U2

[koolkat]

they are like your security blanket, and people buy their CDs hoping that they will purchase another War or Boy

I totally disagree. I'd be disappointed if they did a 'War' or 'Boy' rehash.

What's kept them interesting all these years is the ability to change and yet still maintain elements of their classic sound. And let's not forget, they didn't have their artistic peak until well into a decade into the career... almost 10 years after 'Boy' was even released. The same could be said for REM and their album 'Automatic for the People'.

I just think it's the 'in' thing to do these days... U2 (and especially) Bono bashing that is. REM aren't being bashed as much though... I suppose it has something to do with their slipping sales. Not so easy targets anymore...

[Proud]

people have bashed r.e.m. a lot, but now people just ignore them because, in the public eye, they no longer matter that much. musically, i think they're still pretty good, but around the sun hasn't spawned a track that's seen much of ANY radio play.

[ScottsyII]

I really like Around the Sun and HTDAAB for similar reasons... they both play to both band's strengths in alot of ways... REM do broody and dark slow stuff beautifully and U2 have always shown more bombast... particularly impressive to me on the U2 album is the work of the Edge, who is in fine form. Around the sun returns REM to their more soul searching mode, which made me love albums like Out of Time and Automatic...

So I say I don't give a toss if either of these bands remain "relevant"... I mean what does that mean anyway?!! That the indie press says they're good and everyone should be into them? How dop you define "relevant" when music is going to mean all sorts of different things to different people??!! Whats a relevant album for me might be completely irrelevant to another... like my Australian indie bands to me are essential and very relevant, but someone in the Us might not even give a shit they exist.

I just like the albums both bands just released, and in my listening habits, both are very relevant.

[pattentank24]

U2 to open in San Diego March 28(tickets on sale Jan 28)
full list of first 30 Us dates Monday
Kings of Leon opening act for this leg

[Proud]

awesome. kings of leon gets on my nerves if i'm listening to them for an entire album, but i'm sure they're a decent opening act.

how to dismantle..., on the strength of an ipod commercial and one hit single (and a second single which is doing okay, i suppose), is going to be u2's biggest commercial hit since achtung baby. who knew?

[ScottsyII]

Kings of Leon would be alright as a opening act.... their lead singer's voice can get darn annoying at times.... basically because he is one very inept singer... however, I don't mind their music!

Hows that.... U2 having this much success in such a late period of their career... quite astonishing really!

[Proud]

i was thinking of u2 kind of as a frank sinatra of rock, but then it occured to me that sinatra isn't famous for singing new music late in his career, plus most fans regarded him as being quite faded (basically, a lot of people loved him and wanted him to appear publically because he was frank sinatra). there are plenty of u2 fans who refuse to listen to any post joshua tree or achtung baby material, but i think most people would agree that u2 is still making material today that is quite relevant. looking at how dead rock is in the mainstream, i don't think there's much of an argument against stating that the only socially relevant rock albums of 2004 were how to dismantle and american idiot (but that's another topic).

rock (except for "nu"-metal and "pop-punk", which is an oxymoron, anyway) may be slowly leaving the public eye, but at least there are groups out there in both the mainstream and indie world who can take a couple of guitars and a drumset and satisfy your attention span and spiritually ambitious mind.

[ScottsyII]

Very well said Proud! I couldn't agree more... it does seem to be that the ongoing prosperity and artistic inspiration of U2 is unseen... some individual artists like Bob Dylan have continued to put out great music late into their careers, but not a whole group like U2, and I think they deserve praise and Kudos for that!

Really am enjoying How to Dismantle... now! It's gone from being largely overlooked in my collection to being a regular player now... a sign of its goodness as an album... I would still have to say their peak was Achtung Baby, but this isn't that far from it, I tells ya!

[bowiglou]

yeah I just read today in our local paper about U2 opening up about 10 minutes from where I live!!..so I'm definitely gonna get tickets........I actually thought they were going to do stadium shows, so I'm rather pleased....

[ScottsyII]

Sounds great Bow! I don't know what they are doing with regards to touring down under, but myabe one day I'll catch 'em! Who knows! We shall see!

[koolkat]

I hear they'll be touring Australia towards the end of this year. Let's keep our fingers crossed.

[bowiglou]

so tickets go on sale at 10 am this Sat for U2's opening US show at San Diego on 3/28..I've heard it is going to sell out very quick, so I'm wondering if I'll have better luck accessing tickets via Ticketmaster on the Web vs. phone.....think I'll see if I can do both concurrently!!!!!.....however, there is some rumor they may add a 2nd show in the event of a quick sellout........

[RocDoc]

Don't be too sure...pre-sale mighta sucked 'em all up down there as well...

...anbd I would have loved seeing them finally...

U2's online ticket launch for fan club bollixed up

Many members who paid $40 for right to buy advance tickets frozen out

By Greg Kot
Tribune music critic
Published January 27, 2005, 8:21 AM CST


Update: A message posted to U2's Web site today raises the prospect of additional dates -- and tickets -- for the band's North American tour: U2 are hoping to return to North America for more shows this Autumn. ... While the Autumn leg is not confirmed yet, the already announced opening North American leg is likely to include rollover dates - that is additional shows in currently advertised venues. We will be mailing U2.Com subscribers who have not yet been able to buy tickets in the North American presale with early information on how to buy tickets at these additional first leg shows.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


On U2's last North American tour in 2001, singer Bono told the millions of fans who have made the Irish quartet one of the richest bands in rock history: "I want to thank you for giving us a wonderful life."

But this week, the most ardent of those fans may not be feeling much appreciated. An advance ticket sale to the band's fan club for U2's forthcoming North American and European tours has turned into a public-relations nightmare.

So many complaints poured into U2's management offices in Ireland and New York and to Ticketmaster during the presale Tuesday that the ticketing agency was moved to issue an apology Tuesday night. It blamed the fan-club fiasco on "an incredibly high level of demand" that resulted in "slower than normal service."

After paying $40 in membership fees to gain access to tickets this week before they're made available to the general public, fan-club members reported encountering crashed Web sites, faulty passwords and a dearth of choice seats.

Many fans were left without tickets for the 13-city North American tour, which includes concerts May 7 and May 9 at the United Center. Others reported finding that the $49.50 tickets for standing room nearest the stage were already sold out when they logged in, and that they had to settle for more expensive $95 or $165 seats farther from the stage. To add insult to injury, ticket scalpers had already swooped in and were offering choice tickets for more than $1,000 on eBay.

"We feel betrayed by this," said Collin Souter, a film critic from Prospect Heights who has attended 18 U2 shows since 1987. Souter paid to join the fan club but found he could get nothing better than third-balcony seats at the United Center after logging in only seconds after the presale began Tuesday morning. "It's a really sad week for U2 fans."

In its official response, posted on its U2.com Web site, the band acknowledged that "some fans have let us know that they have experienced some frustrating technical problems," and said Ticketmaster was "contacting all U2.com European members who failed to book their tickets to explain how they can still do this well within the presale window." No mention was made of the ticketing problems in North America, even as fans filled message boards with invective.

"I thought the point of dishing out my $40 membership fee was to gain access to the coveted [general admission] floor seats," wrote one disgruntled fan, zooropabails, at atu2.com. "The GA seats for both shows in Chicago sold out in literally 10 seconds. Is this possible? U2.com has successfully screwed all of us."

Such presales through band Web sites have become increasingly fashionable, including those run by arena-filling acts such as Pearl Jam, R.E.M. and the String Cheese Incident. On its 2002 tour, the Rolling Stones charged fans $60 to gain access to tickets before the general public.

In an earlier message on the U2 Web site publicizing the fan-club subscriptions, fans were informed that the $40 fee "assured access to the online ticket presale."

"They made it sound like a great deal, but they sold far too many memberships to fulfill their promise," said Sharon Carleton, an insurance executive in Omaha, who tried to buy tickets for the Chicago shows but found she could get only seats behind the stage for $160 each. She decided not to buy those seats and says she'll likely sit out the forthcoming tour.

In return for her fan-club membership money, she received "a fabulous little metal key chain that says `with thanks.' I found that a little ironic getting it this week. It'll remind me to pay more attention to this kind of thing in the future."



Copyright © 2005, Chicago Tribune

www.chicagotribune.com/news/yahoo/chi-0501270460jan27,1,2028.story?coll=chi-newsaol-headlines

[bowiglou]

yeah RN, I read what happened about the members of u2.com having difficulty accessing tickets...especially this being opening night of the tour, I wonder how many tickets will even be available come SAt morning when they go on sale.......I noticed that there are lots of ticket brokers already "brokering" (i.e, scalping) tickets......oy vey!!!...........................I have this sinking feeling!!!

[pattentank24]

At the Arcade Fire show the owner confirmed a U2 November Date in Atlanta at Philips Arena so I would bet that the fall tour is in Oct after 4 singles have ben put out