U2 prepare for Vertigo tour launch

With the launch of their world tour but a few days away, U2 have been holed up in the not unpleasant location of Vancouver, Canada, engaged in rehearsals and stage construction.

Speaking yesterday to The Toronto Sun, manager Paul McGuinness explained that "It's a completely different production, but it shares characteristics with the Elevation production."

While McGuinness did refer to an "in-the-round stage" at one end of the floor (similar to Eleveation's heart-shaped passageway), all will be unveiled when the tour kicks off Monday, March 28, at the San Diego Sports Arena.

With fans across the world holding their collective breath for the Vertigo live launch, McGuinness said that when it comes to set lists, the band is keen to maintain a balance between old and new material.

"They are determined not to become their own kind of tribute band. It's not a greatest hits show," McGuinness told The Toronto Sun. "It's very important for us to get the new material into the spotlight, so you can expect most of the new album will feature in the set."

A sneak preview has come in the form of a rehearsal set list, which emerged last week on U2 fan site Interference.

Confirmed by McGuinness to be an accurate reflection of one rehearsal, he told The Toronto Sun that the band is arranging a number of different set lists, and that this particular rehearsal must have been overheard by a fan outside the building "who could tell what the songs were through the steel doors".

In any case, the rehearsal, as heard from behind steel doors, ran as follows:

Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
Stuck In A Moment
Love And Peace Or Else
Out Of Control
City Of Blinding Lights
All Because Of You
Yahweh
40
Bad
Beautiful Day
Pride (In The Name Of Love)
Where The Streets Have No Name
Walk On
Elevation
One
I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
Vertigo
Miracle Drug
Bullet The Blue Sky
With Or Without You
Running To Stand Still

Stay tuned to hotpress.com for a full report from the Vertigo kick off at San Diego Sports Arena.