I love blogging the A to Z Blog Challenge - blogging everyday in April, except Sundays, on a specific theme. I loved doing it last year, and I enjoyed it even more this year. I think I enjoy the challenge so much because I am one who likes to to lists things, rank my favorites. This year’s theme, in case you missed it was ‘My U2 from A to Z’ – about what aspects of U2 that has influenced me. It was fun, and it seemed I may have introduced a few new U2 topics. Just in case you were away from the internet in April, the following is what I wrote about: Achtung Baby, Bono, Can’t Help Falling in Love, Drums, Elevation Tour, First U2 Show, Get on Your Boots, Hallelujah Here She Comes and all B Sides from R & H and JT, I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, Joshua Tree, Kentucky Lexington Elevation 5.4.01, Larry Mullen Jr, Memphis Mullen, No Line on the Horizon, October, Popmart, Quest Field Seattle 360, Rattle and Hum, Storm Electrical, Three-Sixty (360) Tour, Unforgettable Fire, Vertigo Tour, War, X-Factor Fake U2 Audition, Yahwey, and ZooTv.
Larry hugging me
I also blogged the A to Z Challenge on my other blog Deena’s Days about ‘My Music’ – music I love from A to Z. I am not sure what I am going to write about U2 now since the new album and tour won’t be for several months, so if you have any suggestions please let me know.
My favorite song of all-time, U2 or otherwise, is I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, off my favorite U2 album The Joshua Tree. It was my first favorite U2 song and what solidified me as a U2 fan, along with Larry Mullen Jr. With or Without You introduced me to U2, but it was I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For that made me a fan. And 26 years later, I still have not found what I am looking for. But I love the journey, the quest for what truly makes me happy. Besides being a fantastic, spiritual and uplifting song, I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For is an amazing video – my favorite. It captures U2 during The Joshua Tree era in Las Vegas, my second favorite city. I cried when U2 played I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For at the second show in Anaheim on the 360 tour in 2011 because they hadn’t played it yet that leg. Even though I had heard it at lots of shows before, it was a special moment in Anaheim when U2 played I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For. I find it interesting that Larry is on the cover of the single of my favorite song.
I have climbed the highest mountains
I have run through the fields
Only to be with you
Only to be with you.
I have run, I have crawled
I have scaled these city walls
These city walls
Only to be with you.
But I still haven’t found
What I’m looking for.
But I still haven’t found
What I’m looking for.
I have kissed honey lips
Felt the healing in her finger tips
It burned like fire
(I was) burning inside her.
I have spoke with the tongue of angels
I have held the hand of a devil
It was warm in the night
I was cold as a stone.
But I still haven’t found
What I’m looking for.
But I still haven’t found
What I’m looking for.
I believe in the Kingdom Come
Then all the colours will bleed into one
Bleed into one.
But yes, I’m still running.
You broke the bonds
And you loosed the chains
Carried the cross of my shame
Oh my shame, you know I believe it.
But I still haven’t found
What I’m looking for.
But I still haven’t found
What I’m looking for.
But I still haven’t found
What I’m looking for.
But I still haven’t found
What I’m looking for.
This blog post is part of my A to Z April Challenge about ‘My U2′ – what I love about U2 from A to Z. Thanks for stopping by. I am also blogging the A to Z Challenge on my other blog Deena’s Days about ‘My Music’ – music I love from A to Z.
The original purpose of this blog was to write about all 75 U2 concerts I have been to over the last 20 years, and since I have done that and U2 are not currently touring, I had to find something else to write about on this blog. I have recently gotten back into going to church. In addition to attending worship services, I am also attending Sunday School and Bible Study. In addition I am involved with the church’s Women’s Group and helping lead the Youth Group. I am back on my spiritual journey, so I thought why not combine my spiritual journey with my musical journey. I am going to explore U2′s lyrics in relation to theology. This is not a new concept, in fact many have already written about it. But this will be the first time I am really going to delve into U2 and religion. What I am writing isn’t necessarily the right answer, but rather my interpretation of U2′s music as it pertains to my spiritual journey. Being On the Road with U2 has led me back on my path to my spiritual journey.
It is all about the journey, not the destination. No song portrays that sentiment more than my favorite song I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For. It was the song that got me into U2, and 25 years laterI still have not found what I am looking for. But I love being on the journey – the quest for what truly makes me happy. U2 refer to I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For as a gospel song, and I agree. The first verse may suggest that success doesn’t mean fulfillment – “I have climbed the highest mountains, I have run through the fields only to be with you. I have run, I have crawled, I have scaled these city walls only to be with you. But I still haven’t found what I’m looking for.” In the second verse the lyric “I have spoke with the tongue of angels” may have been taken from 1 Corinthians 13:1, which says, “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.” Similarly this says that knowledge doesn’t mean happiness – even if you have all the right answers, without love you have nothing. The third verse may suggest that in your head you believe in God, but you are yearning to know God in your heart – “I believe in the Kingdom Come…You carried the cross of my shame…you know I believe it. But I still haven’t found what I’m looking for.”
I have climbed the highest mountains
I have run through the fields
Only to be with you.
I have run, I have crawled
I have scaled these city walls
Only to be with you.
But I still haven’t found
What I’m looking for.
I have kissed honey lips
Felt the healing in her finger tips
It burned like fire
(I was) burning inside her.
I have spoke with the tongue of angels
I have held the hand of a devil
It was warm in the night
I was cold as a stone.
But I still haven’t found
What I’m looking for.
I believe in the Kingdom Come
Then all the colors will bleed into one.
But yes, I’m still running.
You broke the bonds
And you loosed the chains
Carried the cross of my shame
Oh my shame, you know I believe it.
But I still haven’t found
What I’m looking for.
I still haven’t found what I’m looking for, but I am enjoying the journey!
I had a great time in April blogging each day about my 26 favorite U2 songs in the A to Z challenge. So much fun in fact that I wanted to list my favorite U2 songs (each highlighted with links back to the original posts) in this one blog post with the addition of honorable mentions, so I truly include all of my favorite U2 songs. So here we go, my 26 favorite U2 songs from A to Z!
A is for Acrobat with A Room at the Heartbreak and Angel of Harlem as honorable mentions.
B is for Bad with Breathe as honorable mention for close second – “I’ve found grace inside a sound.”
My favorite U2 song that begins with D is Deep in the Heart. It is a B side off I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, my all-time favorite U2 song. I love the B sides off The Joshua Tree, my favorite U2 album, just as much as, if not more than, the songs that made it on the actual album. I love the overall sound of Deep in the Heart, especially the pounding drums!
Angel, everything is gonna be alright
Angel, everything is gonna work out tonight
Thirty years old
Sweet as a rose
Every petal of her wafer thin
Love will make you blind
Creep up from behind
Get you jumping out of your skin
Angel, it’s sink or swim
Deep in the heart
Deep in the heart of this place
Deep in the heart
Deep in the heart of this place
Door is closed behind me now
The window is sealed to shut out the light
Green as the leaves
And the cure of the nettle sting
Do your homework, It’ll work out right
Deep in the heart
Deep in the heart of this place
Deep in the heart
Deep in the heart of this place
The scent of cedar
I can still see her
You can’t return to the place you never left
Angel, we’ll make it work out tonight
Angel, I wanna be home tonight
Door is closed behind me now
The window is sealed, to shut out the light
Green as the leaves the cure of the nettle sting
Do your work and you’ll work out right
Deep in the heart
Deep in the heart of this place
Deep in the heart
Deep in the heart of this place
What is your favorite U2 song that begins with D?
This blog post is part of my A to Z April Challenge – my 26 favorite U2 songs. Thanks for stopping by. I am also blogging the A to Z Challenge on my other blog DeenasDays.
25 years ago today U2′s The Joshua Tree, my favorite album, was released. It was March 9, 1987, and I was a freshman in high school. I heard With or Without You and liked it. I realized that it was by that same group who sang that song Pride I had heard before. But I had to check out and see what U2 looked like because at 14 it is very important to a have a crush on the band you like. I noticed a picture of U2 that a classmate had. Larry stood out right away as the attractive one and someone whose pictures would soon decorate my locker. I immediately bought The Joshua Tree. That summer, I remember walking along the beach in Ocean City, Maryland with my big boom box blaring I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, which became my favorite song and still is today. I noticed U2 because of With or Without You, but I fell in love with U2 because of Larry Mullen and I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.
By the time Rattle and Hum came out, I had all of U2’s albums and recorded all of their appearances on television. I loved Rattle and Hum almost as much as The Joshua Tree. To me it is just an extension of it, sort of a Joshua Tree part 2. But more than a great album, Rattle and Hum is also a movie about U2’s travels across America on their Joshua Tree tour. On November 4, 1988, exactly one month after my 16th birthday, I piled a bunch of my friends into my GMC Jimmy and went to the movie theatre to see the premiere of Rattle and Hum. People were dancing in the aisles.
Even though I had all of U2′s albums, The Joshua Tree was what I listened to constantly from 1987 to 1991 – along with Rattle and Hum. Besides I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, my favorites off The Joshua Tree are Red Hill Mining Town (I was obsessed with this song!), Running to Stand Still, Trip Through Your Wires, In God’s Country, and b-sides Luminous Times (one of my all-time top 5 favorite songs), Walk to the Water, Deep in the Heart and Spanish Eyes. I love the b-sides of The Joshua Tree as much as, if not more than, the songs that actually made it onto the album. My favorites off of Rattle and Hum are Heartland, Love Rescue Me, Angel of Harlem, and b-sides Hallelujah Here She Comes and A Room at the Heartbreak Hotel. The Joshua Tree was also all I watched for five years. I taped everything off MTV – the documentaries, the videos, the concerts, the award show appearances, and the interviews. My favorite is the the first U2 I ever taped off tv, the documentary Outside It’s America – I know it by heart because I used to watch it everyday.
Even though it has been 25 years, The Joshua Tree is still my favorite album. It is truly a part of me. I think because it was my first U2 album and all I listened to and watched for five years. It’s just so ingrained in me. Its songs are second nature to me. Like being home, they are comforting. The Joshua Tree changed my life.
I had always wanted to drive across the country, and I had always wanted to follow U2 on tour – the whole tour. And last summer that is exactly what I did. I wasn’t working and barely had enough money, but I packed up the car and Elvis, Cilla and I left our house for three months to drive to every U2 show in the US on the last leg of the 360 Tour. Along the way, I visited great American sights, saw 16 fantastic U2 concerts and met many great people.
the traveling threesome
We drove over 18,000 miles through 31 states – some states we drove through multiple times. We drove through and/or stayed in Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, Georgia, Florida, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Delaware, New Jersey and Minnesota. I visited Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, and Deadwood in South Dakota, Red Rocks in Denver, Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Reno and Lake Tahoe in Nevada, the Experience Music Project and Kurt Cobain’s house in Seattle, Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco, Harmony Hotel, Joshua Tree Park and Elvis’ homes in Palm Springs, took a bus tour of LA and Hollywood, visited Johnny Cash’s grave outside of Nashville, Bronz Fonz and Summerfest in Milwaukee, the Football Hall of Fame, and saw Soundgarden in Philadelphia. My favorite places were Mount Rushmore, Palm Springs, and Milwaukee.
I saw all 16 U2 360 shows in the US. My favorite moments (my squealing moments) of each U2 360 concert were the following: watching U2 walk through the crowd and walk to the stage, Larry banging the drums to open Even Better Than the Real Thing - boom boom! boom! boom boom!, when Larry and his drums turned around to face behind the stage (where I was) during Mysterious Ways, Larry standing up (back to back with Bono) banging the drums singing “LET ME IN THE SOUND” during Get on Your Boots, Larry walking around with his conga during I’ll Go Crazy, Larry and his drums turned around to face behind the stage (where I was) and then Bono rapping at him during Sunday Bloody Sunday, Larry’s drum solo during Scarlet, and watching U2 leave the stage and walk through the crowd to the tunnel leaving the stadium.
it's all about Larry
My favorite U2 360 shows were Anaheim2, Chicago, St. Louis, Pittsburgh and Seattle, but each of the 16 US shows were special. The Denver show was special because it was the first U2 show in the US on the last leg of 360, it was the first time I heard Zooropa and Scarlet, it was in the stadium where my beloved Denver Broncos play, and I met Beth. The Salt Lake City show was special because I heard Love Rescue Me, one of my favorite songs, for the first time. The Seattle show was one of my favorites because I talked with Bono before the show about meeting Larry, Larry walked over to me smiling and shook my hand as he walked to the tunnel as he left the stadium, I watched the show with Jenny, and I met Chuck. The Oakland show was special because Larry sang a part of Lou Reed’s A Perfect Day and I talked with Bono again before the show about meeting Larry. The first show in Anaheim was special because it was the first time Paul McGuinness had ever been on stage. The second show in Anaheim was my favorite 360 show because U2 brought back my favorite song I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For for the first time that leg and I cried, and they completely changed the set list by opening the show with five straight songs off Achtung Baby then played Streets. The Baltimore show was special because it was the loudest audience of the tour, Larry took off his shirt on the way to his car after the show, I got the set list and I watched the show with Tasha. The East Lansing show was special because it stayed light through Elevation and U2 entered through the bleachers up top behind the stage. The Miami show was special because it was the first time U2 played North Star in the US. The Nashville show was special because it was the first time U2 played The Wanderer, in honor of Johnny Cash, they brought up a blind guitar player at the end of the show to play All I Want Is You, and it was the first time I saw Larry get out of his car at the stadium. The Chicago show was one of my favorites because it was the first time I had ever heard One Tree Hill, which was completely spontaneous and the first time it was played in the US since 1987, U2 played Out of Control for the first time in the US that leg, and I shook Edge’s hand before the show. The Philadelphia show was special because U2 brought back the original version of Magnificent and moved it down in the set list, I watched the show will old Elevation friends, and I met Natasha. The St. Louis show was one of my favorites because of the amazing energy both from the audience and U2, and I got a little shout out from Bono about the Larry Mullen Band. The New Jersey show was special because it ended with Out of Control, it was the longest show of the tour, and I met Anisha. The Minneapolis show was special because it was the only show in the US that leg that it rained, a drenching downpour complete with lightning, and I danced in the rain throughout the show with Deb and her husband. The Pittsburgh show was one of my favorites because it was the last US show, Matt and Melissa danced on stage during With or Without You, U2 closed with Bad (one of my favorite songs which was played for the first time in the US that leg), watching the show with Abbey, and my favorite moment of the entire tour was when Larry hugged me on his way to the stage.
I had the best summer of my life on the U2 360 Tour. I learned there really is humidity in Southern California, to never drive around Chicago or Atlanta (especially on July 4th weekend), don’t avoid an outdoor concert in Miami in the summer because you think it is going to be too hot because the shows in St. Louis, Baltimore and Nashville were much hotter, and U2 fans really are the greatest. But the most important thing I learned is to always follow your passion, even if you think it’s impossible or impractical. If I had thought logically and practically, I would have skipped the second Anaheim show to make it an easier drive from California to Maryland to make it to the Baltimore show, but then I would have missed my favorite show of the tour. And if I had been thinking logically and practically, I would have never even gone on the trip to begin with because I couldn’t really afford it, but then I would have missed out on the best summer of my life On the Road with U2 on the 360 Tour.
I left Minneapolis just before 11am the morning after the U2 show. I was in a great mood because it was such a great show, but I was exhausted. I stopped one time in Wisconsin before stopping for the night at a Motel 6 in Joliet, Illinois. The next day I drove through Indiana and Ohio, again, and made it to Pittsburgh for my final show of the U2 360 tour. I had driven 16,888 miles since I left Memphis 73 days prior. Neil McCormick was showing Killing Bono that night in the Pittsburgh area, but I was too exhausted to go. Plus I had already seen it at the Seattle Film Festival in June.
U2 in Pittsburgh
DAY 74 – JULY 26 – U2 360 #16 – PITTSBURGH
My final U2 360 show (my 16th of that leg, my 24th of the tour, and my 75th U2 show overall) ended on amazing high note, more than I could have hoped for, more than I imagined – Larry hugged me on his way to the stage! So the first few songs on my last U2 360 show were pretty much a blur. It was a standard set list but then U2 ended the show with Bad, one of my favorite U2 songs – haven’t heard it since Chicago1 in 2009. So glad Bad was the last song I heard U2 perform. When Larry walked off the stage and toward the tunnel, he saw me, smiled and gave me a thumbs up – twice. So glad Larry smiling at me was the last image I have of the U2 360 tour.
U2 360 Pittsburgh 7.26.11
I began the day in Pittsburgh just as I had for the previous 15 U2 360 shows – walked the dogs, ate breakfast, watched tv, napped, ordered lunch and went to the stadium in the afternoon to wait for U2 to arrive. I met Abbey and Anisha in the lobby of my hotel the Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh, and we took the free shuttle over to the stadium at 2pm, even though it was close enough to walk. It was a beautiful day – 80s, sunny, breezy, and not humid. I saw many friends old and new, including Jennifer and Chris, Tyler and his dad, Tim, and Sarah. But the surprise was Matt, Melissa, her parents and Kim. I had no idea they were coming and very happy to see them – and it turned out to be very fortunate for me as well.
me, Abbey, Sarah waiting for the band
U2 arrived just around 5pm. Bono and Edge came out to greet the fans. I couldn’t get close enough to talk with them, but I did see Larry and Adam get out of their cars and walk inside. Matt and Melissa talked with Bono and selflessly told him about me and how I had driven to every US show and would like to meet Larry. Brian, Bono’s security guy, told them to wait there and he would see what he could do. Brian came out later and told me Larry was in a meeting, but he told Larry about me and Bono told Larry about me. Maybe Bono and Larry knew he was talking about me, since I talked with Bono in Seattle and Oakland about meeting Larry and Larry sometimes waved to me as he walked to the stage – and Brian said he had seen me at the shows. Brian took my phone number and said he would look for us inside. He also gave us wristbands for the soundboard and for the red zone.
Bono talks with fans in Pittsburgh
Although I had the credentials to go to the soundboard and the red zone, I went to my usual spot on Edge’s side of the inner circle to wait for U2 to enter. Abbey was with me and Deb and her husband and Melissa’s parents were also there. Brian came over and told me that he was still working on getting me to meet Larry. Interpol didn’t take the stage until about 7:45 and played their usual set.
inside Heinz Field waiting for U2 to walk in
I’m not sure when U2 came out, probably just about 9pm. When they walked out of the tunnel (on Adam’s side) I noticed that Larry wasn’t first as usual. Adam and Edge were first and Larry and Bono were behind them, so I kind of thought something was up. But then somehow Larry moved up front. As Larry walked up the ramp, he locked eyes with me and was smiling. He walked across the platform, jumped down to me, and hugged me. He didn’t say a word, he just put his arms around me. It felt like the hug lasted forever. He definitely pulled away first because I kept hanging on. I think I muttered a ‘thank you.’
Larry looking at me (photo by Deb Pruitt)
here he comes! (photo by Tony Chiapetta)
Larry jumping down to hug me (photo by Kari Moore)
Larry leaving me (photo by Izzy Ciszewski)
Congrats from my friends after Larry hugged me (photo by Tony Chiapetta)
Larry gave me the biggest, best hug ever and then went on stage. I burst into tears, as I am doing now while writing this. My friends around me congratulated me and hugged me, which made the moment even more special. I was so excited that I don’t really remember Even Better Than the Real Thing or The Fly. I don’t think I came to until Mysterious Ways when Larry’s drum kit turned around and faced me behind the stage. I never in a million years thought Larry would walk over to me and hug me on his way to the stage before the show. I have four videos (sort of) of Larry hugging me on his way to the stage in Pittsburgh.
This is the video I took as I usually do when U2′s entered the stadiums. I stopped the video when I saw Larry was walking toward me.
This is the video Deb’s husband took of Larry hugging me. He was 3 people down from me. It isn’t of the actual hug, but you can see Larry jumping down to me and then see him jumping up again.
In this video, you can see Larry jump down to me, but you can’t see me. And then you can hear Melissa’s dad say, “Deena got it!”
This is the only video of Larry hugging me. It’s hard to see so keep your eye on Larry, even when that woman’s head is blocking him. In the far right bottom corner beyond the pink squiggly lines, you can see Larry hugging me. This video is by Rick Long.
During Even Better Than the Real Thing Bono said, “Hot summer night in the Burgh!” Bono introduced The Fly saying, “Some crowd rock circa 1991! Achtung Ya’ll!” Instead of singing Until the End of the World, I kept singing “You were acting like it was the end of the tour.” During the band introductions, Bono said, “This is the last night of the 360 Tour in the United States. We’ve had some cool people come out of our town. Would you say behind me you might call this man the Charles Bronson of U2? Larry Mullen on the drums. Our very own movie star.” U2 again wore their LED jackets during Zooropa and City of Blinding Lights. I love Larry in that black, leather, 1950s Elvis looking jacket. He should always wear black! At the end of Vertigo, Bono sang a snippet of Two Hears Beat as One. During I’ll Go Crazy if I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight, Larry looked at me and I shouted ‘Thank you!’ What a dork I am. At the end of Where the Streets Have No Name Bono shouted, “Tuesday night in the old steel town!” I decided to go over to Adam’s side of the inner circle during Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me Kill Me so I could watch U2 leave.
Larry's hot black jacket
Larry I'll Go Crazy
Matt & Melissa on stage with Bono during With or Without You
As With or Without You started, Bono brought my friends Matt and Melissa on stage and said, “60 shows. Matt and Melissa. Where love stories begin.” Matt and Melissa slow danced while U2 played. It was beautiful. After Moment of Surrender, U2 took their bows, huddled together and then played Bad with a little snippet of 40 at the end! It was fantastic! It lasted for almost nine minutes. Bono dedicated Bad to Andy Rowen who was at the show and whom the song was written about. Andy Rowen is the brother of Bono’s friend Guggi and the brother of Peter, who is on the cover of Boy.As U2 were walking off stage, I could have sworn I saw Larry looking for me on Edge’s side where I was when he hugged me at the beginning of the show. But when they were almost at the tunnel, Larry saw me, smiled and gave me a thumbs up – twice. It looked as if Larry was going to walk over to me, but then he was ushered toward the tunnel.
Goodbye Larry (photo by Julie Dixon who was right near me)
After the show I saw Chuck and Tasha and told them about Larry hugging me and then I met up with Beth and shared my story with her. I walked back to the hotel alone (with thousands of other happy U2 fans) across the bridge looking back at the claw for the last time. I got back to the hotel and talked with Patty and her husband. Then I took Elvis and Cilla outside where Abbey met us, and we chatted for a bit. Then I went back inside and wrote in my journal about my last night on the U2 360 tour. I barely slept that night, only 3 hours.
me and Beth
The set list of the U2 360 show in Pittsburgh was as follows: Even Better Than the Real Thing, The Fly, Mysterious Ways / Someone Somewhere in Summertime / Promised You a Miracle, Until the End of the World / Anthem, I Will Follow, Get On Your Boots, I Still Haven’t Found / The Promised Land, Stay, Beautiful Day / Space Oddity, Elevation, Pride, Miss Sarajevo, Zooropa, City of Blinding Lights, Vertigo / Two Hearts Beat As One, Miss You / I’ll Go Crazy / Discotheque / Psycho Killer / Life During Wartime / Please, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Scarlet, Walk On, One, Hallelujah / Where The Streets Have No Name, Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me Kill Me, With Or Without You, Moment Of Surrender, Bad / In The Garden / Walk On The Wild Side / 40. My video of an overview of the U2 360 show in Pittsburgh, my last show.
My Musical Journey ended with Larry hugging me on his way to the stage of the last show in the US on U2′s 360 tour. I keep replaying it over and over in my head. Larry walking toward me, smiling, jumping down to me, putting his arms around me without saying a word, and hugging me. It seemed like it lasted forever, but after watching the videos, it was only a few seconds – but those were some magnificent few seconds! That was definitely my favorite moment of the tour and a perfect ending to my Musical Journey! I finally Found What I Was Looking For on the U2 360 Tour!
Anaheim was the only city where U2 played two back to back shows on that final leg of the 360 tour. I almost didn’t go to the second show because it was on a Saturday night, and I had to drive across the country in 3 days to make it to the show in Baltimore on Wednesday night. People were trying to get me to skip the show to make the drive easier, but I decided to stay. And thank goodness I did because because Anaheim2 was my favorite show of the U2 360 tour.
U2 360 Anaheim2 6.18.11
I stayed in my hotel room until I left for the stadium at 2:30. I didn’t get lost that second day, so I arrived very quickly. I got my GA wristband and went around to wait for U2 to arrive. They again arrived in 2 helicopters and again did not stop.
Angels Stadium
I went inside after the GA line had already gone in. It was a more relaxed feel tonight. The inner circle wasn’t as crowded. I again got a soda and sat in the stands until Lenny Kravitz came on. As I walked around the general admission, I saw Cindy Crawford. She was stunning and very nice – posing for pictures.
Lenny Kravitz
Cindy Crawford
I saw my friends Chuck, Matt, Melissa and Kim. I went behind the stage and stood at the tunnel where U2 walks into the stadium. I again watched the show from behind the stage, so I could watch Larry – as I did almost every show of the tour.
Here they come!
Larry!
there they go
That second night in Anaheim, U2 finally changed the set list – and change it they did! With every new change, I grew more and more excited! For the first and only time in the US, U2 started the show with five straight songs from Achtung Baby, celebrating its 20th anniversary. During Even Better Than the Real Thing, Bono said, “Southern California. Orange County. Where you gonna take us tonight? You take us higher!” And that they did. The second song of the night was The Fly, which hadn’t been played since 2006 in Hawaii. During The Fly, Bono yelled, “Achtung Ya’ll!” just as he had during ZooTv. Where the Streets Have No Name, which is usually in the encore, was the 6th song of the night.
Streets
During Get on Your Boots right before my favorite LET ME IN THE SOUND!, Bono said, “Larry Mullen do you know how beautiful you are?”Please watch my video of LET ME IN THE SOUND. Bono introduced Larry as “a movie star” saying, “it had to happen.” He went on to say, “our Lawrence plays opposite the great Donald Sutherland in The Man on the Train.” Please watch my video of the band introductions. My favorite part of the night was when U2 finally brought my favorite song I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For back into the set list for the first time that leg – and it remained there for the rest of the tour. Bono dedicated it to Quincy Jones, who was in the audience, and said, “This song means a great deal to us.” I cried like a baby, literally tears streaming down my face. This was one of my favorite moments of the entire 360 tour – very special to me.
U2 played Stuck in a Moment instead of Stay, which made me extremely happy. Bono of course dedicated it to Michael Hutchence, but also talked about Edge and how he would be a great neighbor – referring to the petition against him building a house there. Bono also mentioned that it was Edge’s wedding anniversary. The black lighted jackets made a return during Zooropa and City of Blinding Lights. I love Larry in that black leather jacket! Larry smiled at me during I’ll Go Crazy. There was only one encore at that second show in Anaheim. A sixth song from Achtung Baby, Ultra Violet, made its way into the set list for the first time that leg replacing Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me Kill Me. Before Moment of Surrender, Bono paid tribute to Clarence Clemons who died earlier that day. He sang a part of Jungleland after Moment of Surrender.Magnificent was left out of the set list for the first and only time that leg. I again went back near the tunnel to watch U2 leave the stadium. Larry saw me and smiled and waved and seemed like he wanted to come over, but didn’t – but he kept looking back at me.
The set list of my favorite show of the U2 360 tour (Anaheim2) was as follows: Even Better Than The Real Thing, The Fly, Mysterious Ways / Don’t Speak, Until the End of the World, One, Amazing Grace / Where the Streets Have No Name / All You Need Is Love, I Will Follow, Get On Your Boots / She Loves You, I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, Stuck In a Moment, Beautiful Day / Space Oddity, Elevation, Pride, Miss Sarajevo, Zooropa, City of Blinding Lights, Vertigo / It’s Only Rock and Roll, I’ll Go Crazy / Discotheque / Please, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Scarlet, Walk On / Never Walk Alone, Ultraviolet, With or Without You, Moment of Surrender / Jungleland
I had the best time at this show! I am SO glad I didn’t skip it just to get a head start on my cross country drive to Baltimore. Never listen to reason. Follow your passion. This ended part two of my U2 360 road trip. The main sightseeing part of my trip was over. That first month was my favorite part of my trip, even though it only contained one of my favorite shows – traveling out west was my favorite.
Today is the last show of the U2 360 tour in Canada, but I am not going. The challenge I made to myself was to drive to every US show on this last leg of the U2 360 tour, and I met that challenge. I didn’t want to cross the border several times back and forth with my dogs. The last US show was in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, and it ended in the best way possible – Larry hugging me on his way to the stage!
I saw 16 magnificent U2 shows and each had its special moments – and there were many smiles and waves from Larry to me. The Denver show was special because it was the first show, it was the first time I heard Zooropa and Scarlet, and it was at Invesco Field, the home of my favorite Denver Broncos. The Salt Lake City show was special because it was the first time I have ever heard Love Rescue Me – even if it was only one verse. The Seattle show was special because I talked with Bono before the show about meeting Larry and then after the show Larry walked over to me and shook my hand as he walked off stage and to the tunnel. The Oakland show was special because Larry sang a part of Lou Reed’s A Perfect Day. The Anaheim1 show was special because it was the first time Paul McGuinness had ever been on stage. The Anaheim2 show was special because U2 brought back my favorite I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For and completely changed the set list opening with five straight songs off Achtung Baby followed by Streets. The Baltimore show was special because it was the loudest audience, Larry took off his shirt on the way to his car and I got the set list. The East Lansing show was special because it stayed light through Elevation and U2 entered through the bleachers up top behind the stage. The Miami show was special because it was the first time U2 played North Star in the US. The Nashville show was special because it was the first time U2 played The Wanderer, in honor of Johnny Cash, and they brought up a blind guitar player at the end of the show to play All I Want Is You. The Chicago show was special because U2 played Out of Control for the first time in the US this leg and it was the first time I have ever heard One Tree Hill, which was completely spontaneous and the first time it was played in the US since 1987. The Philadelphia show was special because U2 brought back the original version of Magnificent and moved it down in the set list. The St Louis show was special because there was a great vibe both from U2 and the audience, and I got a little shout out from Bono about the Larry Mullen Band. The New Jersey show was special because it was the longest show of this leg with 2 extra songs, including Out of Control which ended the show. The Minneapolis show was special because it was the only show in the US this leg that it rained – and it was a drenching downpour complete with lightning. There was a fantastic vibe much like in St. Louis. The Pittsburgh show was special because it was the last US show, Larry hugged me on his way to the stage, Matt and Melissa danced on stage during With or Without You, U2 closed with Bad, which was played for the first time in the US this leg. My favorite shows were Pittsburgh http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Md6eL2aSHFw , Anaheim2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpIx4WhGxDc , Chicago http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucea4oPHfrA , St. Louis http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8B-u712OO0 and Minneapolis http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYlP9qYGryM .
Larry jumping down so he can hug me in pittsburgh
Larry I
Larry and Bono LET ME IN THE SOUND in Chicago
Larry turned around facing the back during Mysterious Ways in St. Louis
Larry waves goodbye in the rain in Minneapolis
I drove over 18,000 miles through 31 states – some states I drove through multiple times. I drove through and/or stayed in Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, Georgia, Florida, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Delaware, New Jersey and Minnesota. I visited Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, and Deadwood in South Dakota, Red Rocks in Denver, Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Reno and Lake Tahoe in Nevada, the Experience Music Project and Kurt Cobain’s house in Seattle, Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco, Harmony Hotel, Joshua Tree Park and Elvis’ homes in Palm Springs, took a bus tour of LA and Hollywood, visited Johnny Cash’s grave outside of Nashville, Bronz Fonz and Summerfest in Milwaukee, the Football Hall of Fame, and Soundgarden in Philadelphia. My favorite thing I saw was Mount Rushmore, and my favorite place was Palm Springs.
me at Mount Rushmore
me at Harmony Hotel
Along with the great U2 shows I went to and the great places I saw, I also made great friends and reconnected with old friends.
I met Beth in Denver, and we hung out through the rest of the tour
I met Chuck (and Bono) in Seattle, and we hung out through the rest of the tour
Before I planned to go on this epic 2 1/2 month road trip to every U2 360 show in the US, I was kind of lost – didn’t know what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. I started a blog to document my trip and share it with others and then decided to write a book about my U2 travels. Through my U2 360 tour, I discovered that I loved to write – that I would like to make a living writing. So now I have a purpose, a direction. I am looking for a job writing, and I am writing my U2 tours memoir. I met someone who is going to help me get my book published. This U2 360 tour changed my life and helped me find what I’ve been looking for.
I can’t believe there are only two more weeks left on my U2 360 tour across America – only 5 shows left. I have been on the road for 60 days and driven over 14,000 miles so far. The time has just flown by. I’ve had such a wonderful time, met so many great people, and visited lots of great places. I have seen 11 fantastic U2 shows – the best being Anaheim2 and Chicago, with Nashville, Seattle and Baltimore being close seconds.
Anaheim2 was wonderful because for the first time on this leg of the tour, U2 completely changed the set list opening the show with 5 songs from Achtung Baby. It was also special for me because they brought back my favorite song I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, and I cried like a baby. It was a very emotional show for me. Chicago was amazing because U2 ended the show with an impromptu performance of One Tree Hill, which they haven’t played in its entirety in the US since 1987. One Tree Hill is off my favorite album The Johua Tree, so I was beyond excited. Almost equally as exciting was the performance of Out of Control, which hasn’t been played in the US on the 360 tour, and I have been waiting for it since May. After the back to back to back playing of Out of Control, Get on Your Boots and I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, I knew the Chicago show was going to be one of my favorites.
You can read about what I thought about all the U2 shows I’ve attended and my travels along the way here on my blog and in my book, which I hope to have published by the end of the year. But you won’t be able to read about my journey on U2TourFans, as I am no longer associated with them. I want everyone to know that I funded my road trip myself, never got a sponsor as I was promised, but did receive a few donations from fellow U2 fans. I am just a U2 fan sharing my musical journey through my blog and my book.
Tomorrow I start the last leg of my U2 360 tour across America, my last 5 shows. I’ve had a nice 4-day rest at my parents’ house in Maryland, but tomorrow it’s off to Phialdelphia. I will be staying at what I assume to be the fabulous Hotel Palomar as they have already upgraded me to a suite for my 3-night stay. I’m seeing Soundgarden at Festival Pier at Penn’s Landing Wednesday night. I have GA tickets I bought through the fanclub, and we get let in a half hour earlier than the regular GA folks. Then Thursday is the U2 show at Lincoln Financial Field – GA there too like always. But before the show, I’m meeting my old Elevation tour friends for lunch. The Elevation show in Philadelphia 10 years ago is the reason we’re all friends! I’m going to relax in my suite at the Palomar the day after the U2 show in Philadelphia, then it’s off to St. Louis, New Jersey, Minneapolis and Pittsburgh.
If you’re at any of these last 5 US shows, please look for me in my straw cowboy hat and black Larry Mullen Band shirt and say Hi. Before the shows, I’ll be waiting for the band to arrive and during the shows hopefully inside the inner circle behind the stage watching Larry. I hope to see you the next 2 weeks On the Road with U2.
I have been an avid U2 fan for 24 years. Some say obsessed, but I like to say passionate. I have seen U2 59 times in concert and met each member at least once. I have every album, most of the singles and videos and many bootlegs. My favorite U2 songs are I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, Luminous Times, Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses, Gone, and Heartland. My favorite U2 albums are The Joshua Tree, Rattle and Hum, Achtung Baby, All That You Can’t Leave Behind, and Pop. My favorite U2 videos are I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, Electrical Storm, Numb, Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses and Walk On (international version).
I discovered U2 in March 1987 with the release of The Joshua Tree. I heard With or Without You and liked it and realized U2 was the same group that sang that song Pride I had heard. It was my freshman year of high school, and I noticed a picture of U2 that a classmate had. Larry stood out right away as the attractive one and someone whose pictures would soon decorate my locker. I immediately bought The Joshua Tree. That summer, I remember walking along the beach in Ocean City, Maryland with my big boom box blaring I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For. Other favorites of mine off The Joshua Tree were and still are Red Hill Mining Town, Running to Stand Still, In God’s Country, Trip Through Your Wires and b-sides Luminous Times and Walk to the Water.
By the time Rattle and Hum came out, I had all of U2’s albums and recorded all of their appearances on television. I loved Rattle and Hum almost as much as The Joshua Tree. To me it was just an extension of it, sort of a Joshua Tree part 2. My favorites off of Rattle and Hum were and still are Heartland, Love Rescue Me, Angel of Harlem, and b-sides Hallelujah Here She Comes and A Room at the Heartbreak Hotel. But more than a great album, Rattle and Hum was also a movie about U2’s travels across America on their Joshua Tree tour.
On November 4, 1988, exactly one month after my 16th birthday, I piled a bunch of my friends into my GMC Jimmy and went to the movie theatre to see the premiere of Rattle and Hum. People were dancing in the aisles. It was almost like being at a concert, not that I would know. Unfortunately, I was not allowed to go to concerts in high school, so I missed The Joshua Tree tour. I had to wait a five long years to see U2 in concert.
I have started a new blog to coincide with U2′s Us tour next summer and with writing my memoir tentatively called ‘On the Road With U2.’ I still have my Deena’s Days blog and will continue to write about my non-U2 related activities there. I just wanted to put out a preview of what my new u2 blog will consist of.
Starting in January, I will be writing about past tours I have attended and my adventures while on the road with u2. In January, I will write about the 8 shows I attended on the ZooTv tour and the 8 shows I attended on Popmart. In February, I will write about the 27 shows I attended on the Elevation tour. In March, I will write about the 8 shows I attended on the Vertigo tour and the 8 shows I attended on the 360 tour in 2009. In April, I will preview my 2 1/2 month cross country roadtrip with my dogs Elvis and Cilla this summer to every US U2 show – and whatever other U2 topics come up.
Beginning May 16, I will be blogging and video-ing from the road. Telling all the stories of our adventures along the way – all the sites we visit and all 16 US U2 shows. I will also be reporting on the U2 shows for u2tourfans.com
For now, some of my U2 favorites:
Band Member – Larry Mullen Jr
Song – I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
Album – The Joshua Tree
Tour – Elevation
Concert – Elevation Providence October 31, 2001 (Larry’s 40th birthday)
My name is Deena Dietrich, and I am living back home in Ellicott City, Maryland with my 2 dogs Elvis and Cilla. My passions are Dogs, Elvis, U2, LMP, NKOTB, the Denver Broncos, the Baltimore Orioles, blogging, social media, biographies. It is better to regret something you have done, than to regret something you haven't done, so ... Pursue your passion!
