotsa U2 Love to you all from New Zealand.

oK Balloons! One Edge Guitar pick (thanks Dallas Schoo) One Mr The Edge One more Mr The Edge A Bass player: Ok, another Mr The Edge One Treel Hill (!) One New Zealand Flag with Bono One Bono without New Zealand Flag! Ok? Hope you like these! One more show for me. . . looking forward to it, but can't face the Eclipse again! . . will be chillin' tonight.. .. .. and sleeping all day tomorrow! OK, Lots of U2 love to you all . . we are leaving in four hours. . .. One Tree Hill audio for you: here Rick8 - are you in germany now? had enough on Manchester then! . . . weren't you coming home at some stage?

OH HELL YEAH! Eclipse. Against the front barrier, on Edges side. . . . . . . What a show!!! During Streets have no name, the U2NZ fans organised balloons on Irish colours (Green, orange, white) to be blown up and let go. . . well lets just say it went off BIG TIME, Bono was speechless, at the end, he said "You guys are too much!" he was in fine form, they all were!!! I am speechless myself, by ears are ringing!!! still!! and I have had 3 hours sleep!!! I was surprised how organised it all was (pleasantly surpeised) we got early, and they let us queue under cover. . . so all in all a fantastic atmosphere. . . even Kanye went off. . . . so . . . I will post some pics for you. . . these pics are better than any I have tken in the past as we were up the front! give me a few minutes. . .

ok Y'all 12 hours and U2 will be rocking! (actially 11 hours 20 minutes. . . ) on my way now see you!

OH HELL YEAH! Melbourne is better than Sydney. Hands down.

You are most welcome! . . I may have some more soon. . . . Hey Caz. . . sorry you didn't make Sunday, I hate to say it was a better show. . . yeah they filmed both nights, because on Sunday there were camera crew at the back of the stage . . . . I think there is a huge difference between an Australian and a Victorian. . . Victorians are cooler!, Sydney is rush rush rush! . . we rocked up at 7pm, bugger all this lining up, we got to where we wanted! I am aiming for the eclipse on Friday. . Saturday will be my 5th and final show, just a special time with my lady, and the best band in the world! ROCK ON!

AND - so the circus comes to town (My town!)

She must be a very happy Victorian. . . . . one thing I learned in Australia ( well that I can repeat here) is that there is a difference between being an Australian and a Victorian. . . anyway, enough of that . . .