U2 tour tackles Germany, new album details emerge
U2 made only slight adjustments to their set list Tuesday (8/10) in Frankfurt, Germany -- the second night of their European tour -- as rumors and news floated regarding recording and stage projects.
In Turin, Italy, U2 manager Paul McGuinness told hotpress.com that the band is far along on their next record, which has a working title of "Songs of Ascent," suggesting it could be released by year's end. To get the disc out in 2010 would require some rushing on U2's part, as the band does not get off the road until Oct. 8. The 2011 tour of the U.S. is scheduled to start May 21 in Denver, CO.
Three new songs have been played so far on the tour. U2 performed the new "Glastonbury" and the instrumental "Return of the Stingray Guitar" on both nights; "North Star" was performed acoustic in Turin, but not Frankfurt.
As usual, Bono has sung snippets of other performers' songs, adding George Harrison's "My Sweet Lord" to "Mysterious Ways" and the Impressions' "Movin' On Up" to "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For." In Frankfurt, with Michael Stipe in the audience, Bono added a bit of R.E.M.'s "It's the End of the World as We Know It" to "Vertigo."
In Frankfurt, Bono thanked the German doctors who performed his recent back surgery. "I have been rebuilt using the best engineering in the world, German engineering. I have 'made in Germany' now stamped on my ass. I have never felt better. I feel like, like a Mercedes Benz."
He closed the concert by dedicating "Moment of Surrender" to the people who died in the recent Love Parade tragedy. U2 plays Hannover, Germany on Aug. 12 and then do two shows in Horsens, Denmark on Aug. 15 and 16.
Meanwhile, back in the States, an opening day was confirmed for Bono and the Edge's Broadway musical. "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" will begin preview performances Nov. 14 at Broadway's newly renamed Foxwoods Theater. (It used to be the Hilton Theater). Opening night for the $50 million musical is Dec. 21.
U2's set at Commerzbank Arena in Frankfurt, Germany:
Return of the Stingray Guitar
Beautiful Day
New Year's Day
Get On Your Boots
Magnificent
Mysterious Ways>My Sweet Lord
I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For> Movin' On Up
Glastonbury
Elevation
In A Little While
Miss Sarajevo
Until the End of the World
The Unforgettable Fire
City of Blinding Lights
Vertigo> It's the End of the World as We Know It
I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight >Discotheque
Sunday Bloody Sunday
MLK
Walk On
Encores:
One
Amazing Grace> Where the Streets Have No Name
Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me Kill Me
With or Without You
Moment of Surrender
12 - Hannover, Germany - AWD Stadium (w/ Kasabian)
15, 16 - Horsens, Germany - Casa Arena (w/ Snow Patrol)
20, 21 - Helsinki, Finland - Olympic Stadium (w/ Razorlight)
25 - Moscow, Russia - Luzhniki (w/ Snow Patrol)
30 - Vienna, Austria - Stadium (w/ One Republic)
September 2010
3 - Athens, Greece -Olympic Stadium (w/ Snow Patrol)
6 - Istanbul, Turkey - Ataturk Olympic Stadium (w/ Snow Patrol)
11, 12 - Zurich, Switzerland (w/ One Republic)
15 - Munich, Germany - Olympic Stadium (w/ One Republic)
18 - Paris, France - Stade De France (w/ Interpol)
22, 23 - Brussels, Belgium - Stade Roi Boudoin (w/ Interpol)
26 - San Sebastian, Spain - Anoeta Stadium (w/ Interpol)
29 - Seville, Spain - Olympic Stadium (w/ Interpol)
October 2010
2, 3 - Coimbra, Portugul - Estadio Cidade (w/ Interpol)
8 - Rome, Italy - Olympic Stadium (w/ Interpol)
May 2011
21 - Denver, CO - Invesco Field (formerly June 12, 2010)
24 - Salt Lake City, UT - Rice Eccles Stadium (formerly June 3, 2010)
June 2011
1 - Edmonton, Alberta - Commonwealth Stadium (formerly June 23, 2010)
4 - Seattle, WA - Qwest Field (formerly June 20, 2010)
7 - Oakland, CA - McAfee Coliseum (formerly June 16, 2010)
17 - Anaheim, CA - Angels Stadium (formerly June 6, 2010)
18 - Anaheim, CA - Angels Stadium (formerly June 7, 2010)
26 - East Lansing, MI - Spartan Stadium at MSU (formerly June 30, 2010)
29 - Miami, FL - Sun Life Stadium (previously Dolphin Stadium) (formerly July 9, 2010)
July 2011
5 - Chicago, IL - Soldier Field (formerly July 6, 2010)
8 - Montreal, Quebec - Hippodrome (formerly July 16, 2010)
9 - Montreal, Quebec - Hippodrome (formerly July 17, 2010)
11 - Toronto, Ontario - Rogers Centre (formerly July 3, 2010)
14 - Philadelphia, PA - Lincoln Financial Field (formerly July 12, 2010)
20 - East Rutherford, NJ - New Meadowlands Stadium (formerly July 19, 2010)
23 - Minneapolis, MN - TCF Bank Stadium (formerly June 27, 2010)
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