U2 fans are in for an early Christmas present with Bono confirming that their iNNOCENCE & eXPERIENCE tour will hit Ireland at the end of November, with a run of Dublin 3Arena dates expected. Indeed, Hot Press has learned of block bookings on the band's behalf at the neighbouring Gibson Hotel.
"It was really hard to figure out a way of doing it, but we just had to make it happen," Bono said after the European leg of their world jaunt kicked off in Turin on September 4. "We found a way to reformat the show, to literally rebuild it for the Irish shows
"I am so happy we are bringing this home. These Irish shows will be like an Irish wedding. It is always tricky planning a wedding – who sits besides who could ruin it!"
A formal announcement re: Irish dates is expected this week.
With Amsterdam, Stockholm, Berlin, Barcelona and Paris all getting four shows and London six, fans here can also expect multiple chances of bagging tickets.
Their second show in Turin featured an incendiary version of 'Out Of Control', which was followed by Bono introducing the band as: "On Bass, all the way from Ard na Mara, Adam Clayton; On drums, from Rosemount Avenue, Larry Mullen Jr; On guitar, all the way from St. Margaret’s Park, The Edge. My brothers, miei fratelli."
It being the eve of the eighth anniversary of the death of Luciano Pavarotti, 'Every Breaking Wave' was dedicated to his widow Nicoletta and their daughter Alice, while 'Angel Of Harlem' was accompanied by a 70th birthday shout out to Van Morrison. Interestingly, Van is in the 3Arena on November 20, after which there's an eight-night gap before Simple Minds play on November 28.
With 'October' also getting an airing in Turin, it was a night steeped in wonderful memories.