subject: U2 Tickets - U2 Performs First-ever Russian Concert [print this page] Irish rock band U2 performed its first-ever concert in Russia in August, making a stop on its current U2 360 Tour, but Rolling Stone reports that the gig wasn't without controversy. Police arrested Amnesty International activists who were handing out pamphlets and volunteers for organizations like U2's own ONE Campaign Against AIDS and Greenpeace Russia before the concert, which was held at Luzhnkiki Stadium in Moscow.
The arrests came as a shock to the organizations, as U2 and the band's management have allowed Amnesty International to set up tents on numerous 360 Tour stops. Although he didn't mention the arrests, U2 frontman Bono did mention Amnesty International during the band's concert in Moscow, saying, "From Burma Action and Amnesty International, let's hold her up. Let's tell the powers that be that the can't touch her, she belongs to us." Those arrested were later released.
Before joining his bandmates on stage, Bono met up with President Dmitry Medvedev, reports the Wall Street Journal. During the band's first-ever gig in Russia, Bono thanked Medvedev for his "gracious" reception in the Russian capital and also gave a shout-out (which was subtitled into Russian on a massive screen above the 360-degree stage) to former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev-whom he said was in the audience.
Moscow isn't the only city overseas that has been creating a stir when it comes to U2. Pollstar.com reports that the band has been fined by Barcelona for being too loud during its tour rehearsals in the Spanish city. U2 rehearsed in Barcelona before kicking off the first two dates of the last leg of its U2 360 Tour at Camp Nou Stadium on June 30 and July 2. Bono & Co. rehearsed two hours over the scheduled midnight stopping time and also garnered complaints about exceeding noise level restrictions during the gigs. So what was the damage? U2 was fined 18,000 Euros (approximately $22,000) for making too much noise in Barcelona.
Despite the controversy in Moscow and Barcelona, U2's tour has been on track since launching in Turin, Italy on Aug. 6. The Irish rock band was originally scheduled to begin their tour in Salt Lake City, Utah on June 3, but the tour was pushed back after Bono sustained a back injury during tour rehearsals back in May. The band announced the news via its official website on May 21, later revealing that U2's scheduled North American tour dates would be rescheduled for 2011.
A healthy Bono and the rest of U2-The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen, Jr.-debuted two new songs at their Turin tour opener: "North Star" and "Glastonbury." In addition to those new tracks, U2 opened the show with a new instrumental intro called "Return of the Stingray Guitar" and performed "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me" for the first time since the band's last Popmart Tour date way back in '98. Fans with U2 tickets can expect to hear the band play some more new songs as their tour continues well into 2011.
