Cutting Edge Tech for U2's 360 Degree Tour
In the spirit of all things geeky, I thought I'd do a quick review of the U2 360 Degree Tour that is currently sweeping through Europe. The fact that I will be leaving the shores of Africa towards the end of August to experience this great band performing live at the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff has nothing to do with this review though. Course not.
If you haven't checked out the Tour website yet, best do so now. It sets the scene for what will hopefully be an exceptional entertainment experience. The band pushes the boundaries with their new set - a "claw" contraption that sits more or less in the middle of the stadium, and allows a 360 degree view of the stage. The "spaceship-on-four-legs" upholds a massive cylindrical screen and scales approximately 160 feet into the air, allowing unobstructive views of the band, and increasing the venue capacity by around 15-20%. Willie Williams, the Tour designer, says that the goal is to establish a physical proximity to the band: "The band is just sitting in the palm of the audience's hand."
www.u2.com
Having attended the concert at the Johannesburg Stadium, South Africa in March 1998, and narrowly missing out on the Vertigo Tour concert in Adelaide due to cancellation by the band, I consider myself one of the die-hard fans. I look forward to the evening of the 22nd August (which also happens to be my birthday) where I'll be soaking up the shadows of this magnificent set in a dimly lit stadium, tear of joy running down my cheek, listening to The Edge hammer out a string of familiar notes, slowly increasing the tempo, note-by-note, riff-by-riff, until the point where Bono thrashes out the opening lyrics to Streets, and the Millenium Stadium explodes with light. This is the moment that I have been waiting for, for 11 years.
www.u2.com
360 Tour, U2 in Technology