U2 The Joshua Tree tour, Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, 1st August 1987
Support Acts: Run Rig, Love & Money, The Mission, The Pogues
I went with my mate Ian to see U2 play at Edinburgh Murrayfield Stadium in August 1987 as part of the Joshua tree tour. By now U2 were headlining stadiums everywhere, and were one of the biggest acts in the world. We arrived in time to catch rousing support performances by The Mission and the Pogues who warmed the crowd up for the main act. The Joshua Tree is U2’s landmark album, which reached No 1 in the UK and US album charts, and solidified their position in the premier rock league. The album contains a number of important U2 songs including the epic track “Where The Streets Have No Name” which often opened their set during the tour, but which strangely the band didn’t play at this concert.
U2 were playing quite a few covers during this tour, and Bono was also including snippets from classic rock songs during their performances. At Edinburgh U2 started with two covers: “Stand By Me” (Ben E King) and “C’mon Everybody” (Eddie Cochran) and also played “People Get Ready” (Curtis Mayfield) and Help! (The Beatles). They also included the odd line from “Riders On The Storm” and “Break On Through” (The Doors), Van Morrison’s “Gloria” (rather than their own song of the same name); “Ruby Tuesday” and Sympathy For The Devil” (The Stones); and “Love Will Tear Us Apart” (Joy Division) thus showing their influences. I remember thinking it strange that they would start with two covers. I great concert, but very different from seeing the band in a small venue. We ran into old mate Gilly, who lives in Scotland, which was great. A great day, seeing a band who were writing and performing at their peak at the time. 
Setlist: Stand By Me; C’mon Everybody; I Will Follow; Trip Through Your Wires; I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For / Exodus (snippet); People Get Ready; MLK; The Unforgettable Fire; Exit / Riders On The Storm (snippet) / Van Morrison’s Gloria (snippet); In God’s Country; Sunday Bloody Sunday; The Electric Co. / Break On Through (snippet); Help; Bad / Ruby Tuesday (snippet) / Sympathy For The Devil (snippet); October; New Year’s Day; Pride (In The Name Of Love)
Encore(s): Bullet The Blue Sky / Loch Lomond (snippet); Running To Stand Still; With Or Without You / Shine Like Stars (snippet) / Love Will Tear Us Apart (snippet)/Fight For Your Right (To Party) (snippet) / Party Girl; 40
I lost touch with U2 after this tour and it was some 18 years or so before I went to see them again.
Archive for the ‘Love and Money’ Category
24 Nov
U2 The Joshua Tree tour, Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, 1st August 1987
6 Jun
Sandie Shaw Newcastle University 20th June 1986
Sandie Shaw Newcastle University 20th June 1986
I grew up listening to Sandie Shaw. “Alway Something There To Remind Me”, “Girl Don’t Come”, “Long Live Love”, “I’ll Stop At Nothing”: all classic pop songs. I even admit that as a 10 year old I watched her win the Eurovision Song Contest with “Puppet On A String”. But I thought I’d never get the chance to see her live. However, come the mid 80s Sandie Shaw was back in the public eye, and back in the charts, thanks to The Smiths and her cover of “Hand in Glove”. She went out on tour and I was lucky enough to catch her when she played Newcastle University in 1986. Backing Sandie were members of the JoBoxers (remember “Boxer Beat”?). What can I say. She looked great. I think she wore a leather cap and leather hot pants. Wow. She sang some of the old hits, along with some of her mid 80s material including “Hand in Glove” and her ode to Morrissey “Steven (You Don’t Eat Meat)” 🙂 Her voice was great. We were right down the front straight in front of her.
A dream come true. Support came from Scottish rock/soul/funk band Love and Money, and local heroes Martin Stephenson and the Daintees.
This setlist is from Sandie Shaw’s gig at Manchester Hacienda a few days later; I would guess her set at Newcastle will have been similar to this: Hand in Glove; Always Something There to Remind Me; I Don’t Owe You Anything; Long Live Love; Message Understood; Steven (You Don’t Eat Meat); I’ll Stop at Nothing; Go Johnny Go!; Anyone Who Had a Heart; Frederick; A Girl Called Johnny; Girl Don’t Come; Are You Ready to Be Heartbroken. Encore: Jeane; Hand in Glove.
My favourite Sandie Shaw song is “Tomorrow”. Not sure if she is a guilty pleasure. I would argue not.
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