U2 kick off their Joshua Tree 2019 Tour in Auckland next month.
WE TAKE
a look at U2’s previous visits Downunder and how their once modest stage set-up has evolved into one of the greatest spectacles in modern rock.
1984 - The Unforgettable Fire Tour 1989 - Lovetown Tour
standards with the band still relying almost solely on the power of their music to entertain the masses. The setlist included many tracks from the previous Joshua Tree Tour and new songs from the
Rattle and Hum album, including
a cover of All Along the Watchtower. BB King joined the tour as the opening act. The single One Tree Hill, dedicated to Carroll, was performed within sight of the landmark for the first time.
1993 - ZooTV Tour
Touring “New Zooland” in support of 1991’s Achtung Baby, U2’s stage show had evolved into a multimedia extravaganza featuring dozens of large screens that showed visual effects, video clips, and flashing text phrases, along with a lighting system partially made of Trabant cars. The band made a conscious effort to embrace a more light-hearted image. Dunedin band The 3Ds were the opening act, but when an associate of the group pilfered a bottle of wine from U2’s dressing room, they were threatened with not getting paid. Bono insisted they be paid double and sent them another bottle.
2006 - Vertigo Tour
After a 13-year absence, U2 returned Downunder – with Kanye West in tow – for two Auckland concerts at Mt Smart Stadium. The stage show featured an ellipse-shaped ramp connected to the stage, which housed some of the audience, while a huge screen featured various light displays including glowing koru patterns. Bono even paid tribute to the Warriors, wearing a black jacket with the NRL club’s Tiki logo emblazoned on the back.
2010 - 360 Tour
U2 again raised the bar in terms of stage production with the band playing “in the round”, on a circular stage that allowed the audience to surround them during two shows at — you guessed it — Mt Smart Stadium. A towering four-legged structure nicknamed The Claw was built above the stage, with the PA and an expanding 50m-high video screen mounted on top. During One Tree
Hill, the names of the 29 victims of the Pike River mine disaster were displayed on screen. American rapper Jay-Z was the opening act.