The First Time

9 Jul 2010597
When was the first time you saw Larry, Edge, Adam and Bono play live ? How old were you ? Was it last year on the 360� Tour or was it in another millennium way back when ?

'A hot summer day in Paris at the Vincennes Hippodrome.' remembers Dom from France. 'I was 23 year old (and) when the band finally arrived, the sunset was behind the stage and I felt like in a dream. The first song they played was Exodus from Bob Marley...'

'I was a highschool senior,' says someone else. 'And still look back at this concert at the Rosemont Horizon as my greatest moment with U2.'

'On the Vertigo Tour in Brussels, Larry puts his drums right in front of me...'

'Yale University in New Haven: epic, unforgettable show with Bono climbing anywhere he could....'

You've been posting some extraordinary memories of the first time you saw the band play live - unforgettable nights on every tour they've ever played. And not just the show - sometimes unlikely encounters with the band.

'I was 11, I lived across the road from Croke Park. That evening (of the show) our street football match had play stopped by a white Mercedes and out of the car jumps Bono in a white suit. He said hello, gave my mum a hug, shook my hand, jumped back in the car.....'

What about you ? How did you end up at your first U2 show ? Does the venue still exist ? Who did you go with ? Was there a moment you'll never forget ? One of the band do something that's stuck in your mind? A song that changed everything?

Google your memories and tell us below about the first time you saw the band live. Don't forget to add in your name and city/country at the end of the post so we know where you're from.

(Incidentally, keep a copy of your post� once you've added it below. Then post it again in our� tour section - on the night and on the tour of the show you're writing about. If you've got a photo - the band, you and your mates, the ticket stub - the tour pages are where you can upload it. The more reviews you add, the more encyclopaedic an archive of the band's touring history we'll create. Thanks.)
Comments
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carlson correia
never seen
I'm a fan of U2 since 1984. Reading all these statements, just feel a holy envy ... I've never seen a live U2 concert, only on DVD. I can say that this is my biggest dream! Well I'm 40 years old, have family and a beautiful daughter of eight years, and a good job ... Just need a live U2 concert !!!!!! Carlson - Recife - Brazil
dlaveryphillips
Syracuse University Carrier Dome
was the first time I saw U2 live, and I think it was 1987. Bono had a broken arm and was tied up in a sling, but it didn't stop him from captivating the audience!
Taesk
first time i saw u2 - 1982
I was 15 years old. My first Rock Werchter festival in Belgium. It was an amazing concert of U2. After the first time in werchter, i saw them a second time in 1983 and a third time in 1985 at the same place. In 1982, at the age of 15 years a new fan in belgium was born. After these first concerts i saw them two times in Brussels, in Antwerpen and in 2009 in Paris. Koen Taes (Belgium)
1980fan
Lancaster University March 1983
I had caught a glimpse of this band called U2 and seen them on the old grey whistle test on BBC2 and other bits. I remember saying to my friend "this band are going to be big!" I dragged him along to the next gig we could get to which was at LANCASTER UNIVERSITY, 2nd MARCH 1983 on the WAR TOUR. They were still trying to make it at that time and the hall at the Uni wasn't full (can you believe that!). Needless to say I was blown away by this raw amazing sound, I was hooked and that's the closest ever I think I'll get to U2. I heard" New Year's Day" the pinnacle song at this concert before it got released as a single and as they say "the rest is history". Seen them so many times now including 3 times on the 360 degree last year - you could say I'm a fan and have been since the beginning. Oh and my prediction was right :-)
mysonroger
Perth, Australia 1983
My first U2 show was at the perth entertainment centre in 1983 with the Under a Blood Red Sky tour. I was 14. that place only holds about 8000 people, so it was fantastic. I knew every song inside out. I was crying my eyes out at the end when they finished with '40'. Out of all my friends that went, I was the die-hardest fan and my (aging)parents sooooo didn't 'get it' went i got home. they didn't understand the magnitude of the anticipation I felt for this concert. I'm nearly 42 and I still have the concert programme from that gig...I've been to many more U2 shows since then, cried more joyous tears and overtly displayed raw excitement at their shows. I ended up living in Belfast for awhile, and there was nothing like listening to U2 while walking the raw coast lines ireland; their mother country. somehow brings you closer to the music. U2 - you don't come to perth anymore, but if you do, you'll be making a huge impact on a lot of people. PS....My 5yo daughter sings 'I Will Follow' with me now.
cwe3
the middle of nowhere
The first time I saw U2 "live" was on my families annual summer camping trip. We were in the middle of nowhere in a forest in Colorado, when I was 12 years old, and my dad took out the laptop and played "Rattle and Hum". I immediately fell in love with Bono's passion and raw emotion, and 3 years later I'm still obsessed with U2's music. I was able to see U2 for the first time at on October 25th, 2009 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, which was incidentally my first concert. My best friend and my dad were with me, experiencing the rock gods in action. Words cannot express how seeing the four people who I have idolized for 3 years standing 30 feet away felt. Thank you U2 for opening my ears to music.
slowtrain
DrrrrrrrrrrrDuDu
Zooropa, RDS showground , Dublin, August 1993 show number 1 (the night before the one on the radio). At 18 yrs old, concerts were never the same again. 70 speakers on each side, crystal clear music you felt before you heard. From Zoo station (DrrrrrrrrrrrDuDu) to Can't Help Fallin' in Love, Elvis was definitely in the building (I wouldn't have missed it if I were him). Rock-star-phone-home: "Dad: Take those ridiculous horns off!" - Great Rock n' Roll moment, up there with the TV going out the window.... Odds beaten, no accident.... over 33, happy with my investment.
jcerdan
Paris Bercy - 17th July 2001
We're today 17th July ; exactly 9 years ago, i first saw U2 live in Paris, during the Elevation Tour. i was 21. I'm a U2 fan since 1997, but i missed the PopMart Tour ... I promised myself i would do anything to see them live once they come back ... I expected so much of that gig, and they didn't disappoint ; it was far beyond my expectations !! i will never forget the first 2 minutes of Streets, with the red light, Edge's guitar and Bono's Psalm 116. I was lucky enough to see them 5 times now (including 2 shows to last year's 360°) and will see them again twice in September ! Looking forward to see you guys in Paris and Brussels! best wishes, Julien
beefa
Worcester Centrum - in the 80's
I was 19 years old my husband took me to see u2 on a date he called me and said.... let's go see this band I know you are going to love them. I hesitated but said ok. I'm 43 and have been blessed to see many u2 concerts with my husband & friends. When the shows are over and we are walking back to our cars we always say the same thing. CAN YOU BELEIVE WE GOT TO SEE U2 AGAIN :)
happymamili
Dienstag, 15.Juni 1993 Berlin Olympiasta
my first time...i was 15 and and it happened in Berlin. Since then I am "infected"! However, at the first contact with U2 I was 12 and was impressed very much. Today I am 33 years old and have surprised that U2 accompanies me more than half of my life. We are anyhow a symbiosis. Even then with the concert in Berlin 1993, in 2005 and 2009 I am astonished that U2 get to connect different generations. This creates nobody else! Sometimes I ask myself what would have become from me without boys and their music, because they accompany me for a long time by all stages of the life and are there virtually always for me! I simply love this what they do.... probably for ever!
glasgow
hampden park 18/08/09
despite being a u2 fan since 1984, this was my first time seeing them live, i loved soaking up the atmosphere beforehand, then when the band came on i could hardly even cheer! i just couldnt believe that after all those years i was eventually seeing "my band" live. what a great night we had, even my wife, who was never the biggest u2 fan was telling everybody she knew the next day how great it was. the only bad thing was the big downer afterwards that it was all over, hurry back lads to glasgow. davie,glasgow
vago
werchter 1985
my first U2- live was inJuly 1985 at Werchter Belgium , a day never to forget , i was 18 and together with some friends it was an extraordinary experience . my respect for their music is at the moment greater then ever, no line is the best album until now,and hearing it live is even better. last year i went to Amsterdam and i' m looking forward to see them again in Brussels. please don't forget songs as promenade , running to stand still, you can't make it on your own, bad and as big final 40 , stay healty see you soon, best whishes Marc
alexv14
Barcelona 30June 2010
I have been listening to U2 sice I was a baby. The first song that I listened to was With or without you. 17 Years later I went to Barcelona, I went to the concert, it was the best I have ever seen... When Breathe started..uff I can't say it with words and in english, so... Fue espectacular, alucinante, increíble, fantástico, maravilloso! Thank you guys for your music. Sorry for my bad english. A happy u2 fan, alex.
t1970g
It was like an earthquake
June 29th 1985, Croke Park, Dublin. The only album I had was Unforgettable Fire (at the time !) and there was a massive buzz for weeks in the city that U2 were back. I really didn't see what all the fuss was about, but extra tickets became available and my brother and I went. When 11 O'Clock Tick Tock started the show, the old stadium shook, and I was in shock ! Cardiff last year was number 19, hopefully my 20th will be some time soon !
jeex
under the naples' sky
My first U2 concert was the zoo tv - zooropa tour in Naples on July 9th, 1993. I was 23 years old! although I followed them since 1989, that was my first concert with my spiritual guides! The moment I remember with passion is this sequence of songs: Sunday Bloody Sunday Bullet The Blue Sky Running to Stand Still Where the Streets Pride before the encores. It seemed that the entire stadium was a powder keg ready to explode! I can never forget those moments! I will follow until the end of the world!!!! Jeex
Nancirishnancy
Thank you for showing us
that Bono is on the mend, like I said before, tour can wait! We love our band, not hearing from Bono was scary, because we love him, we love the entire band. Great video, and I will sleep better tonight!
kschoolcraft
Beautiful night in Honolulu
The first time I saw U2 was their Dec 9, 2006 concert in Honolulu. We had flown from our home in Spokane WA to celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary with Bono and the boys. It was a beautiful night with a cool island breeze and the house was packed! I was amazed by the spirituality I felt with the crowd singing along to such favorites as Pride and Where the Streets have no name. I didn't want it to end! We were fortunate to have met many worldwide U2 fans while we were there. We were seated 11 rows up from Edge's side of the stage and when Bono came out waving the American Flag we could feel the rush of excitement. We have since seen them in Vancouver BC and look forward to seeing them in Seattle next year.
wisconsinu2fan
ZOOTV March 31, 1992
My first U2 concert thanks to a woman who couldn't see the show. I was eighteen at the time. I tried over the phone through Ticketmaster to get tickets the day they went on sale. I came up empty handed but determined I asked one of the manager's at the local record store if he knew of anyone selling tickets. I was happy to find out that he knew someone that was looking to sell their tickets. I received her number and gave her a call and a week later we met up at the same mall and I ended up going down to Chicago with a couple friends on March 31st. They were diehard U2 fans and it was a thrill to experience the concert with them at the Rosemont Horizon. I couldn't believe I was there. The sound totally blew me away, especially during the beginning of Streets when the white lights came on and the crowd went bonkers! I'll never forget my first U2 concert!
chloeschrader
It was truly a spiritual moment.
My first U2 experience was with my mom at the 360 tour in Atlanta, GA when I was 17 and a senior in high school. It was overwhelming. I didn't believe it was real. I couldn't wrap my mind around the fact that I was about to be in the presence of the greatest and biggest rockband in the world. So after months of waiting, my sweet relief came. As Larry walked out onto the stage, I started tearing up. Then came Adam and Edge which brought more tears. And as soon as Bono came out like an "Electrical Storm" I completely lost it. I was a mess. I was sobbing and my knees were shaking like crazy. It was truly a spiritual moment. I didn't know anyone around me except my mom, but I felt like I was great friends with the other fans. Experiencing U2 with other fans heightens the experience even more. I'm looking forward to having another spiritual moment with U2 next June in Miami. I'm so glad you're doing well Bono! I count on you guys to lift my spirits when all is wrong and you never fail. I will always be thankful for you all. :)
jennyu2
Joshua Tree Tour-1987
I had been a fan for several years but finally got to see them at the Meadowlands for the Joshua Tree Tour. It was such an incredible experience, I went back with no tickets a day or two later, just to try and meet them before they did a sound check for their show. I waited for hours but they never appeared until just before the show. I had been talking to a nice man that was working for the band. He felt bad that I had waited all day so he offered me a ticket to the show that night! Turns out, I sat next to someone who had backstage passes. He offered to go with me. We went backstage and hung out there until U2 came out. The band had been behind closed doors next to the stage. As they came out to the tune of "stand by me", I stood there, mesmerized that my favorite band in the whole world is standing right next to me about to go on stage. The caveat here, is that I had to pretend I was part of the backstage crew and I belonged here, or I would have been ousted by security. Bono and the boys were joking around-I just wanted to tell them "I love you guys", but instead, I just watched them thinking to myself that I will treasure this moment forever. And I do!
CamilaBeri
Hi, I really wanna that U2 come back fro
Hi, my name is Camila and didn´t have any chance to see U2 alive. I really want that. Please U2 come from Brazil again. You have so much love here for you, come and see again the sweet love that the brazilians can give you. Yes I know, is really difficult come here, have a lot of peaple asking you for that! But come on Bono, Larry, Adam and Edge you won´t lose anything, just win us. Thanks and sorry I just know a little bit of english.
sim65
september 17 2010 Toronto
My husband and I decided to celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary with U2!!!We took the train from Quebec city to Toronto to see U2 at the Roger's center!!! It was absolutely crazy,I will remember this forever, we were at the 11th row and I will keep the tickets for life!!!The most unbelivable is that the day after the show, we had the chance to see the group at "the edge station" And Bono tried to take a picture with us,but my camera didn't work...:)But you can see it on U2.com!!!I look crazy,normaly I can keep my self a little bit quiet,but not at this moment!!!
U2 at Red Rocks on MTV
The first time I saw U2 "live" was the Red Rocks concert recording from 1983 in the early days of MTV. I vowed that day to see this band "live and in person" one day. My husband, son and I were part of the "STAND UP" audience in Norman, Oklahoma on October 18, 2009 for the 360 tour. What a journey. I have been a fan since Red Rocks and will be a fan as long as I have ears to listen and eyes to see. Keep on rockin'!!!
Rem5150
U2 In hattem The netherlands
I was only i little boy when i first saw u2 play in hattem I thibnk it was there first efer gig outside of UK and ON the mainland of Europe ,NOt sure and from that day iam still a big fan of there music keep on rocking in a free world
dmsparry
birmingham nia england 1987 joshua tree
i was 18 years old and got the tickets from the fanclub, wow, the best concert i ever been to,after the concert we got the train back to birmingham new street station, but we had missed the last train back to our home town so had to sleep on the platform benches, but we didnt care, we were too high, not on drink or drugs just from the music and performance from the greatest soul band ever U2, little bits that stick in my mind about the concert, bono said something about our country being more divided than his, and on one song 2 guys got up out of the audience, one played drums another played guitar, think the song was a bob dylan song, also the sound was spot on, when they played with or without you the bass sounded so sweet an pure, every time i think of this concert it just makes me smile even now, Bono Edge Adam Larry thank you.
U2GroupieGirl
Brendan Bryne Arena 1987 Joshua Tree Tou
1st time I saw U2 was with my Junior Year in High School after having been a fan since 8th grade. Mom wouldn’t let me go to the Unforgettable Tour my freshman year – Boo…Went with my best friend who was also a huge fan like myself. It happened to be Bono’s Birthday during their 3 day stint at the Arena, so on our way, we picked up a birthday card, signed it and put our phone numbers and addresses in it. We always hoped we would hear from Bono – he probably never got the card since we threw it up on stage after the concert was over. We had nose bleed seats for the concert so we had to wait til the concert was over to make our way to the stage. The concert took me to a level of existence that I never knew was possible. Walking out of the Arena with the crowd was an experience in itself. We were all singing “40”…”How long to sing this song”, over and over and over again. I actually started to cry I had so many feelings rushing through me. I grew up to U2. Each album represents various parts of my life growing up. What’s so amazing is that it’s continued into my adulthood! I played U2 on my 45 minute drive to work every day when I was pregnant. Our daughter instantly liked their music when she was old enough to tell me! Took her to her very 1st concert when she was 5 years old – to a U2 concert, of course. On the floor in Philly at the Vertigo tour. She’s hooked now, too. Pretty cool to be able to share the U2 concert experience with my daughter!!! Thanks guys!!!!
steadyeddie
Southampton University Saturday 8th Nove
Still got the Ticket, and I'm looking at it now on the wall above my Computer. Ticket Number 232. Although living in Hampshire, I could still pick Dave Fanning's Show up after midnight on MW from Ireland. After Peel finished at 12, I listened to him. There was this band....anyway, I thought I would go and see them with my mate Mick at the University in Southampton. We went on our Mopeds. £1.50 to get in, but someone had to sign us in, as we were'nt Students. He liked the support band better - Midnight & The Lemonboys. I preferred the main act. The bit I remember most apart from Edge's White School Shirt, and Adam's Padlock Necklace was Bono, shouting at two kids having a fight in front of the stage - "Dont look at each other, Look at Me!!" Although I hadnt bought Boy, I knew most of the songs from the DF show. Bought the LP the following Saturday, in Virgin Records near the Bargate, in Southampton. £4.19. Quite a lot of money in those days. U2 became my band, and I raved about them to my mates, and others. It was at least a couple of years before, it took off, but they were always my band. I just have to share them with a few million more now.
frontrowdavidletterman
David Letterman Feb 2009 Front Row
My husband surprised me with tickets to see the band during their weeklong performance on David Letterman to kick off the No Line release in Feb 2009. By a complete miracle we ended up front row center the last night they performed, and I was two feet away from Bono as the band played Beautiful Day and Vertigo. A HUGE fan since the Joshua Tree days (and having seen every concert tour since 1992) it was one of the most incredible days of my life. Luckily we captured it on DVR from home - so we can relive the moment forever (our kids also now think we're pretty cool). I also got to meet Bono and Edge when they filmed a video in Kansas City (USA) in the late 1990s. I snuck off from work to watch them film and ended the day by getting their autographs along with a small group of fans. The band's music has been the soundtrack to my life since 1987. They even took me home to the USA when I was a homesick exchange student in Barcelona '89 watching Rattle & Hum in a Spanish movie theater. They're just part of my life and I thank them. Next stop for me - seeing them in the Emerald Isle!
pepsching
December 3, 1987
This was my first concert I was allowed to go to. I was 12 years old and U2 was playing at the Orange Bowl Stadium. I had been waiting four years for that moment, before that my parents thought I was too young to be attending shows without parental supervision and I had to suffer not being able to attend the Unforgettable Fire show. My brother bought me a T-shirt from the show which I wore proudly every chance I got. When Joshua Tree Tour came around I saved my lunch money for two months to buy tickets, there was no way I was going to miss that show, I was their biggest fan! My parents gave in and made my brother take me to the show. Bullet the Blue Sky will always remind me of sitting on my brother's shoulders with my arms open as Bono sang, "Into the arms of America." It was the best night of my life! I still have the ticket!
JessLee
1987-Joshua Tree, I was 11.
Foxborough Stadium: Broken arm Bono. None of my fellow 11 yr. old compadres were really bothered with music and concerts, and if they did listen, it was Lisa Lisa and the cult jam etc. I was fortunate to have a brother six years older who steered me in the right direction. After writing any and all school papers about u2 / Bono, using my pocket money for all casette tapes, B-sides, posters, books, interview record albums...the next logical step was to see the show live. My VERY FIRST live show ever. I spent 3 days on the phone, i finally got through and used my mom's credit card. (I payed her back) My bro. escorted me, his little sis', and two others to the show and i was over the moon........literally and figurativey. We had total nose bleed seats but I didn't care and I know I was the happiest person in that sold out staduim. My brother had to peel me clinging from a fence during "Forty", I didn't want to leave. I fell asleep before we could even make it out of the parking lot. I am 36 now. Over twenty shows later, I am just as thrilled at every single concert and I know I am still the happiest person there. Magic! Thank you U2. Eternally, Jessica
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