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
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bosko
Keane
The lead singer has an unbelievable voice. And to hear it amplified in a huge arena was really beautiful.
WJAMNY
Muse - Definately
Muse without a doubt, probably the best opening act I've ever seen. That band was awesome, sounded great, very tight. They made me a big fan that night.
grim1
The Ramones
At Milton Keynes, The Killers at Amsterdam and Snow Patrol
josefgulick
Joe G
Rage Against the Machine, PopMart San Diego, hands down. Tom Morello is a genius.
jeffgatorboy
Honolulu 2006
Pearl Jam opening for U2... Last show of Vertigo Tour in Honolulu. That can not be topped.
davecaddie
Best Concert Ever - Slane 1st Night 2001
Forget, Kelis, but as a Canadian I was introduced to Relish and JJ72. Then Coldplay (just starting to achieve international acclaim) and Red Hot Chili Peppers, followed of course by U2 and all of the emotion wrapped up after the death of Bob Hewson it was an unbelievable day and night.
JacksonTroy
Skunk Anansie & PJ Harvey
Pop Mart Tour 2nd Leg, July 18 (Rotterdam) and July 25 (Werchter): Skunk Anansie, with Skin jumping around and electrifying the audience. Elevation Tour 1st Leg, June 19 (MSG, New York): PJ Harvey, with a lot of style and generosity.
moguy
In Tua Nua
Joshua three tour european leg 1987 July 20 or 21 .opening act In Tua Nua great band live also irisch. Bought the album great songs like seven into the sea. Never heard from them.Thanks to you tube i can see performances of them . Also great zoo tv tour 1992 wercheter and goffert park nijmegen:STEREO MC's!!
Bad Ronald
lone justice
saw em so many times i wanted to puke.......:)
sprongie
Kaiser Chiefs
Very best was definately Kaiser Chiefs during Vertigo. Very very very worst: "I hate you so much right now" Kelis during Elevation!!!
ursapup
not really support
what about Rocko et al......uberstars and pearl jam, and all those other tatooed rockers who made cameos at the show in Hawaii? Mahalo to you too!
TheUltravylet
Opening w/Muse
Opening with Muse was awesome, the dark and eerie light show before they came out was wicked. They really set the stage for a great rock concert! ~TheUltravylet~
ursapup
snow patrol
really, now the photos do no justice may I add one ? I need your grace, to remind me ........
TheLoungeFLy
Best and Worst Opening Acts
Best: Rage Against The Machine, Coldplay, Muse, Foo Fighters Good: Little Steven Van Zandt, No Doubt, Oasis, Has not aged well: The Alarm, Lone Justice, The Pixies (they should have been much better than they were when they played). OK: Black Eyed Peas Worst: Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, Mason Ruffner, PJ Harvey, Damien Marley....Lenny Kravitz will go here.
edge102009
Muse
I saw one of the shows with Muse as the support act. I had never heard of them before the show, and then the acoustics at the New Cowboys Stadium were so horrible that I hated them when they were performing. Then after the show I watched some of their videos and realized that it was actually some pretty awesome stuff! Now they're one of my favorite bands!
whodey_03
BoDeans '87
rupp arena lexington ky. never heard of them before that been a fan of them ever since
traviezo333
PE
Public Enemy ZOO TV, Oakland, '92
Fiona May
BB King Lovetown
I lost my friend in the crowd, had my face jammed in some guys stinking arm pit, but I remember thinking where does this guy get it all from. Totally blew me away. When is the Australian Tour, how long, how long.
bede
Muse
Of all the nine shows I have been too, Muse was the best ppening act I have seen at a U2 sbow. Kings of Leon would be second.
ZooTV8
Best Support Act(s)
Pearl Jam with Billy Joe of Green Day, second encore, Honolulu, Hawaii, Vertigo tour finale, December 2006.
spinningman
Probably
No Doubt on the Elevation tour followed by Snow Patrol at U2360
kraser
MUSE
Far and away one of the best bands out there and after seeing them live (and my wife falling for them after the Twilight soundtrack - let's be honest) in D.C. I am a lifelong fan of theirs now too...
kraser
MUSE
Far and away one of the best bands out there and after seeing them live (and my wife falling for them after the Twilight soundtrack - let's be honest) in D.C. I am a lifelong fan of theirs now too...
Dennis G
ARCADE FIRE
Twice, 2 nights in a row in 2005. I fell in love with the band after they opened for U2.
naca68
a day at the races .
August 14, 1983 - Dublin, Ireland - Phoenix Park Racecourse Steven Wickham joins U2 for Sunday Bloody Sunday and The Electric Co. while Annie Lennox of Eurythmics joins U2 for 40. Simple Minds Big Country ,Eurythmics plus Steel Pulse. 27 yrs ago and 1000's of gigs later but still the best gig ever.
actarus
Snow Patrol
15 July, 2009 Nice FR Parc des Sports Charles Ehrmann Fan Review
santiago2u
Mexico City Feb 15th 2006
This was vertigo tour second night in my country, The Secret Machines were the opening act band. And I hated them. Probably they're a great band. But the longing to see U2 again, and an apocalyptical 15 minutes song they played made us wanted the stage disappear under their feet. I swear, 94,999 people would agree with me that very moment. It was an endless moment in my life.
larryplaysyamahadrums
Elevation, 2001 Paris
Stereophonics were a fantastic support act, that started a great night
Will Roach
Pearl Jam
I've seen a lot of great opening acts for U2, but Pearl Jam was far and above the best.
deekpop97
Best support!!!
Prob the best support ive seen opening for The Bhoys is The killers in Cardiff on The V 05 tour. Wish i saw Institute opening on V05 3rd leg.
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