U2.COM : Three Years To The Day

It was at Camp Nou in Barcelona on June 30th 2009,  that 'U2 unveiled their 360 space station and 90,000 fans gave it lift off.' 

On Saturday, three years on, we're hosting an extended listening party,  recalling the shows and celebrating the release of U22, the soundtrack of the tour as chosen by the fans.

We're calling it 'U22 Day' (see what we did there?) and every hour we'll be streaming tracks from U22 -  your votes decide which track gets aired next.

As well as chatting about the songs, we'll be posting your tweets, photos, memories and comments from the whole tour - from Barcelona to Moncton,  from Turin to  Jo'burg.

What track never should have got dropped from the set ? What track was born again?
What was your weirdest experience on the tour...  or the most moving ?
See the band more than once ?  You got to every show ? What was the best night - and why ?
What about U22? The stand-out moment?  The track you'd add to it ? (Anything else you want to talk about ? Tell us in the comments below.)

U22 Day on U2.com begins on Saturday at 6pm GMT and the party's going to run… for eleven hours. 

Dip in for a few minutes - or stay with us for the whole event. See you Saturday...

U2.COM : 'Aung San Suu Kyi Ambassador of Conscience' [video]

U2.COM : U22 Snapped

As U22 makes its way to different countries, U22 Unwrapped clips are being posted on the boards in Zootopia or on YouTube.  Love the choice of audio on this clip from kregconrad in the US.
 Made yours yet? We're thinking lateral. Here's more.

If video's not your thing, maybe you just want to take a snap of U22...  in an unlikely, bizarre or impossible  location. Some good ones arriving from all over the world. (Overlooking the stage at Red Rocks? Clever!)

 Our Mods in Zootopia are hosting Where In The World Is U22? 'The more exotic, strange, cool, interesting the location the better...'   Upload photos in this thread  or post them on Twitter using #U22 and @U2com and we'll retweet the best ones. (There will be prizes...)

U22 - Out Of Control [video]

U2.COM : 'Amazing'

'For the U2 audience and anyone campaigning for her release for over ten years… it's a big deal.'

Speaking to RTE News ahead of Electric Burma in Dublin tonight, Bono described his time with Aung San Suu Kyi, how she 'wanted to thank  the Irish people,  Amnesty International and the U2 audience…' and his 'impertinence' in writing Walk On.

U2.COM : Electric Burma for Aung San Suu Kyi

'There is no one on this island who doesn’t understand how costly the word freedom is.  How difficult the word justice is to live by. How quixotic peace can be. After all your years of wide-open heartache in an enclosed space, your newly travelled road has brought you here to Dublin at a big old bun fight in your honour… and we love that.'

At Electric Burma at the Grand Canal Theatre in Dublin this evening, Bono presented Aung San Suu Kyi with Amnesty International’s ‘Ambassador of Conscience’ Award. The award was originally announced from the stage when U2  played Croke Park in July 2009 - while the Burmese Nobel Peace Prize recipient was still under house arrest in Burma.

'The honour is ours just to be in your presence,'  said Bono in his speech. 'Everybody is here to sing for you tonight, but it’s your song that everyone wants to hear. It’s your song we need on the radio all over the world… your words… your topline melody. It’s a timeless song yet it seems more important in this time, than ever before…' 

Responding to the award Aung San Suu Kyi said that it was a reminder that 'Twenty four years ago I took on duties from which I shall never be delivered but you have given me the strength to carry on.' In Ireland she had discovered just how much people care: 'I had not expected this.'

'I feel very close to you. The British used to refer to the Burmese as the Irish of the East. We never quite understood why. Some say it was because we never gave them any peace, we were very rebellious and others say it was because our men like their drink and we are all rather superstitious.
For whatever reason tonight I  feel proud to be your Eastern counterpart - I am very happy to be the Irish of the East.

'Throughout these years, you and others like you, and Amnesty International and other organisations like AI have helped us to keep our small wick of self respect alight. You have helped to keep the light. And we hope that you will be with us in the years to come, that you will be able to join us in our dreams and not take either your eyes or your mind off us,  and that you will help us to be the country where hope and history merges.'

Irish and international artists from the worlds of music, drama, cinema and dance took part in  ‘Electric Burma’, a three hour show organised by Amnesty International. 

An audience of 2,000 saw Riverdance open the show followed by Donal Lunny leading a chant of Aung San Su Kyi's name. Music came from Damien Rice and Angelique Kidjo while actor Vanessa Redgrave read Seamus Heaney's  'The Republic of Conscience'.  Human right activists such as Wu’er Kaixi, the exiled leader of the Tiananmen Square protest,  reminded the audience of political prisoners across the world who remain behind bars. The set featured a wall of opened birdcages, referencing the lyrics to Walk On and Aung San Suu Kyi's  release from house arrest.

Read Bono's speech and Aung San Suu Kyi's response in full here.

Watch Bono's interview with RTE News.

From A Conspiracy of Hope in 1986 to a clandestine film trip to Burma in 2011, our  slideshow charts U2's long collaboration with Amnesty International and with Aung San Suu Kyi.

U2 guitarist may get a second chance at Malibu mansions

The California Coastal Commission rejected a controversial proposal last year by U2 guitarist the Edge to build five mansions on a scenic bluff above Malibu, saying that it would scar a rugged ridgeline and harm sensitive habitat.

Now, some of the same powerful lobbyists and lawyers behind the musician's quashed development are working the halls of the Capitol to push a bill that could give the rock star another chance at his dream compound.

Environmentalists and state agencies say that if the legislation becomes law, it will undermine the commission's position on his project and also extend to the character and development of the entire California coast and to state public lands.

U22 - MLK - Walk On [video]

U2.COM : 'Grace And Courage...'

In Dublin on Monday Amnesty International’s prestigious ‘Ambassador of Conscience’ Award will be made to Aung San Suu Kyi.

The presentation, at 'Electric Burma',  will be made by Bono - it was originally announced from the stage when U2 when played at Croke Park in July 2009.

'It's so rare to see grace trump military might and when it happens we should make the most joyful noise we can. ' says Bono. 'Aung San Suu Kyi’s grace and courage has tilted a wobbly world further in the direction of democracy. We all feel we know her, but it will be such a thrill to meet her in person. How honoured we are that she should consider Ireland for her first real trip from home.'

From A Conspiracy of Hope in 1986 to a clandestine film trip to Burma in 2011, our new slideshow charts U2's long collaboration with Amnesty International and with Aung San Suu Kyi.

U22 - Ultra Violet (Light My Way) [video]

U2 bassist's assistant 'stole €2.8m'

A former personal assistant of U2's Adam Clayton earned his trust before being promoted to the role and embezzling €2.8 million of his funds, a court heard today.
Carol Hawkins is on trial for 181 counts of stealing cheques from the bass player between 2004 and 2008.
The Circuit Criminal Court in Dublin heard how the 48-year-old worked for Clayton for some 16 years, earning up to €48,000 a year and living rent free at his home.
She was initially employed as a housekeeper at the bassist's Georgian mansion -- Danesmoate -- in Rathfarnham, South Dublin, but quickly gained his trust and was promoted over the years to the role of personal assistant.

U22 - One Tree Hill [video]

U22 - All I Want Is You/Love Rescue Me [video]

U2.COM : Ambassador of Conscience

Irish and international artists from the worlds of music, drama, cinema and dance, will perform and give readings at the ‘Electric Burma’ concert for Nobel Peace Prize recipient and leader of the National League for Democracy in Burma, Aung San Suu Kyi. The concert will take place at 4.45pm on Monday 18^th June, in the Bord Gais Energy Theatre, Grand Canal Dock, Dublin 2.

The centrepiece of ‘Electric Burma’ will be the presentation of Amnesty International’s prestigious ‘Ambassador of Conscience’ Award to Aung San Suu Kyi. The presentation will be made by Bono and was originally announced from the stage during a concert by long-term campaigners U2 when they played at Croke Park in July 2009.

‘Electric Burma’ will be a celebration of music, dance, and spoken work, and will include contributions by Damien Rice, Angelique Kidjo, Vanessa Redgrave, Bob Geldof, Riverdance, Jack Gleeson and others. Artistic direction and set design has been created by celebrated Catalan designer and director Lluís Danés.

Announcements on further artists and details of the concert will be made on www.electricburma.com. Tickets for Electric Burma will go on general sale this Friday, 2^nd June, at 9am via www.ticketmaster.ie, priced from €25 each.

‘Electric Burma’ is being organised and promoted by Bill Shipsey, founder of Art for Amnesty – Amnesty International’s global artist engagement programme. Aung San Suu Kyi is travelling to Ireland and attending the ‘Electric Burma’ concert directly from Oslo where she will deliver the acceptance speech for the Nobel Peace Prize that she was awarded in 1991 having been under house arrest or in prison for 15 of the last 24 years. This will be her first trip to Europe since 1988.

Speaking at a press conference to give details of ‘Electric Burma’ at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre, Bill Shipsey commented, “Why Ireland for a concert for Aung San Suu Kyi? Samuel Beckett was once asked why we produced so many musicians and writers and dancers. He said that ‘when you live on the last ditch (of Europe) all you can do is sing.’

“’Electric Burma’ will give a charge to the people of Burma. But the electricity for this concert will be provided by the star who will be seated in the stalls for most of the show. Everybody else who performs, no matter how celebrated or gifted, is a support act. Walk on Aung San Suu Kyi to the Dublin stage. A free woman of Dublin since 2001 and now a free woman of the world.”

The Executive Director of Amnesty International Ireland, Colm O’Gorman, commented, “Aung San Suu Kyi’s visit is a truly momentous occasion for everyone in Ireland, and throughout the world, who campaigned tirelessly for her release for more than twenty years. On behalf of Amnesty International members across the globe we are honoured to welcome her to Ireland for an event that will celebrate her freedom and her extraordinary life’s work to secure freedom and human rights for her people.”

U2’s Bono commented, “It's so rare to see grace trump military might and when it happens we should make the most joyful noise we can. Aung San Suu Kyi’s grace and courage has tilted a wobbly world further in the direction of democracy. We all feel we know her, but it will be such a thrill to meet her in person. How honoured we are that she should consider Ireland for her first real trip from home.”

Bob Geldof commented, “To be allowed to honour this woman is an honour in itself. The heroine of dignity, integrity, courage and steely moral vigour lost her freedom and her family in order to gain a nation. Ireland is enobled by her visit.”

Amnesty International will host a public celebration outside the Bord Gais Energy Theatre on the evening of the concert at which it is expected that Aung San Suu Kyi will make a brief address to the assembled crowd. Further details will be available in due course.