The First Time

9 Jul 2010597
When was the first time you saw Larry, Edge, Adam and Bono play live ? How old were you ? Was it last year on the 360� Tour or was it in another millennium way back when ?

'A hot summer day in Paris at the Vincennes Hippodrome.' remembers Dom from France. 'I was 23 year old (and) when the band finally arrived, the sunset was behind the stage and I felt like in a dream. The first song they played was Exodus from Bob Marley...'

'I was a highschool senior,' says someone else. 'And still look back at this concert at the Rosemont Horizon as my greatest moment with U2.'

'On the Vertigo Tour in Brussels, Larry puts his drums right in front of me...'

'Yale University in New Haven: epic, unforgettable show with Bono climbing anywhere he could....'

You've been posting some extraordinary memories of the first time you saw the band play live - unforgettable nights on every tour they've ever played. And not just the show - sometimes unlikely encounters with the band.

'I was 11, I lived across the road from Croke Park. That evening (of the show) our street football match had play stopped by a white Mercedes and out of the car jumps Bono in a white suit. He said hello, gave my mum a hug, shook my hand, jumped back in the car.....'

What about you ? How did you end up at your first U2 show ? Does the venue still exist ? Who did you go with ? Was there a moment you'll never forget ? One of the band do something that's stuck in your mind? A song that changed everything?

Google your memories and tell us below about the first time you saw the band live. Don't forget to add in your name and city/country at the end of the post so we know where you're from.

(Incidentally, keep a copy of your post� once you've added it below. Then post it again in our� tour section - on the night and on the tour of the show you're writing about. If you've got a photo - the band, you and your mates, the ticket stub - the tour pages are where you can upload it. The more reviews you add, the more encyclopaedic an archive of the band's touring history we'll create. Thanks.)
Comments
597
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jacrobat
Soldier Field 1997
It was a glorious day in '97 and a special run of shows in Chicago was about to begin... my musical obsession with U2 was born the moment the PopMart screen exploded in unison with the Edge's screaming Mofo assault. My feet have yet to touch the ground again!
sweet4u2
First show, 2010 Leg of 360 tour
Scored tickets to SLC show for my anniversary present. (Hubby is not a fan of U2--but he is a fan of me!) I've been a U2 fan since college when I worked on a stage crew and we would rock The Unforgettable Fire and Joshua Tree albums through the house speaker system! Awesome energy! Kinda lost track of U2 over the years--with career, home, kids, etc--but found them again a few years back. It's been a great ride discovering and rediscovering the hottest, most passionate, diversely talented band in the world. You ELEVATE me!!! Can't wait for June 3rd!
andyshea
Glasgow 1982
Tiffany's, Glasgow on the pre-War tour. Tickets were available on the door. The Alarm supporting. First ever public performances of New Year's Day and Sunday Bloody Sunday (although I didn't realise it at the time). Some technical hiccup meant Bono had some time to fill. Rather than him speaking he passed the microphone into the audience to ask if anyone had anything to say. Played a lot of Boy and were a little rusty. But great atmosphere and they were Magnificent!
bela71385
Joshua Tree 1987
I was going on my first trip to Europe when U2 was playing my neighborhood. Iowa, Missouri, Illinois - all dates when I was out of the country. I finally found a show in Minneapolis. I went with my brother. Since then I've seen every tour in Minneapolis and every tour with my brother. This year it continues - Minneapolis with my brother and 12 year-old nephew.
shacko
Leeds 1993
Roundhay park in Leeds 1993 was my first of five so far. This year in Frankfurt will make it six. Me and my sister went to the show while our parents waited outside and pretty much got a free gig. I remember feeling so energized afterward I couldn't sleep. I also remember being blown away with how Adam's bass seemed to pulse through you. We stayed at a relatives house five miles away and they thought it was neighbours having a loud house party so the volume must have been pretty cranked up that night.
andyshea
Glasgow 1982
Tiffany's, Glasgow on the pre-War tour. Tickets were available on the door. The Alarm supporting. First ever public performances of New Year's Day and Sunday Bloody Sunday (although I didn't realise it at the time). Some technical hiccup meant Bono had some time to fill. Rather than him speaking he passed the microphone into the audience to ask if anyone had anything to say. Played a lot of Boy and were a little rusty. But great atmosphere and they were Magnificent!
tgu2chicagomarch85
Chicago March 1985
I'm just 3 weeks younger than the Edge! For my first U2 concert, 5 of us crammed into a Chevy Chevette and drove from Oshkosh to Chicago. We arrived at the UIC Pavillion about mid-afternoon. From the back doors we could hear "Bad" being played for the sound check. We got to wave to both Larry & Bono as they were driving to either a meal or an interview. Since then, I've seen the band an additional 14 times...including twice at Croke Park last year! Ted in South St Paul
starman15317
My 1st U2 concert will be this year in P
I am going to see U2 for my first time in July in Philadelphia. I'm traveling from Pittsburgh to see them. I'm going with my dad, who saw them only once, in Cleveland on the Elevation Tour. I can't wait!
chef_courtney
Our 6th Month wedding anniversary
my husband and i spent our 6th month wedding anniversary at our 1st U2 concert... we waited from 4:30am til the concert at 7pm in line for the standing floor seats... we wer'e in the first 100 people and made it to the rail inside the inner cirlcle between bono and adam... It was fantastic... it was so romantic with all the energy, love and powerful music! we've never taken a honeymoon, but that day and night we spent together... thank you U2 for those memories... :-D
melindalovesu2
U2 on the Mountain
Ironically, the first time I saw U2 was in 1997 at Rice Stadium in SLC. It was the first time they had played SLC in years. The University of Utah has a big U on the side of the mountain, and fans had hiked up and put a big "2" after the U to spell out U2. Bono commented on it and the crowd went wild. I was with my little sisters... I can't wait to see the boys kick off the second leg of the tour - it will be my third time seeing them with 360 and my 6th time overall. This is still not enough, so I am seeing them in Denver on June 12 too! Each time I have seen them I have been with my sisters - it makes it even better!
mobonofo
ZOOTV
Those were the days.
simfam88
The Unforgettable Fire Tour
Saw them at Capitol Centre outside Washington DC. They played an encore of "Knocking on Heaven's Door" and Bono asked if anybody could play the guitar. I raised my hand, but was too far away to be seen. They pulled some guy up who could not play and sent him away. Pulled up another and let him strum a few chords as they did the chorus. To this day, I tell folks about the chance I had to jam with Edge...
gibbo1968
Gibbo1968
Went to see U2 in Manchester at the apollo theatre,November 11th 1984.I was 16 and it was my first ever gig by any artist.Got right to the front,adam was literally touchin distance in front of me. seems like yesterday!
All I Want Is You 2
My 1st Time
The 1st time I saw U2 live was on the Joshua Tree Tour, @ the Rosemont Horizon, in Chicago 1987. I danced my butt off & sang my heart out. By the time the show was over I was dehydrated & hoarse. It was 1 of the best nights of my life!~)
nat 2A
milan 07.07.09
my first u2 live was last summer for the u2 360 tour,i went to 5 this summer (milano and dublin) ,with my mother.We came from corsica to see them. we had waited for this for so long! i remember,when we saw the huuuuuuuuuuuuuuge stage for the 1st time,it was amazing. the crowd was so crazy (and me as well) when they appeared one by one on the stage. this was a awesome show,great setlist. so many souvenirs,i will never forget this day. can't wait for this summer,have tickets for torino,frankfurt,paris and roma. :) nathalie,Corsica nathalie
yardie
My first gig.
love to all U2 fans over the years. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucuBimT-9m4
redmanlaw
Denver 1981
Rainbow Music Hall, $4. I'd just gotten a promo copy of Boy and heard the sound I'd knew existed but had not yet found until the needle hit the vinyl and I Will Follow charged out of the speakers. I wrote a review for the college paper and said expect these guys to be stars. Whaddya know?
KatFrazier
Best night of my entire life!
My first U2 show was last year (wish I've been to more!) on October 3 at Carter Finley Stadium; it was hands-down the BEST night of my entire life, and always will be. My most vivid memory is when the band first came onto stage, and there was a massive wave of cheers, and I remember my heartrate went up by about 300. It was amazing, and I hope to go to more shows in the future for equally breathtaking experiences!
sammer
March 1985
Unforgettable Fire Tour, Joe Louis Arena. Awesome show. Blew me away and cemented my lifelong fanhood. Played Bob Dylan's Knockin' on Heaven's Door for an encore.....never forget it.
josh1593
My First U2 Show
My first u2 show was back in the Popmart Tour it was in july 2th 1997 on Foxboro, MA. I was 3 years with 9 months Iremember a lot of things it was awesome, my second show was on December 3rd 1997 in Mexico City Iremember more about that one that the other one the lemon moving, when it started the show. desire it was mind blowing for my even that i was 4 years old in that time.
soki
San Sebastian 1992 - ZOO TV TOUR
It was the first time U2 were nearby since I discovered them in 1987. 4th row- It was great. But I prefer the 1997 Popmart show in Barcelona 5th row AND we got to meet them at the end of the show outside the stadium, hours after the show had finished. We were waiting for our bus back home and got a lovely surprise!!
Martin Thompson
first show
the first time i saw u2 was in the kings hall belfast on the joshua tree tour, i had been a fan for a few years but hadnt been to see them. what a night!!!!!!!! had been told that a u2 concert live was like a religious experience and totally understood everyone afterwards. i have been to see them on every tour since and have amassed a collection of material u2 related that takes up most of my home. rock on u2.
soki
San Sebastian 1992 - ZOO TV TOUR
It was the first time U2 were nearby since I discovered them in 1987. 4th row- It was great. But I prefer the 1997 Popmart show in Barcelona 5th row AND we got to meet them at the end of the show outside the stadium, hours after the show had finished. We were waiting for our bus back home and got a lovely surprise!!
JohnWhirl
The First Time...
My first U2 show was last September, in Chicago on the Opening Night of the US leg. It was an incredible day, that had been crazy enough before we even got to Soldier Field. We got lost, and walked a mile the wrong way, and then as we finally got turned around, and within a half a mile of Soldier Field, we ran into a Parade. I was with a group of friends from College, and the day was full of memories. The little things from the show, are what make it outstanding to me, like Bono trying to get Larry to crack a smile during band introductions. My most vivid memory was from our spot on the floor seeing Bono go over to Edge, and seeing him say 'Bad' at the close of One. That was the one song I wanted to hear out of the whole Catalog, and I had chills as the keyboard loop started over the PA. It was incredible. I can't wait for round 2 this summer at Soldier Field! John, Greenville, OH.
NealH
1985 in Houston and roughed up by securi
1984 and I was a 14 year old U2 fanatic seeing my favorite band for the first time. I recently moved back to the U.S. from Cork, Ireland, and was ready to hear my Irish heroes. We had tickets on the third row, side stage, on Adam's side. Red Rockers opened for U2 (remember the song China?). The show was perfect in every way. One memorable incident though was getting roughed up by security when Bono came side stage to shake hands and connect with the audience. I reached up to shake his hand and was engulfed by a rush of fans trying to touch Bono. I grabed his arm to keep from getting crushed, and next thing I know a security guard is hitting and pushing me and the crowd. Bono yells in to the microphone for the security to "be gentle" and tells them that "these people are paying our salaries." I didn't get hurt, and got a first hand account of Bono standing up for his fans. I recently found a bootleg audio clip, and it went down just like I remember it all those years ago. Neal, Michigan
jatika
JFK Stadium
1987 with 110,000 other people in philadelphia for joshua tree tour-- i was a teen i would have gone to unforgettable fire tour but was too young. most amazing night ever.
keith_falk
SF - WAR 1983
I just finished final exams and went with to see them at the San Francisco Civic. The Alarm played their 1st Us concert that night warming up for them along with Romeo Void. Shortly after they played their now famous Live at Red Rocks Show in Co. They had unbelievable energy that has become a hallmark of their shows today! See you in Anaheim on show #2 - leg 2.
cincy mike
First Time
Unoffically: The only time U2 has played Cincinnati was April 1981. I had just celebrated my 11th b-day and received "Boy" as a present. Heard on the radio the they were playing a small venue near the University of Cincinnati. I took a bus and manged to make my way there, only to be sympathetically turned away at the door. At that time, the venue was considered a bar and only admitted those 18 and older. I stuck around to hear some of the show through the doors. Officially: Six years later, coincidently after my 17th b-day, I received (4) tickets to see U2 at the Pontiac Silverdome in Michigan during the J.T. Tour. Their first headlining stadium gig.
Mareee
Zagreb 2009
Summer 10.08.2009., Zagreb, Maksimir! One of the best days of my life, I was the first time at the concert, "U2", they thrilled me. When they came on stage, I felt in love! I was with my sister and friends and, as Bono once said, "... on the Rolling Stones concert you feel good about yourself, but on our concert you feel good with the person next to you!!!!" and this is the real truth! Adore you !!!!! .... I will follow ....
CNF
Amsterdam 1980
I have to respond to this.. It was october 15, 1980 Melkweg in Amsterdam. A few weeks earlier I saw Stiff Little Fingers and had a great night with some friends of mine. When I saw in a newspaper that "another Irish band" was coming I didn't had to think very long. I thought that I was going to have just another fun night with my pal's (and a few beers) but instead.. I stood in awe. They were on a tour in small clubs so I did go to see them more than once. (...) I had this idea to get a tray of beers and going into the dressing room to talk to them.. Someting that wasn't that hard back then and worked out just fine.. Instead of beers they wanted orange juice however... When they came back in feb 1981 I did go see and met them again.. Long story short: I was a huge fan; did get involved with the first Dutch U2 fanclub ( est. in 1981 by Annelies de Haan) and had seven very intense years during 1980 > 1987 following them, seeing them grow very rapidly to star status.. I never missed a tour since that day in 1980. Last summer I was in Dublin for the concerts and run into Bono.. A friend of mine who was with me asked Bono if he did recognise me -it was very crowded- and (after not seeing him or had spoken to him for many, many years) he did.. See what happened: [IMG]http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y73/Gruber2/Dublin.jpg[/IMG] I am a fully grown adult man but that was a very cool moment for me ;-) Yet another tour-leg coming up. After 30 years of great albums and tours I can not imagine my life without their music.
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