U2start.com | was the Elevation Tour a suprise to you??

the first DVD i saw of U2 was slane castle so im used to the way that they play their live sets no-a-days... just interested about the views of those who were big fans through the ZOO TV and POPmart tours... were you suprised by U2 going back to a more "raw" sound instead of the glamorous and more techno fase they went through from the ZOO TV and POPmart tours??

u2met86

16 years

i was surprised. it was a feeling of, wow what are they gonna do next? i think one of the reasons U2 is my band is because they keep me on the edge of my seat like that (no pun intended), and i wind up hating the new direction at first then eventually LOVING it, almost inevitably. i'm always afraid of leaving my comfort zone with U2 but they're never afraid to go forward and take that chance.

but honestly, i think that U2 fans have felt that way no matter when they started listening to U2, whether that's Boy or Joshua Tree or ATYCLB. for instance, when i was growing up Rattle And Hum was "my U2," it took awhile for me to give up that mentality and accept that they were constantly evolving. i've said a few times that U2's career is very time-capsuled. each album/tour is a U2 we've never seen before and will never see again.

to quote Adam Clayton after "Desire" on Rattle And Hum DVD, "We're not the same band we were when we recorded the War album, for instance."

-1st half of 80s (until War): striving for success as a rock band, start to get politically motivated

-2nd half of 80s (Unforgettable Fire / Live Aid until Lovetown): War - Unforgettable Fire was a RADICAL shift along with Eno / Lanois. Bono says they were lined up to become the next Who / Zeppelin if they had only released War II, the sequel, but they didn't, thank God... this period was painfully earnest, mainly about the message, become superstars. they took "earnest" to as high a level as they could possibly go so they drop it for irony and humor.

-1990s: spin everything that has come before on it's head: achtung baby, zootv, zooropa, pop / popmart. they took 1) radical sonic experimentation, 2) massive, glamorous touring stages and 3) irony all as far as they could possibly go so they drop all that and move on.

-2000s: sounds like a step "backwards" because it's not as techno / experimental, but it's just another stage of maturity. they're striving for relevance to avoid becoming the next Rolling Stones as long as possible, bono's trying to drive a dent into extreme poverty / aids / african trade. deal with bob hewson's passing, 9/11, current war & other social issues (coexist, etc). concerts emphasize closeness to fans / letting fans play a song every show!

LikeASong

16 years

Originally posted by u2met86i think one of the reasons U2 is my band is because they keep me on the edge of my seat like that (no pun intended), and i wind up hating the new direction at first then eventually LOVING it, almost inevitably.

sadb7788

16 years

Originally posted by u2met86i was surprised. it was a feeling of, wow what are they gonna do next? i think one of the reasons U2 is my band is because they keep me on the edge of my seat like that (no pun intended), and i wind up hating the new direction at first then eventually LOVING it, almost inevitably. i'm always afraid of leaving my comfort zone with U2 but they're never afraid to go forward and take that chance.

but honestly, i think that U2 fans have felt that way no matter when they started listening to U2, whether that's Boy or Joshua Tree or ATYCLB. for instance, when i was growing up Rattle And Hum was "my U2," it took awhile for me to give up that mentality and accept that they were constantly evolving. i've said a few times that U2's career is very time-capsuled. each album/tour is a U2 we've never seen before and will never see again.

to quote Adam Clayton after "Desire" on Rattle And Hum DVD, "We're not the same band we were when we recorded the War album, for instance."

-1st half of 80s (until War): striving for success as a rock band, start to get politically motivated

-2nd half of 80s (Unforgettable Fire / Live Aid until Lovetown): War - Unforgettable Fire was a RADICAL shift along with Eno / Lanois. Bono says they were lined up to become the next Who / Zeppelin if they had only released War II, the sequel, but they didn't, thank God... this period was painfully earnest, mainly about the message, become superstars. they took "earnest" to as high a level as they could possibly go so they drop it for irony and humor.

-1990s: spin everything that has come before on it's head: achtung baby, zootv, zooropa, pop / popmart. they took 1) radical sonic experimentation, 2) massive, glamorous touring stages and 3) irony all as far as they could possibly go so they drop all that and move on.

-2000s: sounds like a step "backwards" because it's not as techno / experimental, but it's just another stage of maturity. they're striving for relevance to avoid becoming the next Rolling Stones as long as possible, bono's trying to drive a dent into extreme poverty / aids / african trade. deal with bob hewson's passing, 9/11, current war & other social issues (coexist, etc). concerts emphasize closeness to fans / letting fans play a song every show!

Apart from the topic, apart from my own opinions and from those of the other U2START friends, you seems to be one of the most expert of U2 in the world! You speak like a kind of journalist/writer!