Concert Dates, Concert Tour News, Artist Information

‘X-Factor’ Twins Spawning Comparisons to U2

Robert Stephenson, known for discovering U2, also discovered X-Factor twins John and Edward Grimes. The 18-year-old twins approached Stephenson during a talent competition in Dublin six months ago, reports the Dailystar.co.uk, and now he is speaking out about their similarities to U2. Stephenson helped raise funds to bring Bono and the rest of the band to London three decades ago and thinks that John and Edward may follow in U2’s footsteps in terms of becoming major Irish stars.

“They had a spark that reminded me of U2; the first band I was ever involved with, and which made me want to engage them. What strikes me is that my first impressions of Jedward and U2 were so similar. I didn’t think U2 was the best band in town but I remember taking them for drinks and being charmed by their youthful exuberance and naïve honesty. It was the same with Jeward … There is a grand tradition in Ireland of people standing up in pubs and at weddings and spontaneously singing out of tune. It was clear to me that they couldn’t sing but what came across that day was the sheer force of their personalities,” said Stephenson.

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U2 Set to Headline U.K.‘s Glasonbury Music Festival

Billboard.com reports that Irish rock band U2 has been confirmed as one of the headliners for the 2010 Glastonbury Festival. In celebration of the U.K. festival’s 40th anniversary, U2 will make its maiden appearance at Glastonbury, held in Somerset. Bono & Co. will take a break from their North American tour to headline opening day of Glastonbury on June 25, 2010, likely performing in front of a crowd of 177,500 (the festival’s capacity).

Said festival organizer Michael Eavis in a statement, “I promised the best possible line-up for the show next year and the confirmation that U2 will play their first ever Glastonbury—and their first major festival gig since the early 1980s—is fantastic news. We’ve been trying for years … And now we’ve finally made it happen. I’m sure they will pull out all the stops to make next year’s Glastonbury the most memorable ever.” 

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Documentary ‘It Might Get Loud’ Featuring U2’s The Edge Surprisingly Snubbed by Oscars

RollingStone.com reports that the guitar documentary It Might Get Loud, featuring U2 guitarist The Edge and fellow guitar gods Jimmy Page and Jack White, failed to receive recognition from the Academy of Arts and Sciences. The RollingStone.com report reads, “Looks like the Academy of Arts and Sciences is older than we thought: two of the year’s best and most rocking documentaries, It Might Get Loud and Anvil! The Story of Anvil were both left off the 15-minute short list for the Best Documentary Academy Awards nominations, Film reports.”

It Might Get Loud features Edge, Page and White discussing their craft and also jamming together while Anvil! tells the story of the veteran Canadian heavy metal band (the doc premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival to critical acclaim). Rolling Stone‘s music-themed film, Soundtrack for a Revolution, featuring artists like the Roots, John Legend, Wyclef Jean and the Blind Boys of Alabama, did make the Oscar short list.

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Bono Cites Wife as Biggest Influence

Ok Magazine reports that U2 frontman Bono has claimed that his wife, Ali Hewson, is his biggest influence. The couple wed in 1982, which means they have a long-lasting marriage by Hollywood standards! Although Bono is one of the most influential figures in rock, pens his own Op-Ed column for the New York Times, and is known for his charity work, the lead singer of Irish rock band U2 champions his wife as his biggest supporter. White attending the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights Ripple of Hope Awards dinner at New York City’s Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers last night (Nov. 18), Bono told OK!‘s Valeria Norne, “Getting me out tonight was my Mrs. She wears really, really attractive underwear.“Joking aside, the happy couple has four kids: Jordan, 20, Memphis, 18, Elijah, 10, and John, 8.

Bono was honored with the Ripple of Hope Award for his charitable contributions along with fellow musician Wyclef Jean. When asked what the honor meant to him, Bono answered along with Wyclef saying, “We represent a movement in our different spheres of people who got organized and got busy and put on their marching boots, and that’s the thing I’m excited about. For me, at the One campaign, two-and-a-half million Americans signed up for that. I’m here to represent them, really.” When asked why he feels it is important for those in the public eye to raise awareness, Bono responded, “I think it’s important for everybody. Everybody has something to offer. I’m as jaded as anyone by famous faces and posing in photographs with vulnerable kids, but sometimes that’s what it takes.”

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U2 Tops Pollstar’s Touring List

As reported by The Associated Press, the ranking of artists for the week, according to average box office gross per city and average ticket price for North American shows, has been tabulated by Pollstar and U2 tops the list!

Pollstar’s Top 20 concert tours (average box office gross per city; average ticket price for North American shows):

1. U2; $7,689.626; $93.77
2. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band; $3,246,542; $83.72
3. AC/DC; $1,827, 586; $85.45
4. Jonas Brothers; $1,388,330; $66.31
5. Metallica; $1,372,098; $68.13
6. Depeche Mode; $1,248,377; $64.77
7. Kenny Chesney; $1,216,996; $64.17
8. Dave Matthews Band; $1,073,658; $49.62
9. Britney Spears; $1,022,687; $66.58
10. Miley Cyrus; $1,012,567; $68.77
11. Keith Urban; $861,143; $64.15
12. Rascal Flatts; $809,361; $56.25
13. Nickelback; $746,730; $43.99
14. Taylor Swift; $623,743; $47.75
15. American Idols Live; $614,114; $62.22
16. Brad Paisley; $607,249; $40.07
17. Maxwell; $587,183; $72.97
18. Blink-182; $543,428; $32.79
19. Lil’ Wayne; $506,278; $41.63
20. Kings Of Leon; $504,278; $41.63

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Security Chief Says Wall Constructed at U2’s Berlin Show Was Necessary

Although MTV stood its ground after facing criticisms for constructing a wall around U2’s stage for the band’s performance in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, a security chief who worked at the event is speaking out and saying the fence was a necessary public safety measure. As reported by Pollstar.com, director of U.K. security firm Showsec International, Simon Battersby, explained, “Obtaining permissions for the [U2] Brandenburg Gate performance required particularly sensitive communications, taking place four days in advance of the commemorations to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.”

Battersby continued to explain, “As with any city centre, free-ticketed concert-type performance, this involves careful planning with the police, local promoter, and consideration of residents that included the American, French and British embassies, hotels and banks.” In addition to overseeing the high-profile U2 show, Battersby also helmed a 10-man Showsec team in charge of overseeing security for MTV’s European Music awards at Berlin O2 later on the same day.

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Another Meaning for “Sunday Bloody Sunday”

U2 may have penned their hit song “Sunday Bloody Sunday” to describe the deaths of protesters in Northern Ireland in the early ‘70s, but the song is bow being dedicated to the recent deaths in Iran on the heels of the July 12 presidential election.

“Sunday Bloody Sunday” features the lyrics:

I can’t believe the news today
Oh, I can’t close my eyes
And make it go away
How long …
How long must we sing this song
How long, how long …
‘Cause tonight … we can be as one
Tonight … tonight …

Broken bottles under children’s feet
Bodies strewn across the dead end street
But I don’t heed the battle call
It puts my back up
Puts my back up against the wall

Sunday, Bloody Sunday
Sunday, Bloody Sunday
Sunday, Bloody Sunday

And the battle’s just begun
There’s many lost, but tell me who has won
The trench is dug within our hearts
And mothers, children, brothers, sisters
Torn apart

Sunday, Bloody Sunday
Sunday, Bloody Sunday

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U2 Participating in Charity CD for Starbucks

You may have noticed that Starbucks recently re-introduced only-for-the-holidays drinks like the delectable Gingerbread Latte, but the coffee conglomerate also has another holiday tradition: giving back to charitable organizations. Spinner.com reports that Starbucks and (RED) are pairing together to release a limited-edition album called All You Need Is Love. Starting today (Nov. 17) customers who spend $15 at participating ‘Bucks throughout the States and Canada will receive a free copy of the album, while supplies last.

All You Need Is Love is a four-track offering featuring special recordings by U2, John Legend, Dave Matthews Band and Playing for Change (the band contributes a reggae version of the Beatles’ tune “All You Need Is Love”). All of the participating artists are longtime supporters of (RED), which seeks to eradicate AIDS in Africa, especially U2 frontman Bono. Starbucks will donate $1 to support the Global Fund for each album given away. Visit Starbucks Love Project to preview the songs on All You Need is Love and learn more about (RED).

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Dublin Record Store Known for Helping U2 in Early Days to Close

Irish rock band U2 is hoping to visit their favorite record store, Freebird Records, before the Temple Bar haunt closes down for good, reports Herald.ie. Currently taking a much-needed rest after their rampant touring schedule in support of No Line On The Horizon, Bono & Co. are planning to visit the store that served as a catalyst for the band’s success in the 1980s. Freebird Records is one of Dublin’s oldest record stores and will close down later this month at the hands of the recession. Along with U2, Freebird Records was regularly visited by Oscar-winner Glen Hansard.

Freebird Records’ owner Brian Foley opened the seasoned music store in 1978 and told Herald.ie that he was forced to close down the shop due to steadily declining sales. A close friend of Bono says, “I’ve no doubt the U2 guys will be disappointed. They’ve never forgotten their roots and always look after those who were good to them on their way up. I’m sure they will try to go in for one last visit before it closes—if they are back in Dublin before then.”

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U2 to Expand Montreal Stadium

Canada.com reports that U2 is throwing down approximately $3 million to expand Montreal’s former horse racing stadium to accommodate the 60,000 to 80,000 fans expected to turn up to see the band in the summer of 2010. U2 is slated to perform in Montreal on July 16. According to Vice President and General Manager of promoter Gillett Entertainment Group Jacques Aube, the Irish rock band’s willingness to pay for the cost of building the venue shows how much U2 enjoys playing in Montreal. 

U2 initially had a hard time constructing a venue large enough to accommodate that massive (150-foot-wide) stage as well as adhere to the band’s open-air stadium request. The roof on the Olympic Stadium is not retractable, thus the venue wasn’t a contender, while Jean Drapeau Park proved to be too small and the former racetrack the Hippodrome not big enough either—until U2 decided to specifically construct a venue for the concert, that is.

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