A video game wants U2

Rock icons U2 are desperate to follow in the footsteps of The Beatles and Metallica and land their own video game.

Bassist Adam Clayton admits he and his bandmates are impressed with the currently released The Beatles: Rock Band which allows fans to play along to the Fab Four's wonderest hits and they want a piece of the action themselves.
Clayton tells USA Today, "We definitely would like to be in there. I love the idea that that's where people are getting music, and we'd love to be in that world. We'll figure something out. What The Beatles have done, where the animation is much more representative of them, is what we're interested in."

Their Own Rock Band Game wants U2

The band U2 is interested in their own Rock Band treatment, according to a report on USA Today. Mommented on t5he band's of the bassist Adam Clayton past with music games and how that perception was changed with The Beatles Rock Band. "We obviously would like to be in there, but we felt some compromises weren't what we wanted," he said. "That could change. I love the idea that that's where people are getting music, and we'd love to be in that world. We'll figure something out. What The Beatles have done, where the aliveness is much more representative of them, is what we're interested in, rather than the one-size-fits-all animation. We didn't want to be caricatured."
After Rock Band managed to snag the holy grail of music licenses with The Beatles, many have wondered what other bands could handle an entire game based on their careers. Led Zeppelin and U2 often enter those discussions, and it's good to know at least one of them is interested in it.

Scott Stadium; U2

“My body’s now a begging bowl,” Bono sang at the end of U2’s two-and-a-half hour gig last night, “that’s begging to get back, begging to get back to my heart, to the rhythm of my soul.” It’s the classic U2 lyric, merging social issues (poverty) and world culture (Third World) with intimacy and personal yearning. And in closing the band’s blow out gig at Scott Stadium, “Moment of Surrender” summed up as well as anything the beauty and contradictions of the world’s longest rock band.
David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” signaled the start of the concert as the much reported on, tentacular set billowed smoke, and with all that it became clear that U2 positions itself now as the Band that Fell to Earth. Prophets from above and within, they project their vision of what ails humanity and what can redeem it from a vast sphere of TV screens. And the effect at times was mesmerizing, vital and fresh. The Edge would be on one side of the circular stage and Bono far off on the catwalk, and yet the screen would merge their well lighted images crisply and with style. (But fans of the rhythm section might have noted that it wasn’t until the ninth song of the 25-song show, “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” that Adam Clayton got his proper due in the live video.) Things turned a bit cheesy when, at the end of “Your Blue Room” astronaut Frank De Winne’s visage filled the screen with a genuine message from outer space. Sometimes, I thought, it’s better to allude to a miracle than to actually point to it. And by the time Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s close up floated hundreds of feet in the air, exhorting the crowd to act nobly and aid the poor, The idea of message with I started to grow uneasy with from revered leaders blasting to stadium crowds that are high on shared energy. Sure, Tutu is right and so is Bono, about how to be a world citizen, but the means of communication and the rapt reception that they counted on fleetingly inspired a rather sinister comparison. But it all came back to the music, in the end, and that is U2’s great trick. Right about the time that the words Bono and megalomania start to harmonize in your head, there’s The Edge, wringing waves of sound from his guitar on the brilliant “City of Blinding Lights” or kicking out the jams in “Vertigo.” With age, Bono, like his hero Frank Sinatra, is flattening the high notes or talking through them. Interestingly, that has the effect of making the band sound even tighter, and highlighting the Edge’s quiet musical passion. Not that Bono is without grounding instincts of his own. Riffing on the fact that U2 was performing at a university campus, he introduced his mates (“roommates,” he actually called them) as classic college types. The Edge, he said, was the Nerd. Drummer Larry Mullen, Jr. was the Captain of the Football Team. Clayton was a Friend to Cheerleaders Everywhere. As for himself, Bono said, he was the College Dropout, still trying to learn something from the other three guys. Later, as the band wound up its second encore, he took it a step further. “Thank you, Larry, Edge and Adam,” he said, “for letting me be in your band.”

Plans for Next Album Take Shape, U2 Beyond the "Horizon"

Go behind the scenes with U2 on their epic 360° Tour in our new issue, on stands now. The blue band with Check out Q&A from our interviews.

On Future Plans
The Edge: We're sort of spoiled for choice right now, because there's a bunch of amazing pieces that we didn't finish from the work we did in Fez, and there's the songs we started with Rick Rubin, some of which are amazing songs that I'd love to get back to at some point. Bono and I also have this Spider-Man [musical] project, which we're very glad about. So there are a lot of things on the stove, and they're all very exciting.
Now that this tour is kind of up and running, I'm actually looking forward to getting into those projects, doing some listening back, seeing where they're all at, seeing which one is likely set to go first. The one thing is we'd love to follow this album up sooner rather than later we'll have over three years i dont think or whatever it was between the last two records. It's hard to say (about a U2 Spider-Man album). There will be a Spider-Man album, but whether it's us or the cast, that's the sort of thing we're not sure about. There are some amazing tunes.
Larry Mullen: I definitely think we should do something good as soon as we possibly can, as opposed to quickly. I'm feeling that it's the unfinished songs from this record that we should be concentrating on. I think there's a part two of this record. That would be my instinct, would be to complete this. I think there is slower, meditative stuff on there, but I think there are other things, as well, and I don't think it will end up being that kind of record. I think it will end up being a mixture of a few different things. I would like to think that we would have a song that would end up on the radio.
Rolling Stone: Did you reconvene with Brian Eno to do any recording?
Larry Mullen: We've talked about it, and how we would do it. He went into the studio to have a listen to some things i think so. We will get back together with him.
RS: Over the break between this year and next?
Larry Mullen: Absolutely, yeah. I'd also like to get back to the (Rick Rubin) sessions. I think there's some actually good stuff there.
Bono: Afew year we certainly don't want to go away. (The next) album is called Songs of Ascent, and it's a very clear idea. If we're going to do another rock record, I want to do Spider Man. I just haven't talked Adam and Larry into that.
I would like to have one of our songs on the pop charts. It's my only rejected (with No Line on the Horizon) People love, love the album it's had rave reviews, not just in the U.S., but all over the world. But I would like a few pop songs on it. So I would like, even on Songs of Ascent, songs that have a shot at that. I would like to come back with a new single in the spring "Every Breaking Wave" was Jimmy Iovine's favorite song, and lots of people got upset when we took that off.

U.Va. announces plans to manage U2 traffic

CHARLOTTESVILLE — Thursday evening, more than 50,000 people will head to the University of Virginia's Scott Stadium as rock band U2 brings its 360° Tour to Charlottesville, the first concert at Scott Stadium since the Rolling Stones played there four years ago.
Although as many as 60,000 people descend on Scott Stadium at least six times every fall for home football games, and football game procedures form the basis of much of the logistics for concerts, a major weeknight concert also poses alone challenges, said Larry Wilson, general manager of U.Va.'s John Paul Jones Arena and an executive with SMG, U.Va.'s event management partner that played a key role in landing both U2 and the Rolling Stones in 2005.
Lessons learned from the Stones concert are guiding several new measures this time around, Wilson explained.
A helicopter and Virginia Department of Transportation cameras will monitor traffic flow on Interstate 64, allowing real-time updates to directions and messages that will be displayed on 25 electronic message boards placed along I-64, U.S. 29 and other roads leading into parking areas.
Based on the color of their parking permits, drivers will be routed westbound on the U.S. 250 bypass from exit 124 (Pantops) off I-64, as well as north on U.S. 29 from exit 118B. Those with black permits will be directed to use exit 120 from I-64 (Ridge Street), thereby distributing the incoming traffic among three of the four Charlottesville exits off I-64.
The message boards will be particularly helpful to out-of-town visitors, Wilson said. For instance, roadside message boards near exit 118B will direct all concert-goers except those with blue, gold and red parking permits to merge left at the bottom of the ramp, around the traffic waiting to exit onto Fontaine Avenue, and proceed to the next two exits off the 250 bypass (at Ivy Road and Leonard Sandridge Road).

Fox performs with U2, Megan

'Transformers' beauty Megan Fox may not have much musical talent, but the stunner got the opportunity to perform with legendary band U2, who let her play the tambourine.
The 23 year old Hollywood beauty who has twice been voted the 'Sexiest Woman Alive' was hosting the popular TV gig 'Saturday Night Live' when she was invited to play with them, reported Us magazine online.
The 'Vertigo' hitmakers were aroused to be sharing the stage with Fox, with lead singer Bono telling the audience.
"SNL is gonna be excellent this week. Megan Fox will be on the tambourine and that’s a good thing," said Bono.
The brunette beauty, who is often compared to superstar Angelina Jolie, played up on her sex symbol status while playing host, showed some fake naked pictures of herself, including one brought in by a 'fan' in which she had the body of a horse.

U2's tour costs prevent profits

Rock giants U2 are still to pull in a profit from their sold out 360* world tour - because the mammoth show's overheads are so costly.
The Beautiful Day legends have been on the road since June, rigging a huge steel construction, dubbed The Claw, as their portable stage.
But constructing the giant sculpture at every new venue, plus paying the huge team wanted to put it together, doesn't come cheap costing a staggering $750,000 per show.
And despite selling out tickets around the world, the pair won't really start pulling any revenue back in until the North American leg finishes next month - despite being on the road for three months.
U2 manager Paul McGuinness explains, "The tour's 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.
"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."

U2 to getting Concert Tonight at FedEx

The eastern side of the Capital Beltway is likely to be filled with regular commuters and concert-goers. The U2 show at FedEx Field in Landover is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
The challenge: FedEx is a football stadium. Since it's opening, football fans have learned how to get on and off the roads and in and out of the parking lots. When the stadium serves as a concert venue, the regulars are replaced by fans of the pair performing. For thousands of them, it's their first time dealing with the venue.
Driving: Plan on getting there early. You'll likely still get stuck in traffic, as did the fans of Paul McCartney who went to his show there in August, but you'll at least be inside for the first set.
Best Bet: The Arena Drive/Beltway interchange, the closest one to the stadium, is now open all the time. It's one of three Beltway exits near the stadium, the other two being Landover Road and Central Avenue. The Maryland State Highway Administration recommends Central Avenue, because it tends to be less crowded than the other two.
Taking Transit: You can do this. You'll still be traveling with a crowd, but it's likely to be less of a headache than if you were behind the wheel of a car. Take Metrorail to Moran Boulevard Station on the Blue Line, then walk slightly less than a mile north, mostly on a sidewalk, to the stadium. Metro is going to keep the Morgan Boulevard Station open till 1 a.m. for people returning from the concert. They'll be able to transfer from the Blue Line to other lines to get home.

U2 CONCERT DATES IN 2010

We couldn’t get enough of the 360º Tour. Many cities claimed to have them performing. And it looks like they’ve confirmed some dates to continue their tour next summer 2010:

10 August, 2010 Commerzbank Arena - Frankfurt

12 August, 2010 AWD Stadium - Hannover

15 August, 2010 Stadium - Horsens (Denmark)

20 August, 2010 Olympic Stadium - Helsinki

25 August, 2010 Luzhniki - Moscow

30 August, 2010 Ernst Happel Stadium - Vienna

3 September, 2010 Olympic Stadium- Athens

6 September, 2010 Ataturk Olympic Stadium - Istanbul

15 September, 2010 Olympic Stadium - Munich

18 September, 2010 Stade De France - Paris

29 September, 2010 Olympic Stadium - Seville

2 October, 2010 Stadium – Coimbra

Yes, U2 in Sevile!! All those who missed their concert in Barcelona, have now the chance to look one of the most important Irish bands in History.

Besides, you’ll get a remix album, you’ll be able to join the presale for 2010, and you’ll benefit from many other aspects, such as a u2.com email address! Do you want more reasons to subscribe?

A Futuristic Dazzler At Gillette U2

Arrogance? Check. Socially conscious anthems? More than you can imagine. Brogues? You 'betcha. A night of consistent entertainment? Without a doubt. On Sept. 20, U2 rolled into Foxboro's Gillette Stadium to give fans, both young and old, all of this and more within a two hour, 23 song set.Bono, guitarist The Edge, bassist Adam Clayton, and drummer Larry Mullen Jr. arrived on stage as David Bowie's dreary "Space Oddity" poured out of the sound system. The stage, a circular freak with ramps that lead the band farther into the audience, was described by the band as their own spaceship. At various points during the gig, it changed color and emitted bursts of smoke.The band kicked off the night with a quartet of songs from their latest album No Line on The Horizon, beginning with the upbeat rocker "Breathe." Although the album was only moderately embraced by the American public, each of these songs sounded much more vibrant live, even the inane "Get on Your Boots," a boneheaded track perfectly designed for stadium gigs. It was a risky move opening with four new tracks, but U2 managed to pull it off effortlessly. The set did an admirable job providing the crowd with ample offerings of both new and old. Harder songs like "Sunday Bloody Sunday" sat comfortably beside more mellow tunes like "MLK." U2 demonstrated that they are not a band that relies on hits from the past. Recent radio staples like "Vertigo" and "Beautiful Day" were received just as enthusiastically as an old classics like "New Years Day." By playing about half of their latest album, they made it clear that they are making music today because they're still driven, not just as an excuse to tour.The night was marked by a few epic surprises as well. "The Unforgettable Fire," a song from the underrated 1984 album of the same name, provided audiences with a dose of droning 1980s textured new wave as well as an impressive psychedelic light gig. Also, it was somewhat shocking when the second encore began with "Ultraviolet (Light My Way)," a minor track from the album Achtung Baby.

U2 Beat Pope John Paul II Attendance

More people attended the U2 concert at Giants Stadium in New Jersey last week than turned up to see Pope John Paul II.
U2 had 84,472 sets of eyeballs watching them in Jersey, beating the record held by the Pope since 1995.
The news did not go unnoticed by Bono. "News just in. We've broken every record for attendance in this stadium including the Pope. Sorry Bruce we know it's your birthday and all," he told the crowd before adding, "I know they're knocking this place down...we likely won't be here again before the wrecking ball but it was a magic place for us as well as the Giants."
U2 will finish their North American tour in Vancouver and then take the gig on the road around the world in 2010.
Europe was confirmed yesterday. The tour will head to back to Europe for Germany, Denmark, Finland, Russia, Austria, Greece, Turkey, France, Spain and Portugal.

Up on the Roof With U2, Part 2

For the LED drivers, I had it in mind to use off-the-shelf products. These days a lot of manufacturers make standard drivers to just drive LEDs with or without DMX. I couldn’t find the right driver that could handle the power but also have a smooth dimming curve and understand DMX. There are a few products out there, but in my opinion, they still have a way to go to get to a smooth dimming curve. Plus, nothing was available in that short of lead time. I ran into James Powell at Lightfair; he was one of the founders of PixelRange and has now moved on from there to his company JAP Optoelectronic, based in Manchester, England. I knew he could deal with the whole electronics and software side of an LED product. James and I discussed this project, and I asked if he was interested, did he have the capacity and more importantly, did he have components in stock, which he did. He decided that it would be best to design a custom driver board for this fixture. It makes more s to have a board that does exactly what’s wanted, that’s not over particulared, and that is dependable. We always had to remember these units were going on tour and are hard to access, so you don’t need to have problems on the road. Once James came onboard in the first week of May, he designed a custom board and laid out all of the electronics and control system, basically with DMX input. He is known for his fantastic dimmer curves and reliable electronics; in my opinion, he has the best dimming in the whole field of LED products. I have known James since I started Xilver back in 2002. It was very exciting to work with him and his well organized professional team.

U2 A Futuristic Dazzler At Gillette

Arrogance? Check. Socially conscious anthems? More than you can imagine. Brogues? You 'betcha. A night of consistent entertainment? Without a doubt. On Sept. 20, U2 rolled into Foxboro's Gillette Stadium to give fans, both young and old, all of this and more within a two hour, 23 song set. Bono, guitarist The Edge, bassist Adam Clayton, and drummer Larry Mullen Jr. arrived on stage as David Bowie's dreary "Space Oddity" poured out of the sound system. The stage, a circular monstrosity with ramps that lead the band farther into the audience, was described by the band as their own spaceship. At diverse points during the gig, it changed color and emitted bursts of smoke.The band kicked off the night with a quartet of songs from their latest album No Line on The Horizon, beginning with the upbeat rocker "Breathe." Although the album was only reasonable embraced by the American public, each of these songs sounded much more vibrant live, even the inane "Get on Your Boots," a boneheaded track perfectly designed for stadium gigs. It was a risky move opening with four new tracks, but U2 managed to pull it off effortlessly. The set did an commendable job providing the crowd with ample offerings of both new and old. Harder songs like "Sunday Bloody Sunday" sat comfortably beside more mellow tunes like "MLK." U2 demonstrated that they are not a band that relies on hits from the past. Current radio staples like "Vertigo" and "Beautiful Day" were received just as enthusiastically as an old classics like "New Years Day." By playing about half of their latest album, they made it clear that they are making music today because they're still driven, not just as an excuse to tour.The night was marked by a few epic surprises as well. "The Unforgettable Fire," a song from the underrated 1984 album of the same name, provided audiences with a dose of droning 1980s textured new wave as well as an impressive psychedelic light gig. Also, it was somewhat shocking when the second encore began with "Ultraviolet (Light My Way)," a minor track from the album Achtung Baby.

shows at the Rogers Centre to U2 to play two sold-out

One of the world's most popular bands will play in Toronto tonight in part one of two sell out shows at the Rogers Centre.
The unseasonably warm temperatures means that the roof of the dome will be open during the concert something that has only happened once before, when Bruce Springsteen put on a show in 2003.
More than 60,000 U2 fans are expected to attend Wednesday night and Thursday night's concerts.
The band acquired in town Sunday and attended the premier of fellow Irishman Colin Farrell's new movie "Ondine" which was screened at the Toronto International Film Festival Monday night.
U2 frontman Bono and guitarist The Edge were spotted outside the Masonic Temple on Tuesday night, where they filmed a secret taping for Elvis Costello's show "Spectacle."
The band will be playing songs from their new album, "No Line on the Horizon." It is their 12th studio album.
With a report from CTV Toronto's Reshmi Nair.

U2 Tour 2009 Europe Tour Dates

Since U2 major breakthrough with the album War in 1983, Irish rock band U2 have remained at the forefront of rock music right until this day. With 22 Grammy Awards, six #1 albums in the US, and nine in the UK, they are one of the most successful and critically acclaimed bands in history. Fronted by Bono, U2 have always actively participated in human rights causes, dedicating many a concert to various organisations. The concert U2 gave at Live Aid in 1985 has become legendary: during this event Bono jumped off the stage and hugged and danced with a fan. Every U2 world tour has been an unforgettable fire, so to speak. Many will remember the Vertigo Tour and the Elevation Tour. U2 tickets are selling fast, so Achtung Baby: buy your tickets and be there at the next U2 concert! The dates of U2 2009 European tour are as under:

U2 Tickets in London, United Kingdom
Date: 04-07-2009 Start: 19.30 Venue: Hyde Park

U2 Tickets in Dublin, Ireland
Date: 01-07-2009 Start: 20.00 Venue: Slane Castle

U2 Tickets in Brussels, Belgium
Date: 06-07-2009 Start: 20.00 Venue: King Boudewijn Stadium

U2 Tickets in Brussels, Belgium
Date: 07-07-2009 Start: 20.00 Venue: King Boudewijn Stadium

U2 Tickets in Rotterdam, Netherlands
Date: 09-07-2009 Start: 20.00 Venue: De Kuip

U2 Tickets in Rotterdam, Netherlands
Date: 10-07-2009 Start: 20.00 Venue: De Kuip

U2 Tickets in Rotterdam, Netherlands
Date: 11-07-2009 Start: 20.00 Venue: De Kuip

U2 Tickets in Paris, France
Date: 16-07-2009 Start: 20.00 Venue: Stade de France

U2 Tickets in Paris, France
Date: 17-07-2009 Start: 20.00 Venue: Stade de France

U2 Tickets in Paris, France
Date: 18-07-2009 Start: 20.00 Venue: Stade de France

U2 Tickets in Berlin, Germany
Date: 21-07-2009 Start: 19.00 Venue: Olympia Stadium Berlin

U2 Tickets in Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Date: 23-07-2009 Start: 20.00 Venue: Veltins Arena

U2 Tickets in Barcelona, Spain
Date: 27-07-2009 Start: 20.00 Venue: Camp Nou Stadium

U2 Tickets in Barcelona, Spain
Date: 28-07-2009 Start: 20.00 Venue: Camp Nou Stadium

U2 Tickets in Milan, Italy
Date: 31-07-2009 Start: 20.00 Venue: San Siro

U2 Tickets in Milan, Italy
Date: 03-08-2009 Start: 20.00 Venue: San Siro

U2 Tickets in Zurich, Switzerland
Date: 04-08-2009 Start: 20.00 Venue: Letzigrund Stadium

U2 Tickets in Zurich, Switzerland
Date: 05-08-2009 Start: 20.00 Venue: Letzigrund Stadium

U2 Tickets in Vienna, Austria
Date: 07-08-2009 Start: 20.00 Venue: Ernst Happel Stadium

U2 Tickets in Vienna, Austria
Date: 08-08-2009 Start: 20.00 Venue: Ernst Happel Stadium

U2 Tickets in Prague, Czech Republic
Date: 10-08-2009 Start: 20.00 Venue: Na Julisce Stadium

U2 Tickets in Stockholm, Sweden
Date: 20-08-2009 Start: 20.00 Venue: Soderstadion

U2 Tickets in Stockholm, Sweden
Date: 21-08-2009 Start: 20.00 Venue: Soderstadion

U2 Tickets in Oslo, Norway
Date: 24-08-2009 Start: 20.00 Venue: Ulleval

U2 Tickets in Oslo, Norway
Date: 25-08-2009 Start: 20.00 Venue: Ulleval

U2 Tickets in Chorzow, Poland
Date: 26-08-2009 Start: 20.00 Venue: Slaski Stadion

U2 Tickets in Chorzow, Poland
Date: 27-08-2009 Start: 20.00 Venue: Slaski Stadion