Top Hat Ballroom - Dublin

9 Sep 1978
Supporting The Stranglers (and a spot of bother)

Edge: 'We landed the opening act for The Stranglers at The Top Hat Ballroom. It was our first exposure to playing alongside a hit band and a slightly disillusioning moment to realize that the punk ethos didn't extend to giving your support band a dressing-room or a few beers.'

Adam: 'I don't think we got a soundcheck and they had taken all the dressing-rooms so we had to hang out backstage behind the speaker stacks... I think Bono just felt the hostility of the audience which was hardcore punk who didn't have any tolerance for us.'

Bono: We broke into their dressing room during the gig and stole their wine. I was full of righteous indignation and fearlessness. It was a kind of anger that was in me, always picking fights with people who were much bigger.'

(From 'U2 by U2')

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