Comments on: VH1’s All Access U2 - was it really Opening Night?

By: px

px — Thu, 21 Apr 2005 20:47:00 +0000

Anaheim 2.

After show conversation among some diehards who camped out @ the service entrance with us (til 4 am exchanging stories), said VH1 was taping that night. Perhaps it a bit of each (1&2) maybe?

By: px

px — Thu, 21 Apr 2005 20:46:00 +0000

This post has been removed by the author.

By: Tassoula

Tassoula — Mon, 18 Apr 2005 05:56:00 +0000

I wasn’t surprised at all that it wasn’t really San Diego, and that the rehearsal footage wasn’t always Vancouver or Mexico.

I remember the VH1 special during Elevation where Ahmer Haleem and Bono were ‘looking for a ride’ on a busy street in LA, then Larry joined them in an SUV, then Edge joined them on the plane, then magically they arrived at the ‘Boston’ concert, though there were very telling signs that it was Vegas instead. I think in that case they spliced in GA line footage from a few different shows because the accents of the fans change (some are clearly east coast, others definitely not). Nonetheless, it was entertaining and I still have my precious VHS copy of it.

What VH1 doesn’t realize is that the U2 fan base is a smart bunch who dissect just about everything the band does on a daily basis. And that the folks in Anaheim would probably like their due shout-out.

I suppose that’s fair enough, but frankly I’m thankful to see any footage where Larry is smiling so frequently and sharing the lead vocals on stage with B-man.

By: pkaPartyGirl

pkaPartyGirl — Sat, 16 Apr 2005 05:28:00 +0000

I noticed all of that too. Sadly, just like everything else U2 has done lately, this was pieced together with all the regard being for “slickness” and polish, rather than for the wonderful organic authenticity that is what is made this band who they are. If you listen (and watch) closely, in the earliest parts of the “rehearsal” in Mexico (about 4 minutes into the broadcast), they show Bono singing live on the rehearsal stage, but the music tracks they are using are very clearly the studio recordings. (Miracle Drug and Sometimes…) Why are they so afraid to let his own rehearsal voice go live? Some of my most cherished U2 footage is from rehearsal documentaries of the JT tour and the Zoo-Tv tour.

By: u2page

u2page — Fri, 15 Apr 2005 13:44:00 +0000

I saw a couple of friends that I know were there at Anaheim 1, that were NOT there in San Diego. I’m voting for Anaheim 1.

By: Phil

Phil — Fri, 15 Apr 2005 12:10:00 +0000

I would say at least 50% of the footage was rehashed from old material. Even the footage of the stage being built in the shop (in PA) can be found on U2.com.

Usually U2 have the final say on if something goes out or not. I am a bit shocked they let some of the material out as it was presented.
Maybe VH1’s material from opening night turned out to be un-usable… or more likely, the media pressure was too much for the band to process through the hunderds of others.

By: Lizzie

Lizzie — Fri, 15 Apr 2005 09:58:00 +0000

And plus…did anyone who watched the show checked out Adam outfit? He was wearing the black shirt with the purple collar and purple cuffs….. For the San Diego show (Opening Night)…Adam was wearing the black shirt with the red collar and the red cuffs

By: rgokhman

rgokhman — Fri, 15 Apr 2005 02:49:00 +0000

It was Anaheim 1. I was there when they were taping.

By: julie

julie — Fri, 15 Apr 2005 02:21:00 +0000

Um, my friend was up on the video screens, and she was there at Anaheim 1, so yeah, it wasn’t opening night they were showing…

That’s TV 4 ya….

By: Keir

Keir — Fri, 15 Apr 2005 02:06:00 +0000

No no, we got fighter jet sounds at San Jose 1 even though Love And Peace didn’t open the show. We didn’t get the spotlight treatment, though.