Vertigo

Aug 14 2005

Lisbon, PT / Alvalade

with Keane, Kaiser Chiefs

Thirty Two Great Nights in Europe come to a close in Lisbon, Portugal.

Bono folded himself up and cast himself aside at the beginning of the final show of the European leg of Vertigo 05 last night. Actually it was just a cardboard cut-out version of himself getting the folding treatment, but it was a useful symbol that a long and exhilarating tour through Europe was coming to a close and it was time for a little rest.

'Myself, The Edge, Adam and Larry ... today we became Portuguese,' he explained, referring to their visit to the Presidential Palace earlier in the day to receive the Order of Merit. 'We wanna thank you for making us so welcome and we wanna thank the President for pinning this great badge on our chest.'

Honours are cool of course but, as Larry never fails to point out, this is a band who are not at the end of their career. 'We're just getting started!' added Bono, to wild cheers as Still Haven't Found cracked open the night and Lisbon became the City of Blinding Lights.

'So tonight is the last night of our European tour and this is a good place

to end,' continued Bono. 'Some very beautiful girls,' he noticed, before dedicating Miracle Drug to a children's hospital and recalling the author Christopher Nolan.

'It's about a boy we went to school with who was asleep until a little pill which awakened him and he was able to write beautiful poetry. He wrote a book called Damburst of Dreams. His mother always believed in him, that he was awake.'

It was a hot night at the Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon and the band were not letting up on the energy levels just because a welcome break is ahead. The Portuguese have been waiting a long time for this show and the wait proved worth it.

'It's going to get harder and harder to coexist,' predicted Bono, but that's the spirit of Sunday Bloody Sunday, Love and Peace and Bullet the Blue Sky. 'No more no more' echoed hugely around the stadium, as the night flew by. There's special mention for the man who recorded Miss Sarajevo, at the show tonight, and as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights scrolls up the rear of the stage in gigantic letters, tonight it's in Portuguese - much to the delight of the locals.

'What is going on?' asks a tired but jubilant Bono surveying the chanting of the audience. 'I want to salute the people from Make Poverty History in Portugal. If you want to take out your cell phones and make this place into a Christmas tree..

You can text us

Join us

Email us

Our time is coming

Our generation has something to do

It has fallen on us to say no to extreme poverty

We can say NO..

We want Portugal to lead and not to follow in the fight against extreme poverty

We believe that this government will do it but only if you tell them to..'

And so, for the last time in Europe in 2005, the stadium is lit up with cellphones, thousands of people join the campaign to make poverty history and One rings out to remind people that what we can achieve together is more than we might ever imagine.

Special thanks for crew members as Yahweh arrives, with accompanying brilliant animations and then, in a neat twist on recent shows, there is no second Vertigo but instead the beautiful '40' closes a beautiful European tour.

IMAGE + VIDEO

ALL TOUR PHOTOS

ALL TOUR VIDEO

Vertigo 2005

Bono reaching out to fans

Vertigo 2005 065

Making Poverty History, European Leg, Vertigo 05

Coexist

Second night, Amsterdam Arena, Vertigo 2005

'Bullet The Blue Sky', Manchester, England, Vertigo 2005

Crew Member At Rest, Vertigo 2005

AJ Keeps an eye on the Singer, Vertigo 2005

Dublin, home of U2 and Guinness, Vertigo 2005

Wet, Wet, Wet in Dublin, Vertigo 2005

Vertigo South American Tour

Vertigo 2005

Love & Peace, Vertigo 2005

Fans on screen, Vertigo 2005

Brandon Flowers from The Killers joins U2in Las Vegas for 'In A Little While', Vertigo 2005

Vertigo 2005

The Larry Mullen Band

Eddie Vedder/Kings of Leon

Daniel Lanois on stage with U2

The Killers supporting in Amserdam

Fans welcome U2 to Holland

Croke Park, Vertigo 2005

Vertigo in Dublin

Vertigo in Twickenham

The Declaration Of Human Rights

Getting ready for Europe, Vertigo 2005

Vertigo LED Lights

LED Lights

Where The Streets Have No Name

Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own

Bullet The Blue Sky

American and Canadian Flags

The Vertigo Tour Screen

Coexist

Everything You Know Is Wrong

Vertigo Screen

Where The Streets Have No Name

Vertigo Stage

Playing with LED screen behind

On Stage during the show

Bono reaching out to the audience

Larry during Love & Peace

Bono playing his guitar

Adam on Vertigo

Dublin's Gaiety Theatre

Waiting for the band, Chicago, Vertigo 2005

All Because Of You

Vertigo Tour EPK

A Day in the Life of Edge 1

All Because Of You - Vertigo Tour Indoor

Police Escort, South America

Vertigo Tour - South America - Amnesty International's Ambassador of Conscience award to U2

Vertigo Tour - South America - City of Blinding Lights

Vertigo Tour - South America - U23D Shoot

U23D Film Trailer

U2 3D Trailer

Vertigo Tour Australia - Willie Williams on his way...

Comments

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bruno_alex

06 May, 2015

Bruno Alex

What a show! It was the 3rd time that I've been on a U2 tour. I went with a couple of friend of mine, Ze Manuel and Marta (it was their "U2 baptism") and the irish fellows didn't disapointed them. The band involved us with their performance, captivated us, we sing along from top to bottom of the setlist like addicts! Another memorable night. That day, BONO turned out to be Portuguese as we are, so as many other before us... brave and proud! City of Blinding Lights still echoes on my mind

meira

29 September, 2010

So great!

I couldn´t expect less! U2 were, as always, EXTRAORDINARY! I was there on the front line, so close to them... so many peolpe but yet so intimist... No words to describe it! FANTASTIC! Keep on the good work lads! love you all! Hugs from PORTUGAL.

carlosDuarte

19 October, 2009

PRAIA DAS MAÇÃS

After 23 hours waiting in line, for purchasing the most expected tickets, its was really outstanding to see 4 exceptional persons performing for the 3rd time in from of me. its was a reunification with the Portuguese fans. Thank very much for the commitment

Filipe_Marques

13 October, 2009

Lisbon 05

It was the greatest concert i´ve ever seen. Before the concert the U2 band has recieved by our President, MR Jorge Sampaio, who give then a honour medal. At the concert the refer that "Now we are also portuguese". then everybody shout out loud.

babykat

05 September, 2009

It was a longgggggg time ago...

4 years ago... Kaiser Chiefs were great, Keane didn't show up, which was a pity... Anyway, the show was good, but the sound could have been better (the problem of big places) and I think they were a bit tired (it was their last show of the european leg). Still it was great to listen to them for the 2nd time, to hear Bono say "Boa noite Lisboa" (Good evening Lisbon), about 50000 people singing "40" together, a perfect song alive (City of Blinding Lights) and an amazing image on the screen (COEXIST), among many other images and feelings that noone can take away from us :)

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