U2 – Magnificent – Live Gig
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
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Gilmour isn’t the …
Gilmour isn’t the only guitarist to use a Strat or a delay box. I love Gilmour but to say Edge thinks he’s DG is just stupid.
actually thats the …
actually thats the 1st time ive seen the edge use that guitar and i have seen ALOT of u2 and alot of this song he uses a Gretch Country Gentlemen i think on the record and all other live preformances
u2 is the band …
u2 is the band earned so much respects still keep humble.great band ever
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
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
please can you guys …
please can you guys go on dan breen close your eyes
los U2 belleza!! …
los U2 belleza!!armonia!!lo que transmiten solo los grandes!! love!!
this song rocks!!!!
this song rocks!!!!
words are …
words are meaningless…….no comment…U2=LIFE
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?
is powerfull music …
is powerfull music !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
power music!!!!!!!! …
power music!!!!!!!!!!!!!thank you very much for post de víd!
bKd
Just like me, never …
Just like me, never really liked but this one is very good. Nice guitar playing.
Never really liked …
Never really liked U2 but this is superb.
WHAT AN ABSOLUTELY …
WHAT AN ABSOLUTELY AWESOME PERFORMANCE! 2 helicopter cameras ?
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.
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 …
i think war was …
i think war was released before 1991..
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
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.
Great Song
Great Song
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.
MAGNIFICENT, GREAT …
MAGNIFICENT, GREAT TUNE!!!!
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
BLOWS. This CD is …
BLOWS. This CD is SHITTY, they suck