bjaiken

Englishman in New York - Sting

I've got nothing against John Mayer. In fact, I've seen him a few times myself. However, I don't think I've ever heard of anyone getting over the disappointment of a U2 show with a John Mayer concert. That idea is just incomprehensible.

You can't please everyone.

Probably, but there is not a whole lot of room for things to go wrong when you are dropping $750,000 per day. Keep in mind, that is NOT just on concert days; it is at all times.

I don't know if this has been posted yet, but I love this article. I remember Bono talking about the enormous cost of the PopMart tour, as well. Granted, they will probably reap great profits down the road, but with an overhead like this, it is still taking a huge risk. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ U2 has yet to make profit from 360 tour By Alex Young on September 28th, 2009 Due to a reported $750,000 daily overhead and three $30 million claws, U2 has yet to make a profit on its currently ongoing 360 world tour, despite having already played 32 stadium shows across the U.S. and Europe. Speaking to Reuters (via Gigwise), the band’s manager Paul McGuinness explained that it wouldn’t be later this year before Bono and Co. begin to see a profit. The engineering problems are enormous and costly. We had to find a way for it to be aesthetic and figure out a way of doing video,” McGuiness explained. “That cylindrical screen we have — that didn’t exist, we had to get somebody to invent that. We had to design this four-legged thing (the claw) — and build three of them. He went on to note that even after all debts are paid off, major profits aren’t necessarily a sure thing. “(It won’t) exactly (be) gravy, because whether we’re playing or not, the overhead is about $750,000 daily. That’s just to have the crew on payroll, to rent the trucks, all that. There’s about 200 trucks.. Each stage is 37 trucks, so you’re up to nearly 120 there. And then the universal production is another 50-odd trucks, and there are merchandise trucks and catering trucks.”

This is getting to be silly. You had a bad experience...I get it already. But to say that they have no heart, and imply that they are hiding behind a stage show, is a joke. Why do you think 90,000 people in every city cram into a stadium to see this band? It's because they are one of the greatest live bands of all time. I would have phrased it nicer than Dejan, but I agree with his sentiments. If you don't want to go see the band the next time they come around, then don't go. I am positive your seat will be filled by someone else.

I don't know what you expected. Most bands work out a core set list and switch up a few songs each night. That's how they do it. I can only think of a few bands that drastically alter their set list night to night. Coldplay are no different. As for the band, Larry is always aloof while Adam always maintains an even tempered personality. Bono's voice may have been off, but it couldn't have been that bad. I have heard complaints that the show may be too big and it is hard for the band to connect with the fans. I felt a bit that way myself. But it's the greatest fucking rock band in the last 30 years. You were lucky to even be in the stadium. If you can't at least appreciate that, it is all on you.

I agree strongly with a couple statements here: 1) Clearly, his voice is not what it once was. 2) He can still surprise you. I thought that during the Rose Bowl show, his voice was patchy at times. I don't like it how he sometimes "talks" some of the lyrics instead of signing them. But the man has been signing for almost 30 years, and it is unrealistic to expect his voice not to decline somewhat. Overall, I will still take live U2 any day of the week. Bono at 80 to 90% of his vocal peak is better than almost anyone else at 100%, and sometimes he still reaches back and blows you away. There are plenty of recent examples to prove it.

^ ditto

Speaking of Ultraviolet, if anyone is looking for an amazing picture (perhaps for computer wallpaper), here it is: http://www.u2startcontent.com/photos/13320-58697-size3.jpg I blew this thing up to an 11X14 and had Bono sign it. He even commented, "that photo is amazing." There you go, it's Bono approved :thumbsup:

I agree 100%

I will say that the show was good but, as I feared, the stadium environment was too much. I was amazed at how hot a ticket it was for a venue that holds 95,000. I usually scalp tickets, and there were none to be had. I gave some guy $40 bucks just so I could get in. I don't regret going though. I had to see the stage for myself, and it is amazing. Plus, I got to listen to some great tunes even if I couldn't see the people who were playing them :D Ticketmaster released some seats for $275, and I would have spent that if I thought it would have been an amazing experience, but somehow I think I would still not get a fantastic view. I just hate the Rose Bowl. I am so happy they are playing Angels Stadium the next time around. Question: Why is Ultraviolet such a bad ass song? I freaking love that song, and it seems to be a favorite of many U2 fans despite is relative obscurity. I loved Bono's lit jacket and the glowing circle mic. So cool. As for the new album, I got what I expected: Breathe and No Line On The Horizon I thought were the best songs. I even liked Get On Your Boots. I just love this band. So good live.

It's true. Someone is always rolling through here.

^ I met him at his hotel on his way to the venue. As I have said in other threads, I am a huge in person music memorabilia. Bono is good about it. Search YouTube and you will see many people with the same success.

I went to the show but didn't have the best of tickets. Rose Bowl is too damn big. Anyhow, I think this is going to be released as a DVD, so I will probably get a better viewing of the show at that time. I kind of wished I would have stayed home and watched the web cast, though. At least I met Bono before the show.

I like Paramore. Not groundbreaking music, but those who point out that they are catchy as hell are right. Even though this is a genre of music I tend to avoid, I say ROCK ON!

^ yeah, unfortunately that's true. Grunge has been dead for some time. I don't care if we go back to grunge, but it would be nice to see the tide shift in favor of bands similar to those during the gruge era. There were some very, very, very good bands doing a lot of new and innovative things.

Hi Jen. I like Nirvana a lot. I don't listen to them very much anymore, but I know Nevermind and In Utero like the back of my hand. I would never say that someone is wrong for liking Nirvana better than Pearl Jam. And both are very good bands, so I don't even find it to be an off the wall opinion. For me, it is more about accuracy when describing that era. Ten outsold Nevermind during the height of grunge music. That is a fact. Nirvana may have sparked the fire, but Pearl Jam, more than any band during that time, caused it to become a roaring flame. The fact that Pearl Jam went in a different direction musically after vitalogy, in my opinion, makes people forget how popular they were in their prime. That, coupled with attention given to Kurt's suicide, has caused a distorted picture, IMO. I followed this music like a hawk back in the day, and it boggles my mind when I hear stories that are different from what I remember. It's almost like it's fiction.

Los Angeles

I'll think of more later, but my two favorites closer songs from my two favorite bands are Pearl Jam's "Release" and U2's "40".

I went to a very cool PJ concert last night. Chris Cornell showed up and they performed "Hunger Strike". The next song was "Alive", and PJ was joined on stage by AIC's Jerry Cantrell. Talk about a Grunge reunion night. It was insane.

All of those bands are great. It's just personal preference.

Perhaps. I can't speak to what was popular in South America. I was telling my own recollections which, not surprisingly, are American.

You saw Nirvana in concert? They have not toured in 15 years. How old are you?

How old were all of you when these bands came out? I know Coldplay has a younger audience, so I am really curious. If you were finger painting in the 90s, i don't really value your opinion. It's like me trying to tell someone who lived through the 70s about Zeppelin or Floyd, or the 60s about the Stones, Beatles, or Who. It just doesn't wash.