Archive for Washington DC

They took your life, they could not take your PRIDE

Posted in Songs, U2 with tags , , , , , , , , , on April 4, 2011 by DeenasDays

I know this is a blog about my travels on the U2 tours, but I could not let this day pass without writing about it. Today is April 4th, the 43rd anniversary of the assassination of  Dr. Martin Luther King Jr in Memphis. I used to work at the National Civil Rights Museum, which is at the Lorraine Motel where Dr. King was killed.  

Lorraine Motel

U2 wrote a song about Dr. King called Pride (In the Name of Love), and it is one of my favorite songs. I used to love it at the U2 shows while U2 was playing Pride, Dr. King would be on the big screen and they would play part of his mountain top speech,

“Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over. And I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land!”

MLK & U2

Please watch this video of U2 playing Pride on ZooTv in DC on August 16, 1992 http://www.youtube.com/user/MemphisMullen?feature=mhum#p/c/AAE35BC51599E88D/17/Wy0rXzJ3EFc

I was excited when U2 played Atlanta in 2009 on their 360 Tour because I had never been to Atlanta and had been wanting to see Martin Luther King’s birthplace, Ebenezer church, and MLK’s grave.

MLK grave

I was also excited that U2 were going to play Pride at their concert, since we were in Atlanta where Martin Luther King was born and was buried. Pride had not been played since opening night in Chicago about a month earlier. I wore my MLK U2 Pride shirt, but unfortunately U2 forgot where they were and did not play Pride that night in Atlanta.

my MLK U2 Pride shirt

U2 did bring back Pride in 2010 on 360 in Europe, and they have been playing it in South America in 2011. I am hoping they will still be playing it next month when they start to tour the US. I mean out of 16 shows, I should be able to hear Pride at least once, right?  

Pride (In the Name of Love) by U2:

One man come in the name of love
One man come and go
One man come here to justify
One man to overthrow
In the name of love!
One man in the name of love
In the name of love!
What more? In the name of love!

One man caught on a barbed wire fence
One man he resists
One man washed on an empty beach
One man betrayed with a kiss

In the name of love!
What more in the name of love?
In the name of love!
What more? In the name of love!

…nobody like you…there’s nobody like you…

Mmm…mmm…mmm…
Early morning, April 4
Shot rings out in the Memphis sky
Free at last, they took your life
They could not take your pride

In the name of love!
What more in the name of love?
In the name of love!
What more in the name of love?
In the name of love!
What more in the name of love…

Rest in Peace Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Thank you for all you did and all you sacrificed for the good of the world!

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360 in Maryland / DC 2009

Posted in 'On the Road with U2', 360 (2009), Adam Clayton, Bono, Concerts, Larry Mullen, The Edge, Tours, U2 with tags , , , , , , , , , on March 15, 2011 by DeenasDays

Saturday September 26, 2009

The first day of my 12 days of crazy is over. And it is was worst day – the longest driving day. I took Elvis and Cilla to the vet this morning. Can’t believe I’m not going to see them for 12 days! I left at 8:20am and 8 hours 40 minutes later (568 miles) I’m in Wytheville, Virginia. It’s 55 degrees and it was 77 when I left Memphis. I’m freezing – and in shorts. It was a horrible drive – rain from Nashville to here. A pouring, steady rain and it was foggy and hard to see.

Sunday September 27, 2009

Today was a great day! I left Wytheville at 7:45am and got to Cindy’s before 12:30. It was so much fun playing with Tabitha and Keira. I’m glad they remember me and are excited to see me. We had Ledo’s pizza and Cindy made me cupcakes for my birthday and gave me presents. We watched football and hung out until after 5. Then I went home and saw Mom and Dad, but then we went immediately to Jilly’s to eat and watch football. Denver 3-0! Then we stopped by Mike’s house to get the Vegas U2 tickets. Then came home and I got my presents from Mom and Dad. We watched tv until now. Great day!

Monday September 28, 2009

Another great day. Mom, Cindy, Kathy and I went to Charlestown Casino. I only lost $100 and we were there from 10:30 to 4:30. I played a lot of new games. After we got home Kelly Brewer came over to buy my extra U2 DC ticket. It was great to see him again. Mom, Dad and I watched the sit coms tonight. Tomorrow starts the week of U2 – 4 shows in 7 days. I’m going to be SO tired, and I already feel like I’m getting sick. Hopefully not.

 

Tuesday September 29, 2009 – DC U2 Show
Today started with me waking up at 5am for no reason. I left the house at 2pm, was parked at FedEx Field by 3, said Hi to Jennifer in the GA line, got my red zone ticket from Shannon, and was in the red zone line by 3:30. I was about 10th in line. Kelly Brewer came and stood with me and we talked. Then they split the line into boys and girls to search us. They let us in around 5:15 when everyone else went in, but no one told us where to go. We weren’t at field level. It took forever to get down there. Instead of going into the designated Red Zone, I went inside the circle on the front rail in front of Adam. I had my doubts that the stage was too high and I wouldn’t be able to see that well, but it turned out to be a blast and my favorite show so far this tour (better than Chicago). Muse opened. There were ok. I see them 3 more times, so I’ll form an opinion later.

U2 360 DC 9.29.09

the redzone line at 4pm

my view from the front rail

U2 took the stage and of course Larry came out first, so there was screaming. The set list:
                                              Breathe
                                              Magnificent
                                              Get on Your Boots
                                              Mysterious Ways
                                              (introductions as politicians)
                                              Still Haven’t Found/Stand By Me
                                              Elevation
                                              Your Blue Room
                                              Beautiful Day / Black Bird
                                              New Year’s Day
                                              Stuck in a Moment
                                              Unforgettable Fire
                                              City of Blinding Lights
                                              Vertigo
                                              I’ll Go Crazy
                                              Sunday Bloody Sunday
                                              MLK
                                              Walk On
                                              One / Amazing Grace
                                              Streets
                                              Ultra Violet
                                              With or Without You
                                              Moment of Surrender
There was no No Line on the Horizon or Unknown Caller and of course no Bad or Pride. During City of Blinding Lights, Bono brought up a kid on the catwalk and ran around with him then gave him his glasses. During Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bono pulled this guy up on stage who was standing not too far from me holding an American flag. They sang and hugged. Apparently many politicians were at the show. I saw lots of security. My favorite part of the show was when Larry saw my Larry Mullen Band shirt and smiled and nodded. I was taking a picture of Adam for Tasha with the bright light behind him so he looked almsot angelic. The bright light was on Adam and I was right in front of Adam so the light was on me. Larry was turning around to face the back for Beautiful Day. And as he was turning, I started jumping and screaming and that’s when he saw me. A girl 2 people down came up to me after the show and said, ‘I saw Larry smile at you.’ AAAHHHH!!!! Great show! I’m standing rail again!

Edge, Bono and Adam in DC

LET ME IN THE SOUND!

Angelic Adam (my iphone pic i took right before Larry smiled at me)

Larry right after he smiled at me

Edge and Bono

is adam a bit confused?

Edge and Larry rock out

Bono finds a friend

sunday bloody sunday

 

The DC show was my closest, most centered spot of the tour. DC is still one of my favorite shows of the tour. Even though it didn’t have the best set list, there was a great energy from the band and the crowd. And it didn’t hurt that Larry noticed me and smiled, although he did that a few other times along the tour, but this was the first. The guy pulled up on stage happened to be friends with a lot of my U2 friends. And the kid getting bono’s glasses during City of Blinding Lights happened at most shows, but this was the first time I saw it so I thought it was cool.

If you want to see all of my pictures from that DC show please click http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=111193&id=734599167&l=e44e835afd or the link on the right of my homepage for 360 2009 pics.

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Vertigo Washington, DC October 19-20, 2005

Posted in 'On the Road with U2', Concerts, Larry Mullen, Tours, U2, Vertigo with tags , , , , , on March 8, 2011 by DeenasDays

Wednesday October 19, 2005 Washington, DC

My first U2 concert of this leg, and I had a blast, but I am so glad I’m only going to 4 shows this leg. I knew this show, DC1, would be good because it is the 4th anniversary of the Baltimore Elevation show where Larry hugged me. And since they are not playing Baltimore this tour, DC is the next best thing. I went to this show first show in Washington DC at the MCI Center with Jennifer, and Paola was also there. Damian Marley opened. Jennifer and I got into the ellipse. We stood in the back at the catwalk, so when Larry came out during Love and Peace, I was right in front of him. He smiled at me and waved. It was a great show! Traci from work also went. After the show, about 5 of us met up and went to the Double T Diner. I’m wiped and doing it all again tomorrow, but at least I’m not working like I did today.

U2 Vertigo DC 10.19-20.05

Thursday October 20, 2005 Washington DC

Tonight’s U2 show, DC2, was the best one I’ve seen this tour. They played four out of my top five U2 songs – Still Haven’t Found, Bad, Pride, and Wild Horses. Plus I saw the show with Jennifer, Paola and Gina. It was great to be able to see it with everyone. We were again inside the ellipse right where Larry played Love and Peace. Tonight I got the subtle Larry nod.

 

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‘What do they sing in DC?’ – Elevation DC June 14-15, 2001

Posted in 'On the Road with U2', Bono, Concerts, Elevation, Larry Mullen, The Edge, U2 with tags , , , , , , , on February 15, 2011 by DeenasDays

Saturday June 16, 2001 Washington, DC

 “What do they sing in DC?” I will never forget when Bono looked down at me at the tip of the heart and asked me that after Desire. I just froze. I was still in awe of being THAT close to Larry. Then Bono sang Ground Beneath Her Feet to the girl three down from me. He messed up one of the lines, I laughed, he looked at me and smiled. I was sick at this first DC show at MCI Center on June 14th, but those personal moments made up for it.

U2 Elevation DC 6.14.01

Larry in DC

Bono & Edge in DC

Larry at the tip of the heart in DC

For the second DC show on June 15th, I did not spend much time in the GA line. Instead I slept in the hotel room, hung out with Jennifer and John in the Discovery Store and Ruby Tuesday’s. My friend Laurie joined us for this show. We stood at the rail in front of Adam. U2 played 11 O’Clock Tick Tock, Sweetest Thing, New Year’s Day, and All I Want is You, but they did not play Gone or Bad. DC2 was a really great show – up there with Boston4 and Philly2. Great crowd energy! PJ Harvey again opened these shows.

U2 Elevation DC 6.15.01

 

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Popmart DC 5.26.97

Posted in 'On the Road with U2', Concerts, Popmart, Tours, U2 with tags , , , , on January 24, 2011 by DeenasDays

The Popmart show at RFK Stadium Washington, DC on May 26, 1997 was great. I was 5th row from the stage. Everyone I knew was there, since I had gotten tickets for most of my friends. It rained as it had on ZooTv, but it really poured this time. The set list for this show was the same as the ones in Pittsburgh and Columbus, except Unchained Melody was not played in Columbus and Edge sang Sweet Caroline in Pittsburgh. The set list for Popmart DC was as follows: Mofo, I Will Follow, Even Better Than the Real Thing, Gone, Pride, I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, Last Night on Earth, Until the End of the World, If God Will Send His Angels, Staring at the Sun, Daydream Believer (Edge Karaoke), Miami, Bullet the Blue Sky, Where the Streets Have No Name / Playboy Mansion, Discotheque, If You Wear That Velvet Dress, With or Without You, Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me Kill Me, Mysterious Ways, One, Unchained Melody.

U2 Popmart DC 5.26.97

Popmart tee (front)

Popmart tee (back)

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Can’t Help Falling in Love with ZooTv in DC – August 15-16, 1992

Posted in 'On the Road with U2', Bono, Concerts, ZooTv with tags , , , , , on January 13, 2011 by DeenasDays

Two days after Jersey on August 15th, Mike and I were back in our hometown for two more ZooTv shows. Well, sort of. As close as the ZooTv tour was going to get to Ellicott City, Maryland. We were at RFK Stadium in Washington DC in the rain. I met Bono again and he autographed the picture of the two of us from Giants Stadium. He wasn’t as talkative as in Jersey. I think the rain made him grumpy.

Bono at RFK

U2 ended both shows on August 15& 16, 1992 with Can’t Help Falling In Love in honor of the 15th anniversary of the death of Elvis Presley on August 16, 1977. For the first show, I was third row and Bono knelt in front of us and sang it. As an avid Elvis fan as well, this was an amazing, unforgettable moment for me! My worlds were colliding! For the rest of the tour, U2 ended their shows with Can’t Help Falling in Love.

U2 ZooTV DC 8.15.92

Bono in DC

Larry and Adam in DC

MirrorBall Man in DC

U2 ZooTV DC 8.16.92

 

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