Image Credit: Matt Jelonek/WireImage.com
In one of the few measurable victories Ireland gets over Great Britain, U2 recently surpassed the Rolling Stones’ record for highest-grossing tour of all-time with their U2 360° Tour. Erin, go Brag!
England’s oldest hitmakers previously held the record after raking in $558 million from 2005 to 07 for their A Bigger Bang Tour, but U2—who are still touring behind their 2009 release No Line On the Horizon—are set to take in more than $700 million by the time U2 360 wraps in late July. With 26 shows to go, the Irish quarter are almost ready to get back to saving the world/destroying Broadway.
Lead guitarist aside, U2 has an edge on the Stones when it comes to pulling in the Euros/dollars/reais on this tour: the band’s current “in the round” setup (U2 360°—get it?) has allowed them to pack more fans in each arena.
That doesn’t mean U2 360° has been immediately more profitable than the Stones’ tour, however. U2’s manager admitted that the overhead cost for this endeavor is about 750,000 U.S. dollars a day, show or no show.
A huge part of the cost is “The Claw,” a traveling stage apparatus that looks more suited to the first wave of the alien invasion than directing attention to that guy singing “it’s a beautiful daaaaayyyy!” Get a sense of its mammoth size in this video:
The Claw takes four days to set up each time, which forces the band to use three of these insect-like monstrosities on the road. At any point during the tour one is in use, another is being built, and yet another is being deconstructed and moved to the next location.
What do you think about U2’s record-breaking U2 360° tour? Take this poll and let the world know!
Read more on EW.com:
U2, Justin Bieber donate songs to Japan relief CD
Bono’s back injury on tour
‘Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark’: Video with Bono and Julie Taymor
Wow, Anderson Cooper sure is voting a lot!
I’m bored okay!
Keeping those calves in shape I hope!
He doesn’t need voting to keep his calves in shape. All that kneeling and squatting to give me, um…”cabeza” is enough.
U2 360 was a terrific show. However, for my money, the Zoo TV tour remains their most amazing, and the Elevation tour post-9/11 was their most moving.
amen and amen. I saw Baltimore in October 2001 and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house when the names started scrolling. and visually, nothing topped ZooTV.
ZooTV was great. The songs were fantastic. Everything pre-2000s was wonderful.
I have to agree. Seriously, I have to…The Fly is holding a gun to my head.
I am still pissed that I was too young to have seen ZooTV tour live..
it had lots of satire.. it was fun
Already seen this tour twice, 4 more times on the schedule this summer. I can’t wait.
Saw this tour last year and was down in the front for it. Loved the energy of the band and the set. The moving bridges were pretty amazing.
Saw them 2 years ago and was not really thrilled with the show. IT had it’s moments but bono was overly preachy as usual. I wished they would go back to their roots but that would hurt their bottom line so they don’t
They are as corporate as a band can get.
Their “roots” were preaching about no more war, trust in God, etc.
Saw it three times already. Zoo TV was excellent and Elevation was great, too. But, this one is still good. Finally stood down front. That was amazing!
I’m seeing it (finally!) this summer. Have had my tickets for nearly 2 years. Can’t wait! This should have been an option in your scientific poll above.
I have seen them 5 times in my life, an amazing band, cant wait till 360 in Pittsburgh, U2 FAN FOR LIFE!!!!!!!
a 150 foot high spider looking thingamabob vs ZooTV?
ZooTV = Winning
For their achievement the band will receive a trophy recognizing them as the largest grossing band ever. As a trivial side note the trophy weighs exactly 4.6 courics.
Good. Now perhaps they can FINALLY spend some gdamn money on fixing that travesty that is U2.com, the worst fanclub site EVER. Seriously guys, show some respect to those people who helped contribute to that $700M!
I saw the Vertigo tour and had to miss out on the Elevation tour due to bad timing on dates in Chicago. It was worth it.
I would have loved to go see this one, but lack of money and other issues prevented it. Good for them though.
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