The Hamilton Spectator

U2 dedicates song to Anthony Bourdain at Apollo show

- JOHN CARUCCI

NEW YORK — U2 frontman Bono honoured the late Anthony Bourdain toward the end of the band’s special performanc­e Monday at the Apollo Theater in Harlem.

Bono spoke of losing a “lot of inspiring, useful people” over the past few years “who gave up on their own life” alluding to the apparent suicides of musicians Chris Cornell and Chester Bennington, as well as fashion designer Kate Spade.

“And now this great storytelle­r, who I’m sure has stories he couldn’t tell us. So for Anthony Bourdain, and his friends and family this is a song inspired by a great, great, great friend of ours. His name is Michael Hutchence,” Bono said before launching into an impassione­d version of “Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of.”

The Grammy-winning song about suicide was written by the band after INXS singer Hutchence was found dead in 1997 of an apparent suicide. Bourdain, 61, was found dead of an apparent suicide last week in France.

As for the performanc­e, the band took a break from their Experience and Innocence arena tour to play a special one-night show at the legendary theatre for Sirius XM, subscriber­s. The invite-only show had a star-studded guest list, including tennis legend John McEnroe, rocker Jon Bon Jovi, E-Street band guitarist “Little Steven” Van Zandt, and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft.

The band ripped through its 90 minute set, covering 18 songs, and maintainin­g enough energy to keep many of the nearly 1,500 on their feet for most of the night. On the floor, fans waved their arms and sang along from the first chorus of opener, “I Will Follow” to the last encore of “Love Is Bigger Than Anything in Its Way.”

Never afraid to play songs from a new album, four came from “Experience.” But they also included standards like “Pride (In the Name of Love),” “Vertigo,” and “Desire.”

 ?? EVAN AGOSTINI THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ?? Bono of U2 dedicated “Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of” to Anthony Bourdain.
EVAN AGOSTINI THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Bono of U2 dedicated “Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of” to Anthony Bourdain.

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