U2 Wraps Inaugural Residency at Las Vegas’ $2.3 Billion Sphere
U2 recently concluded their inaugural residency at the stunning $2.3 billion Sphere in Las Vegas. The iconic band performed a total of 40 shows, starting in September and ending with a grand finale that brought everything full circle.
The residency was a tribute to U2’s immensely successful album, Achtung Baby, which topped the charts in 1991. Throughout the shows, U2 delighted fans by playing the album in its entirety, along with selected tracks from their other albums. To make the experience even more special, U2 invited Daniel Lanois, the producer of Achtung Baby, to join them on stage for a performance of the track “One.” Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Bram van den Berg (filling in for the ailing Larry Mullen Jr.) warmly welcomed Lanois, acknowledging his significant contribution to the album’s success.
Bono expressed his gratitude to Larry Mullen Jr., who was unable to perform due to his recovery from surgery and past injuries. Bono acknowledged Mullen’s pivotal role in the band’s formation and wished him a speedy recovery. Cameras captured Mullen beaming from a VIP box, surrounded by a capacity crowd of nearly 20,000 fans who erupted with cheers and chants of “Larry!”
The final weekend of U2’s residency at Sphere attracted several VIPs. Lenny Kravitz attended Friday’s show, while rock star Dave Grohl and filmmaker Brett Ratner were spotted on Saturday night. Bono took a moment during the performance to send birthday wishes to Coldplay’s Chris Martin and Mick Jagger’s daughter, Elizabeth Jagger, who both celebrated their birthdays on March 2.
However, the most notable VIP in attendance was none other than Jill Biden, the First Lady of the United States. Bono dedicated the song “All I Want Is You” to all the remarkable women in the world, including the women on U2’s crew and those facing challenging circumstances. He then surprised the audience by dedicating the song to Jill Biden, who was present at the concert. The heightened security and bomb-sniffing dogs at the venue hinted at her presence, as she had arrived in Las Vegas for a campaign event supporting President Biden’s re-election efforts in Nevada.
The Saturday night show, which began with an opening DJ set from Pauli Lovejoy, featured several memorable moments. U2 closed out the concert with their classic song “40,” a track from their 1983 album War. Bono humorously remarked that it had been “40 days and 40 nights in the desert,” alluding to the biblical reference. The band also expressed their political stance by dedicating a performance of Crowded House’s “Don’t Dream It’s Over” to Alexei Navalny, the Russian opposition leader who tragically passed away on February 16. They recorded a special version of the song with Neil Finn, one of the founding members of Crowded House, to honor Navalny’s widow, Yulia.
As U2 bid farewell to their Achtung Baby residency, they revealed their plans to focus on creating a rock-heavy album. Meanwhile, Sphere will continue to host upcoming events, including performances by Dead & Company, Phish, and Darren Aronofsky’s immersive film experience, Postcard From Earth.
U2’s residency at Sphere was a monumental success, showcasing their enduring talent and captivating performances. Fans eagerly await their next musical endeavor while cherishing the memories created during this extraordinary residency in Las Vegas.