U2 have kicked off their European tour at Manchester's Evening News Arena. They played classics and material from their new album to thousands of fans.
Ananova reports that while playing Bullet In The Blue Sky, arms race slogans were flashed up on screens and air raid sirens sounded. Front man
Bono told the crowd, "Our prayer is that this week brave people make brave decisions and this little island across the little channel does not go back to war. Compromise is not such a bad word after all."
The band opened the show with Elevation - the title of the tour. Other songs played included With Or Without You and Where The Streets Have No Name, both from 1987's The Joshua Tree.
The band have still to play the following shows:
- 12 August - MANCHESTER Evening News Arena
- 14 August - BIRMINGHAM NEC
- 15 August - BIRMINGHAM NEC
- 18 August - LONDON Earl's Court
- 19 August - LONDON Earl's Court
- 21 August - LONDON Earl's Court
- 22 August - LONDON Earl's Court
Tickets for the above shows sold out in just one hour on 9 March.
The band have also been granted permission to perform two shows at Dublin's Slane Castle on 25 August and 1 September.
