U2 show. Diana Scrimgeour. 2006.

Starting out from the back rooms of pubs in Dublin, through the stadiums of the Joshua Tree, and on to the multimedia extravaganzas of ZooTV and PopMart, and the more intimate elevation tour, U2 have gone on to play over a thousand shows on the road. First and foremost they are a live band: the foundation of their fan base was built on endless touring. Their passion and uncompromising lyrical stance touched a universal chord. The urgency of their music and message, and the strength and diversity of their live performance, set them apart. Their raw energy immediately tone down the barriers between artist and audience.

Stepping into the bigger picture, U2’s touring history reflects the burgeoned rock-touring industry, which mushroomed throughout the eighties  as bands staged ever more ambitious productions - a field in which U2 and Willie Williams ( the principal architect of their stage sets) have pushed the boundaries and stretched the imagination further than any other band.