Joshua Tree Tour
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Joshua Tree Tour | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
||
| Tour by U2 | ||
| Start date | April 2, 1987 | |
| End date | December 20, 1987 | |
| Legs | 3 | |
| Shows | 111 | |
| U2 tour chronology | ||
| A Conspiracy of Hope Tour (1986) |
Joshua Tree Tour (1987) |
Lovetown Tour (1989-1990) |
The Joshua Tree Tour was a concert tour by the Irish rock band U2, which took place during 1987, in support of their album The Joshua Tree.
This concert tour's opening night was on April 2 at the Arizona State University Activity Center in Tempe, Arizona in the United States. The first leg took place in American indoor arenas in the spring, the second leg in European arenas and outdoor stadiums during the summer, and the third leg back in American and Canadian arenas and stadiums in the autumn. The tour ended on December 20 back where it started in Tempe, Arizona, but this time at Sun Devil Stadium.
The Joshua Tree Tour sold out stadiums around the world, the first time the band had consistently played venues of that size. The Joshua Tree and its singles had become huge hits and the band was at an apex of their popularity. Tickets for shows were often very hard to get, especially on the first American leg when they only played in arenas.
That first leg was also organized around multiple-night stands in centres of U2 fandom along the two U.S. coasts, with only a very few dates in the middle of the country. These multiple-night stands also featured an unusual set list twist. All but the last night would begin in conventional concert fashion with the rousing pair of "Where the Streets Have No Name" into "I Will Follow", but the last night in each city would begin with the house lights fully up and the band performing the early 1960s classic "Stand By Me", with The Edge singing one verse, all intended as a friendly, informal opening. The house lights would then stay up for "Pride (In the Name of Love)", only going off at the end of it; the rest of the set list would be consequently scrambled from the norm.
Despite, or perhaps because of, their newfound fame, Bono and U2 were still able to seize the moment. At Wembley Stadium in London, Bono sang a haunting version of The Beatles' "Help!", dedicating it to those in the audience who were dreading another five years of the recently re-elected Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher. As another sign of the group's confidence, they also covered The Beatles' heretofore untouchable "Helter Skelter", declaring "This is a song Charles Manson stole from the Beatles; we're stealin' it back."
The band began to film and record various shows from the tour for the documentary and album Rattle and Hum. Live footage from November concerts at McNichols Arena in Denver, Colorado and at Sun Devil Stadium featured prominently in the film. The McNichols footage, shot in black-and-white, included performances from U2's back catalogue while colour material from Sun Devil mostly comprised (then) current material. Two shows were filmed in Tempe. Tickets were discounted to $5 a piece in consideration of the fact that the heavy filming equipment would obstruct views for many audience members; the discount also helped to ensure a full house for the cameras.
As with all U2 tours from 1983 on, the stage and lighting design was done by Willie Williams.
A number of opening acts were used for the tour. Lone Justice was still given emphasis in this role, as they had been on the Unforgettable Fire Tour, but it was not enough to give them a successful career. Other openers included Little Steven, The BoDeans, Mason Ruffner, World Party, Spear of Destiny and The Pogues.
Bono sustained injuries twice on the tour. At a rehearsal at the start of the 1st leg in Arizona, he fell backwards off the stage while holding a spotlight, which struck him in the chin. He went to the hospital and had stiches put in, and to this day has a small scar on his chin from the incident. During a concert on the 3rd leg at RFK Stadium in Washington D.C., Bono slipped off of the stage (which was slippery from rain) and dislocated his arm. He finished the show, but had it popped back in afterwards, and spent a couple of months with his arm in a sling (as evidenced in the Rattle and Hum scenes in the Harlem church). By the time of the filming of the rest of the Rattle and Hum movie in Denver and Tempe his arm was out of the sling and he was playing guitar.
