U2 Tour - Another excuse to feel old

Categories: uncategorized

Date: 10 March 2009 18:42:08

It appears that u2 have announced details of their new tour. Whilst this is of no interest to me it does give me (i) an excuse to reminice a bit and (ii) something to talk about something other than computers that say no (and that they've overpaid you) or this Gingerbread report on contact issues in non-resident families, which could be the trigger for a whole rant of my own.

So anyway it's back to u2's tour. I guess it's a sign of getting old when you see they're touring again and work out it was 22 years ago you saw them at Wembley on the Joshua Tree tour. Have to say I am glad I saw them then. Whilst I don't mind some of the output they've given inbetween I am still more of a fan of the early stuff, particularly from the Under a Blood Red Sky album. When I saw them it was the first stadium gig I'd been to and the first time I'd been allowed to head off to London for a gig on my own. My mum figured if I went with a local coach firm I'd be ok - which I was.

To be honest I don't really remember that much about it all apart from the fact the t-shirts were well expensive, £15 or something - which back in the 80's was a fortune. I have a vague recollection of Spear of Destiny and The Pretenders supporting.  Oh and I think the Irish foursome weren't bad either.

Now, with a child who is in the same school year as I was when I saw them, I sometimes wonder what it would be like to go and see them again. Yet, each time a new tour is announced I come to the same conclusion I still love their music, but I don't want my earlier memory - however hazy to be altered. There is something to be said for keeping early memories untinged by later experiences.