In 2018, U2 played 13 different European cities during the second leg of the Experience and Innocence tour. In this slideshow, as in 2015, we've asked 13 fans who were there to pick a photo for each residency and share a personal story. From Berlin to Dublin and back to Berlin, this is how the tour unfolded across Europe.
Berlin was my first opening night of a leg. I'll skip to the middle of the first show show, when they play THE song: Acrobat. For 27 years, fans wanted to hear this one live. Here we are in 2018 and this 1991 song just becomes alive. It is dark and it sound dangerous and Bono is totally into the MacPhisto impersonation...it took them 27 years to get here, but they totally deliver. A day later, Bono stood right in front of me during Red Flag Day and I remember seeing his face, he was totally taken by surprise by his inability to sing. The crowd sang along which sounded fantastic, but Bono looked devastated. He had lost his voice. He was hiding his insecurity behind a smile. Edge also smiled, while Adam looked actually horrified. After Beautiful Day they gave up and left the stage with applause and we waited. What was really nice was how calm people remained when the show got cancelled some time later. Quite a memorable weekend. - Petr
My first concerts of this tour. I made it almost unspoiled, and the show completely blew me away. From beginning to end, a perfect narrative experience, with a great setlist and the audience 100% with the band. MacPhisto's appearance was epic. One of the best shows I have ever been to. On the second night I’d had an awful day, I felt disconnected. I felt out of place. Until…Bono and Edge were on e-stage and the first notes of Summer of Love began. It crept right into my heart, hit me at the core. No big loud show, just these two men singing right to me. The world shrank, just them and me for this precious moment. I felt them, and the tears came. Once again, they reached out to save me. Successfully. God bless them. This moment I will forever cherish. - Kirsten
The U2 shows in Paris are always special. It always feels like the band is home, and the energy is usually really strong from them, but also from the audience. The French love U2! On the 3rd night, I was first row in seats and as the estage show was going on, a small stage was quickly built right in from of me. That was for Adam during Pride! So the bassman came for that song, and something funny happened: there is usually no one very close to that small square in the red zone, but some people (a few girls and Paul McGuinness!) coming from the VIP riser just walked there, and they just looked at Adam playing during Pride. They all smiled at each other, some took pictures of Adam while he posed for them, and suddenly one of the girls starts a FaceTime with Adam's wife! I could see the screen from my seat, she was in a room, waving to him and he laughed really hard, and they exchanged some air kisses and smiled a lot at each other. Adam was still playing, but he still interacted with Mariana through their friend’s phone. That was really cute to watch. - Judith
This was the first time U2 played in an arena in Portugal. They've played a few times in Lisbon but these were my first shows there. It's amazing to see them live, no matter where, but it's always special to see them in your own country! I had family and friends in the arena both nights, so we all hung out while queuing up... It was a lot a fun! As for the shows, the second night was my favourite because I was on the rail and got Edge playing Cedarwood Road's solo right in front of me... A moment I'll never forget! I loved I+E and E+I tours and they are my absolute favourite (keep in mind that I've only seen them live since 360 tour)... I'm really sad it's over. I can only hope they continue to play in arenas because these intimate shows are extraordinary. - Marta
The last time U2 played Madrid was in 2005, and that was my first show, on the night of my 15 birthday. From that gig until September 2018 I had to travel hundreds or thousands of kilometers to see the band. When they announced the EI Tour Madrid got two shows and I swore I'd make the most of them. I enjoyed both shows to the max but the second was miles better, not only because they played Spanish Eyes out of nowhere, but also because the audience was so much more into it. They've always had a special connection with Spain and with Madrid and it definitely came through during the second show. This is one of my favorite shots from the 2nd show: the "hands up moment" during New Year's Day, which really got the crowd going with its new arrangement and has been a constant highlight of shows throughout the tour. - Sergio
U2 performed in Copenhagen, for the first time in 8 years. I wanted to make the first night a very special event and wanted U2 to remember this day. Pure luck, several weeks of planning - meetings, hard work and nail biting moments, finally transformed itself into a 4 minute moment in Beautiful Day: Royal Arena’s 10k seats became two giant flags: The Irish Flag and The Danish Flag. I was in a moment of proudness, happiness and extreme joy. To see all the work turning into a great, big, beautiful flower right in front of you is breathtaking! I was fortunate to share the moment with my Danish friends and celebrate my son Emil’s 20th birthday! The band’s reaction was obvious to us all - “Fly your flags, Beautiful, Beautiful Copenhagen!”, were some of Bono’s words.... I Talked to Adam next day, and he told me that he rushed to instagram right after the show to re-cap the moment! The second Night became a turning point in the shows, introducing several news into the setlist. Thanks to all for being there! - Henrik
This stop marked the bands 5th and 6th time they played Hamburg, the highlights were delivered mostly on night one. During Wild Horses: At the exact moment Bono sang "You're an accident, waiting to happen!" Hilarity ensued, as Larry accidentally lost grip on his drumstick - which then catapulted it into the crowd. Leaving both of them laughing and a fan happy with some tour memorabilia. Hamburg's main highlight was a tour premiere of none other than Zoo Station! "4 Men... Stehen am Zoo Station, getting ready... for the RIDE of their life!" Bono announced in half German. As Edge kicked in the intro of to one of the most awesome U2 songs ever. This was the first time I heard this song live. So naturally I chose for a picture, of this moment. - Joyce
The October 8 show was extra special for me for two reasons; it was on my birthday and it was in my hometown! Highlight songs of the show were Zoo Station, Stay and Horses and also Edge playing Pride in front of me was unforgettable. To be there and be with a lot of close friends made me realise how lucky and blessed we are. - Reinier
After 26 years, when U2 played two of the most memorable shows during ZooTV tour, they come back to Forum in Milan. I attended all four shows and i had the chance to witness the show from every angles, particularly in GA. Every show was insane and i was lucky to have the return of The Fly and the live debut of Landlady. I enjoyed all SOE songs, but the Achtung Baby section was the best and more emotional part of the gig. Undoubtedly, a meaningful moment was when Larry and Adam joined other members during Stay, as shown in this picture, to symbolize that there are no more walls in U2 band! - Davide
Manchester is about as close to a homecoming I’m likely to get with U2. My expectations were low, and the setlist had only just started to pick up steam. But right from the start, that familiar thrill overtook me. There was so much space in GA too which made for such a unique experience. Lights of Home, through Zoo TV, past Acrobat, New Year’s Day - pictured here handling Brexit immaculately - and finally, an encore that really pulled me in. The tour had began for me and I had no reason to have doubted the band. - Tim
London for me was a sort of homecoming. The O2 was where I saw my first U2 show back in 2015. This year I saw my tenth and eleventh shows at the venue. I was up in the cheap seats behind the stage in 2015 but now I was second row in GA on both nights! London 2 was one of the best shows of the tour that I saw, only behind Belfast 1 and Berlin 3. Seeing 12 shows across Europe was an incredible experience that I'll never forget. Thank you Bono, The Edge, Adam and Larry! (Photo taken by myself at London 1) - Paul
Belfast was great for me. I was very indifferent in my attitude toward the early 2018 shows but as it made its way across Europe things really started to come to life and genuine excitement began to build. Hometown gigs are always special but night 1 in Belfast during Stay was just magic. 'Miami, New Orleans, London...' and Bono let the crowd shout BELFAST. Lift off achieved for me. And who else couldn't help but stand with their hands on their head while the band played Acrobat within touching distance? Man o man... - Gerard
"All of this can be yours" - this just sums up the theme of the whole tour for me. I attended 12 shows on this tour with various members of a great group of friends I have from U2Start who made the tour so special for me. The largest number of out group were together for night 3 and night 4 and even apart from the shows we had some great fun! Night 4 was by far my favourite show of my 12 as it was an awesome performance to an awesome crowd and the set included Gloria, Dirty Day AND Landlady so it is pretty tough to beat. - Kieran
I always have had a thing for full arena photos, and I picked this one to show what the Experience & Innocence tour was all about. This band that has been around for ages, playing a song from their latest album in an arena where every single individual is enjoying and singing. It's a rare sight, which leaves us wondering. Will we ever witness a tour so intimate again? Will we ever see another band in our lifetime that can move us or others like this? It was a gift to be able to come back to the great city of Berlin and enjoy this bonus show along with many of my friends. I will never forget this tour, of which the songs and stories carried me for so many nights. Performed by four people I feel like I must know so well after all these shows, but who I really don't know at all. Thank you Bono, Edge, Larry and Adam. - Remy