U2 - Magnificent - Live Gig
September 3rd, 2009
Rock band U2 have played a surprise gig on top of BBC Broadcasting House, in central London.
A crowd of around 5,000 watched the rooftop show, which capped off a day of promotion for the Irish band’s 12th studio album No Line On The Horizon.
U2 had been special guests on BBC Radio 1 and rumours of the gig appeared on internet message boards during the day.
The band performed four tracks during the 20-minute gig, including new songs Get On Your Boots and Magnificent.
Bono told the crowd: “This is a great honour. This is the first time we’ve played these songs to people, so we hope we don’t screw it up.”
U2 also performed Beautiful Day and Vertigo, as onlookers danced, clapped and sang along in the street below.
The BBC’s Darryl Chamberlain, who was at the scene, said: “Some people tried to crowd on to traffic islands to see them… the crowd was screaming and cheering.
“Others were spilling out of pubs and shops to see it, and looking out of windows. It was a good natured crowd and people really seemed to be enjoying it.”
Police closed Portland Place in Westminster to divert traffic away from the area.
The band all wrapped up against the cold, except The Edge who wore a short-sleeved lumberjack shirt and hat.
The performance was also broadcast live on DJ Chris Evans’ BBC Radio 2 show.
U2’s impromptu gig echoed The Beatles’ 1969 rooftop performance at record label Apple’s London headquarters.
Earlier the band revealed they are preparing to tour later this year, and hope to offer tickets with cheaper, recession-busting prices.
Frontman Bono told BBC Radio 1’s Jo Whiley they had “something very special planned” for early summer.
He added that it was “a whole way of trying to do shows outdoors and make them very intimate”.
In an interview on Radio 5 Live with Simon Mayo, Bono said that he had “gone off” Get On Your Boots a few weeks ago, but was now “back on it”.
“It’s a small song, a tiny little song, a little shot of adrenalin,” he added.
Another song from the album, Breathe, had its live debut at an intimate Radio 1 concert on Friday morning.
Bono told the audience: “This is a great honour. This is the first time we’ve played these songs to people, so we hope we don’t screw it up.”
He said they were “trying” to work on some cheaper ticket prices, but added: “We’re also going to have some very expensive ticket prices because rich people have feelings too!”
Radio 1 also apologised on-air immediately after Bono used an expletive to describe Coldplay’s lead singer Chris Martin.
The BBC said it had received no complaints about it.
Duration : 0:5:35
September 3rd, 2009 at 9:51 am
good sound he has …
good sound he has but it came from dave gilmours run like sound,from the wall and he uses the same model of strat that gilmour uses to record the wall so thares not a gutiar player like dave gilmour the edge thinks hes gilmour
September 3rd, 2009 at 9:51 am
no one on earth …
no one on earth sounds like edge, first heard him on 11 oclock tick tock single
1980 when i was at school loved that sound ever since, this song gets back to that ‘old’ sound he used to have.. love it
September 3rd, 2009 at 9:51 am
please can you guys …
please can you guys go on dan breen close your eyes
September 3rd, 2009 at 9:51 am
los U2 belleza!! …
los U2 belleza!!armonia!!lo que transmiten solo los grandes!! love!!
September 3rd, 2009 at 9:51 am
this song rocks!!!!
this song rocks!!!!
September 3rd, 2009 at 9:51 am
words are …
words are meaningless…….no comment…U2=LIFE
September 3rd, 2009 at 9:51 am
Amazing! I love it …
Amazing! I love it when U2 play rooftop gigs
My only complaint is that Bono’s mic really needed to be louder - Edge’s guitar really drowned him out in some parts, although that’s a problem which pretty much every band has when performing impromptu like that! Amazing stuff all the same!
Did they have permission for this one? Remember what happened when they tried to record the Where The Streets Have No Name video in LA?
September 3rd, 2009 at 9:51 am
is powerfull music …
is powerfull music !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 3rd, 2009 at 9:51 am
power music!!!!!!!! …
power music!!!!!!!!!!!!!thank you very much for post de víd!
bKd
September 3rd, 2009 at 9:51 am
Just like me, never …
Just like me, never really liked but this one is very good. Nice guitar playing.
September 3rd, 2009 at 9:51 am
Never really liked …
Never really liked U2 but this is superb.
September 3rd, 2009 at 9:51 am
WHAT AN ABSOLUTELY …
WHAT AN ABSOLUTELY AWESOME PERFORMANCE! 2 helicopter cameras ?
September 3rd, 2009 at 9:51 am
Oh yeah definitely. …
Oh yeah definitely. But i bought the album in 1991 when i was only 10. And then pursued the Acthung Baby album right then after. But good looking out.
September 3rd, 2009 at 9:51 am
Boy , War , Under a …
Boy , War , Under a Blood Red Sky And Unforgetable Fire … , I Don´t Have 13 , And They Are My Favorite Band , Long Time Ago …
September 3rd, 2009 at 9:51 am
i think war was …
i think war was released before 1991..
September 3rd, 2009 at 9:51 am
You know why? Its …
You know why? Its those Disney Artist and the Top 40 crap. Nobody has patience to absorb music like this anymore. As long as the beat is cool and theres a catchy hook or chorus. People dont care about the substance in the music anymore. Just as long as they can shake their to it or it sounds good in their car stereo systems. Im mad too. only 68,000 views too. Jeez
September 3rd, 2009 at 9:51 am
Best Live Band… …
Best Live Band…Ever!!! 33 years. Thank you Bono and Co. You guys are truly magnificent. 1st Album was War 1991. Was 10 then. Now 28 and have continued to love everything they do. I am a true U2 fan. They have the balls to be different each new album and at the same time still succeed.
September 3rd, 2009 at 9:51 am
Great Song
Great Song
September 3rd, 2009 at 9:51 am
no offence but i …
no offence but i think the new U2 album is crap! they are triying to be more 21st centry rock, it just dont sound as good and from the soul. dont get me wrong i love U2 [im only 13 and their my fav band!] but i think they should be how they were and not follow the crowd.
September 3rd, 2009 at 9:51 am
MAGNIFICENT, GREAT …
MAGNIFICENT, GREAT TUNE!!!!
September 3rd, 2009 at 9:51 am
This really works i …
This really works i tried it 1. Cover your mouth with your hand
2. Make a wish into it.
3.Close your hand (make? it into a fist)
4. Hold you hand(the fist) to your heart for 5 seconds.
5.Send this to 3 more videos.
6. Tommorow will be the best day of your life
September 3rd, 2009 at 9:51 am
BLOWS. This CD is …
BLOWS. This CD is ty TY, they suck
September 3rd, 2009 at 9:51 am
I agree but I don’t …
I agree but I don’t think about it anymore. This is one of the best albums I have heard in over 10 years. I just enjoy it
September 3rd, 2009 at 9:51 am
how did this only …
how did this only make #42 in the UK charts - it should have been top 5 at least! get on your boots was only #12! what’s happened to Britain’s music taste?!? if vertigo or the fly were released today they probably wouldn’t make top 20! outrageous when you consider some of the crap on top of the charts at the moment! oasis, coldplay and the killers have underperformed in the charts recently too! really tragic!!!
September 3rd, 2009 at 9:51 am
sound travels far …
sound travels far and wide….and you can allways jump of the roof if you wish