The Greatest Little Rock Show In The World

The greatest little rock show in the world

Sunday Herald Sun

HELSINKI: The Rolling Stones invented stadium rock. But U2 redefined it with a multimedia shock-and-awe blitz called ZooTV.

Indeed, after Mick Jagger saw U2's follow up tour Pop Mart, a live spectacle about consumerism, he rolled his eyes and snickered: "Oh well, it's Star Wars now ...''

U2 is still the undisputed leader in a live music galaxy far, far away.

Its new tour, 360, the world's biggest rock show yet, ups the ante and, significantly, is seen by its architects as the end game.

"It's like the Beijing Olympics of rock, really,'' U2's stage designer, Willie Williams, says with a grin.

"On one hand, it's the pinnacle of something. But, on the other hand, it's the end, too.

"Clearly, no other band in the world is going to attempt this. I don't think the Rolling Stones would want the risk.

"That's why I say it's the pinnacle.

"I don't think we'll see this level of ambition and scale in a rock production again.''

We are in Helsinki. And it's so easy to get lost in the statistics of 360 - a 57m high four-legged centrepiece called "the Claw'', a state-of-the future cylindrical video screen that expands, rises and falls, a crew of 150 to run the show, six Jumbo jets to fly it, 55 trucks to cart it and daily running costs of $850,000.

Singer Bono agrees.

"It's a strange set of equations - mathematic, economic, artistic and creative,'' Bono says.

But the calculated risk, mostly underwritten by tour giant Live Nation, has paid off.

Last year, U2 made $123 million and 360 was ranked the highest grossing tour of 2009.

The 360 tour that resumed in Italy last month is sold out across Europe and the US.

"Oh, numbers always seem to impress writers,'' bassist Adam Clayton says dryly. "But we just get on with the gig.'

This is the profundity of 360.

For all its game-changing glory and uber-scale absurdity, it is a disarmingly intimate show with heart and soul.

The show is performed in the round.

Moving bridges transport Bono, Clayton and guitarist The Edge to an outer 360-degree stage.

But U2 often retreats to a small riser at the centre of the Claw, intensifying garage rock moments Get On Your Boots and Vertigo, and boosting the poignancy of One and With Or Without You.

"When the four of us are playing on that stage, it's like the Beatles at Shea Stadium,'' Bono says.

"You forget about this giant thing over you. We are quite exposed.''

And then some.

"I found the fact there wasn't an edge on the stage really confusing,'' Clayton says.

"There is a joke: `How do you confuse an Irishman? Put him in a barrel and tell him to p--- in the corner.' ''

He laughs. "It's like that on stage - no corner.''

There are also few rock star trappings.

Backstage at Helsinki's Olympic Stadium, U2's four members - Larry Mullen Jr is the drummer - have modest dressing rooms.

In fact, they regularly pile into one bunker to discuss the show.

"It's a quiet time to focus,'' The Edge says. "It's nothing exotic. We don't go for that.''

That said, U2 still knows how to make a grand entrance to the stage.

A sprightly Bono has also taken to flipping the bird at photographers shooting the first few songs.

"Nobody has run that picture yet,'' he says after the show. "They obviously don't want to tell that story.''

But in Helsinki, Bono tells a 52,000-strong crowd a deeper, truer tale.

He announces: "U2 is a family business.''

Certainly, in Finland, the 360 tour is a family affair.

All wives, and most children, are travelling with Bono, The Edge and Mullen (Clayton is single).

"It's never going to be easy to be in U2 and deliver as a parent,'' The Edge says.

"But there are moments when U2 comes second - especially when it comes to family.''

The Edge is well aware his children benefit from his star power.

"I know our families gain a certain amount as a result of being linked to this big, successful group,'' he says.

"But they probably make more sacrifices than they gain.''

The Edge's parents, Garvin and Gwenda Evans, are also in Helsinki for the show.

Gwenda was the band's first roadie.

"Mrs Edge was always there,'' Bono says.

"She had an orange Volkswagen, she picked up our gear and she never complained.''

Of all their parents, Bono says Garvin and Gwenda were the most supportive.

He recalls Garvin's early advice about diction, too.

"Look after the consonants, Bono, and the vowels will look after themselves,'' he told the singer.

Bono's smile widens. "I still think about that. I may have even thought about it tonight.''

Of course he did.

Those who work closest with U2 say every move runs deep.

Williams, who also designed the ZooTV and Pop Mart shows, recalls the stage set up for 1983's War tour.

It had a few risers, a red carpet and three white flags.

"Although the shows were small and minimal, everything was considered,'' Williams says..

"It wasn't like a bar band turning up and playing with what was there.''

It is the same today, Clayton argues - only at a much bigger scale.

"U2 never took no for an answer,'' he says. "We were the worst, crappest band there ever was.

"But there was nothing else for us to do. We were four boys from the suburbs of Dublin - an armpit, really.

"But we worked at what we did. We worked really hard. And here we are today.''

U2 is working on a new album. The Edge says it will be song-based and not a concept work.

"I genuinely feel we are still learning,'' The Edge says.

"We are still ambitious and want to take on the big challenges. In that way, nothing much has changed over the years.

"But we are too busy trying to write the perfect song, or plan the next show, to ponder what it all means.

"It's still too exciting,'' The Edge says. "And what else would we do? We're totally unemployable.''

U2, and support act Jay Z, Etihad Stadium, December 1. Tickets on sale on September 3.

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