Best You Ever Saw (Playing Support)

20 Apr 2010264
Lenny Kravitz, Interpol, Snow Patrol, Kasabian, Razorlight, The Fray, One Republic: depending on where you're seeing U2 this year, you'll also get to see one of the above. Last year you might have caught Kaiser Chiefs, Glasvegas, The Hours, Elbow or Muse.

And over the years some pretty fine bands have rocked the house just a few minutes before the main attraction took the stage - sometimes long before they became household names themselves.

(In fact we got so overcome at the memory of the great acts who've played with U2 that we pulled together this little gallery.)

Anyone see The Kings of Leon or The Killers on the Vertigo Tour ? Or Garbage or Stereophonics on the Elevation Tour? Public Enemy or Stereo MC's on ZOO TV ? BB King on Lovetown ? How about The Pretenders or Los Lobos or Lou Reed on The Joshua Tree Tour in the 1980's? Or Lone Justice when the band were touring The Unforgettable Fire. And, come to think of it, what about The Pixies, PJ Harvey, Patti Smith...



Was there an act you first discovered when they came out on stage before U2? Who was the best act you ever saw with them... and why? (Don't forget to include the tour or year of the show.)
Comments
264
You must be a logged-in member to add comments.
gezz
IN A BIG COUNTRY
Big Country at B'ham Odeon on War Tour, Ramones at Milton Keynes, Waterboys at NEC but my fav was The Cult again at the NEC.......Munich Sept 2010 again I Will Follow.........
wcs53
Hoodoo gurus
Hoodoo Gurus opening for U2 in Glasgow in July 1987 on the Joshua Tree tour were the best support I saw. Institute opening in Auburn Hills in October 05 on Vertigo were by far the worst.
mosaman
The Alarm
The Alarm - Unforgettable Fire Tour I have seen The Alarm playing as a support act for U2 several times, but in Vorst National in Brussels is still in my memories...first U2 concert was Werchter 1983, and since then never missed a tour. U2 concert no. 48 is coming up...
ajuk1
the alarm
i saw the alarm on the joshua tree tour cardiff arms park along with silencers and pretenders, amazing welsh band that had the crowd singing and they rocked. u2 were fantastic and that was my first u2 gig. blew me away. the worst wasa band on zoo tv, birmingham nec, think they were called fatima mansions.
PBH
Whole Bill at Milton Keynes
The Faith Brothers Spear of Destiny Billy Bragg The Ramones R.E.M. Fantastic day despite the rain.
follow
MUSE
Starting in 1983, I've seen alot of U2 shows and openers. By far, Muse was the best. I knew about them before the show but loved them afterward. Thanks, U2 for that!
Chris Morin
The Alarm
Check out their new record at: http://www.thealarm.com/
tcheffr
St. Patrick's Day 1985
Denver, CO with The Red Rockers. Unbelieveable energy by two very young and outstanding bands. That is the way that rock and roll was meant to be.
ESorensen
The Alarm
Unforgettable Fire Tour 1985 or 86; Worcester Centrum (Boston MA). Opening band was The Alarm. Fantastic group, but whatever happened to them? Weren't they Irish as well?
Nicko34
MUSE
Had heard one song by them before, wasn't expecting too much, then downloaded all their albums after seeing them in Dallas. Spectacular! I was going to see them in Denver, but it got postponed until October :(
katieintennessee
MUUUUUUUSE!
OK, have seen U2 10 times before the current tour, but no band impressed me as much as Muse. Downloaded all I could after seeing them. Saw them open in Atlanta. Close second, Black Eyed Peas. In Vegas last year.
Mr Brightside
Killer Killers.
The Killers in Cardiff(2005) were the best support I`ve ever seen at a U2 gig. The worst was probably The Fall at Leeds Elland road in 87.
tube
Black Eyed Peas
Anyone at University of Phoenix Stadium in October 2009 would tell you they actually shook the joint. I was over from Australia, had never seen the B.E.P's play before and I tell you they literally shook the stadium. I have seen 12 plus U2 shows and these guys easily are the best band to share a stage with U2.
MCGILLKER
Kim Salmon & the Surrealists anyone?
Does anyone recall Kim Salmon and his Surrealists at Brisbane ANZ Stadium (Zoomerang, Nov 20th 1993)? Rubbish! Big Audio Dynamite were much better. And the huge thunder storm at the end of the gig. Helen Kerr
AWEK
Best: Snow Patrol. Worst: Einsurzende ne
Best: Snowpatrol by far! Worst: Einsturzende neubauten during ZOO TV at de Kuip in Rotterdam. I can still recall the plastic bottles that were thrown at them by the audience. Since then every bottle is banned from the stadium i believe. What were they thinking: a German band in Rotterdam???? Go figure....
phillydog
to many choices
zoo tv tour at wembley with bjork and stereo mc`s or vertigo tour with kaiser chiefs and keane at the nou camp both superb!!
leomk2
Pearl Jam
Verona 3rd july 1993. Stadio Bentgodi, First time on U2 gig and before that.... Pearl Jam!!! It was great!!! Second time on 20thseptember 1997, Reggio Emilia with 150000 other fans....truely i don't remember who was supporting actors.
Myrdal
MUSE, Pretenders and Big Audio Dynamite
Muse in 2009 (New York, New York, Washington) Pretenders (Gothemburg 1987) Big Audio Dynamite (Gothemburg 1987) All were equally great opening acts, however U2 were better in Gothemburg 1987 (exceptional) than in US in 2009 (merely EXCELLENT)
chrisyles
Pearl Jam
At the U2 tribal gathering in Hawaii - Most definitely!
Leslie5
Support Act
Best support act was for Elevation Tour with No Doubt in Los Angeles!
U2 SLC
Kings of Leon
When I heard that Kings of Leon were going to open up the show In San Jose on the Vertigo Tour, I wondered "who are Kings of Leon". I had never heard of them. I did a little research, downloaded a few songs and I was hooked. I think I liked KOL performance better than U2's that Night,
pappy67
Weddings Parties Anything 1989
Weddings, a Melbourne band, did a great set before BB King. I became friends years later with Peter Lawler the bass player for Weddings. He recalls fondly how they "pantsed" The Edge in Melbourne on that tour. U2 had a pool table backstage and The Edge was beaten with all his seven balls left on the table which meant that he had to drop his pants and walk around the table, as is custom in Melbourne for those who lose that way. I always thought The Edge would be a great sport and this story confirmed it. Love to the band and please bring 360 degrees to Australia. Pleeeaasssee!!!!. Cheers. Brendan Papworth. Melbourne. Australia.
palima
THE DALTON BROS
Don't forget the Dalton Brothers. Folksy in a U2 sort of way!
bigtime
Dalton Brothers
Of course it has to be the Dalton Brothers!!! In Indianapolis, Indiana 1986 no less. Joshua Tree..... a close second would be Muse.
Matt_u2
PJ Harvey
Also liked seeing Fun Lovin Criminals and the Pixies
u219
Kings and Fire
The Kings of Leon in Boston and Arcade Fire in Ottawa were my two favorites, both during the Vertigo tour....
artalvarez
zoo
sugarcubes! dodger stadium
walkersi
Best support
Keane at MSG in NY on Vertigo tour and Elbow at Wembley on the 360 last August - definitely the best I've seen - first time was Joshua Tree in 87 so seen a few!!
Allie79
The Dalton Brothers
:-)
passingstranger
THE HOURS & ELBOW
Hours & Elbow were a great combination - Wembley and Sheffield 360 tour 2009, great energy, great openers, just added to the evening. Worst - Glasvegas at Wembley & Cardiff 2009 - (however, Cardiff was probably the best gig ever!!) Roll on Athens 2010 - and Snow Patrol!
   Newer comments    61 - 90 of 264    Older comments

RECENT NEWS

2 Nov, 2024

Apply for your seat at an exclusive advance DOLBY ATMOS playback of How To Re-assemble An Atomic Bomb.

24 Oct, 2024

Released today. From How To Re-Assemble An Atomic Bomb. Watch the Lyric Video.

4
21 Oct, 2024

Into our gallery of videos from when How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb first arrived. 

9 Oct, 2024

 Subscribers Special
First of a two part conversation with Jacknife Lee, shot at Sphere in Las Vegas.

4