Verdict on U2?

hallamboy · June 28, 2011

Just looking back over the footage on the tv....it doesn't really come across that great tbf. They should have had faith in the BBC rather than hiring their own personal director. The shots were terrible, not nearly enough shots on the crowd. Also, the few shots on the crowd were pitch black. Too many things went against themon the night....some self-inflicted and some not. As someone mentioned earlier, a 7/10 that should have been 9/10.

Edited June 28, 2011 by hallamboy

the_hedge · June 28, 2011

I'm with you 100% about the director! Basically, they got that wrong! As for the show. This is quite a difficult one for me to judge, because emotionally I loved it...my favourite band, playing the tunes I love and at the place I love the most. And then there is the other side that I thought they misjudged parts of it, like the camera coverage. Not to get technical, but they used the wrong lenses and style. I know what they were trying to do, but they fluffed it. I agree they should have used the BBC guy.

Torcs4 · June 28, 2011

I think the weather directed the broadcast more than anything. They spent an annoying amount of time 'on stage', but if you look at any moment when they cut to an 'off stage' camera, the lens was covered with rain. Remember the wind was pushing the rain in on an angle - not ideal - maybe forced their choice?

On U2 overall - they didn't knock it out of the park. I've seen U2 do far, far better. The weather was the main issue. It's amazing to see Bono so still. In the BBC interview afterwards, he said it was like an ice rink out there and he just couldn't move around much. I think you can bet that if U2 had 'Coldplay' weather, you would have seen him off the end of the stage, up at the barriers and all of that. So the weather effecting the performance and washing out the sound, plus a few clear gremlins in the machine (few noticeable errors and mistakes) I think knocked them down a few pegs.

A shame, because if they'd put their best foot forward...

**Toilet Duck** · June 28, 2011

Envious of you all.

**CaledonianGonzo** · June 28, 2011

Also the fact that the setlist was basically Anaheim didn't help (they just couldn't help themselves, and had to have a dry run...if they'd come out and mixed it up even just a little it would have helped build the excitement, but I knew exactly what song was coming next, so there was no sense of expectation....in fact, if they'd kept this setlist under wraps, I think I might have been more impressed)

Torcs4 · June 28, 2011

In fairness, this won't have been an issue for most people watching..

tevaburger · June 28, 2011

I don't think many people realised who Bono was talking to (Mark Kelly, husband of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who had just been releasd from hospital after being shot a few months ago...so when he said, "Tell my wife I love her and I'll see her very soon", I thought it was very poignant...and I'm sure he would have gotten a huge reception in the US, but at Glasto it went over the heads of everyone around me)...anyway, certainly not one to challenge the great sest seen on the pyramid...

xtrmntr75 · June 28, 2011

I wasn't there and just watched it on telly. I'm a huge fan. The thing about U2 is they were so ahead of their time when they did the Zoo Tv tour. They raised the bar really high with that tour and anything in comparison, will always disappoint.

Add to that, that they were being respectful to the festival (if they'd took their claw with them it would have ' Look at that bunch of tossers, think they are bigger than Glasto'

As for the set list, the two times I've seen them previously, they played a few tunes from their 2001 and 2005 albums which are pretty average. Five from Achtung Baby was excellent, maybe they could have had another couple from Joshua.

Edited June 28, 2011 by xtrmntr75

**The Nal** · June 28, 2011

As for the set list, the two times I've seen them previously, they played a few tunes from their 2001 and 2005 albums which are pretty average. Five from Achtung Baby was excellent, maybe they could have had another couple from Joshua.

Edited June 28, 2011 by The Nal

**Toilet Duck** · June 28, 2011

Just watched the BBC coverage of the gig....looks way better on TV...which is something I wondered at the time...did they mix it for a TV audience to the detriment of the field?? Even the crowd sound louder!

DJL · June 28, 2011

Whoever said 7/10 but could have been 9/10 hit the nail on the head for me.

Rain - It might have been 9/10 with better weather - it is possible to play a great set in those conditions but asking a lot and I'm not sure u2 are the right band with the right energy, at this stage of their careers, to do it. I could picture a band like the foos thriving in such conditions, playing in front of a different set of fans but not sure beyonce or coldplay would have faired any better.

Fireworks etc - Fair point if they'd have done loads of this they would have been criticised but they perhaps imo stripped it back too much. It was a relatively sparse, cold and wet crowd with very high expectations of seeing a band famed for being epic. In this (and a few other ways) I think they had everything to lose and little to gain.

Nerves - and the rain do explain bono's lack of mobility (along with his back surgery?) - they just didn't look relaxed, especially compared to Chris Martin who.appeared in his element.

Bono - I am probably guilty of jumping on the band wagon re the preaching thing as come to think of it I can't remember anything specific he said but I did find him a little annoying.

So my verdict (and I started the thread!) - they were good, and under difficult circumstances, but it won't go down as a legendary glast set. Definitely glad I saw them though!

Edited June 28, 2011 by DJL

The Pumpkin King · July 15, 2011

After reading several complaints about the conduct and behaviour of The Edge from U2 I was pretty shocked to stumble across this vid..

Edited July 15, 2011 by The Pumpkin King

**The Nal** · July 15, 2011

After reading several complaints about the conduct and behaviour of The Edge from U2

Vieuphoria · July 15, 2011

I thought it was the most vulgar thing i've ever seen in my life. The performance wasn't half arsed, and it just made me feel depressed for the festival. I knew it would be a vile hedonistic mess when I came into it, but I also knew it was U2 and they have amazing songs. I was gutted to have to miss Primal Screma but thought U2 would be a treat. By the time I realised how f**king dire U2 were it was too late to catch much of Primal Scream so I just stood. First time i've ever felt anger toward an artistg before. Bono and co are c**ts.