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"[A] fresh sound can be just as inspiring as a great hook. To me, sounds arehooks." -- Edge |
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"[A] fresh sound can be just as inspiring as a great hook. To me, sounds arehooks." -- Edge |
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Hope on the Road: Amnesty Tour Diary
Propaganda, Issue 3,
August 01, 1986
U2 headed a party of eight bands, 26 musicians, 200 tour personnel and 250 tons of equipment on a journey of hope from the west on to the east.
"A Conspiracy of Hope." That was the title given to the series of concerts across America, in which U2 were involved. There were six shows in all, over a two-week period, starting in San Francisco on June 4th, and winding across the States to finish at the Giants Stadium in New Jersey, just over the river from New York City. The artists on the bill varied from night to night, but the basis of the tour consisted of U2, Sting, Peter Gabriel, Lou Reed, the Neville Brothers, Jackson Browne, Joan Baez and Bryan Adams. Everybody involved had come together to support Amnesty International, and help celebrate their 25th birthday. There were plenty of surprises along the way, but one surprise no one had bargained for was the vast fun factor that would be involved. Despite the serious nature of the tour's aim, there was much hilarity en route -- largely due to the huge number of people on the tour. There were about 200 in all, counting band members, road crews, managers, promoters, etc., etc. Everyone was traveling on the same aeroplane -- a chartered 707 with no rules -- so the potential for fun was vast. Everyone met up in San Francisco for the first of the many press conferences, on June 3rd. A rough diary outline of events follows: June 3rd San Francisco Cow Palace. Soundchecks and press conference. Finding things unnecessarily dull at the press conference, Bono attempted to break the formal atmosphere a little. "What songs will you be playing for Amnesty?" asked a reporter. "Yummy, yummy, yummy, I've got love in my tummy," replies Bono. Nobody laughs, the U2 crew go into hysterics. June 4th San Francisco -- show day. First night nerves all round, but everything ran exactly to plan. After the show everyone was pleased, relieved and ready for more. June 5th Travel day to Los Angeles. Press conference on arrival for artists, a fun-packed evening load-in awaits the road crew. June 6th Los Angeles, the (Fabulous) Forum. Being within spitting distance of Hollywood, the stars flocked to the hippest point in the known universe. A mound of mega-stars huddled backstage, with a slightly larger mound of press photographers taking pictures of them. On stage, surprise appearances came from Bob Geldof and the Eurythmics' Dave Stewart, Bob Dylan (gasp) and Tom Petty, with compering spots from Jamie Lee Curtis plus Madonna and Sean Penn, who narrowly avoided a full-scale slanging match with the audience. Meanwhile, backstage, Jack Nicholson arrived and the press squad completely ignored everybody else, even Sigue Sigue Sputnik. U2 brought down the house. June 7th Flight to Denver. Everyone's loosened up, with the various parties beginning to intermingle. Peter Gabriel arrived, video camera on shoulder, and there it stayed. June 8th Denver McNichols Arena. All the bands are in great form now. Joan Baez and Aaron Neville did a vocal rendition of "Amazing Grace," which was quite something. It was the birthday of Amnesty's Mary Daly, who received a bouquet during the finale, presented by Bono. June 11th Atlanta Omni. Issue 2 of Propaganda arrived, which put everyone in a good mood -- or was it the day off? Sting's jazz band mysteriously reappeared as the Police! During U2's rendition of "Sun City," with Lou Reed guesting on vocals, Bono goes into "Vicious." Lou Reed gapes, and signals to Bono to carry on. Bono smirks, carries on and instantly forgets the words. June 12th Flight to Chicago. In-flight behavior reached an all-time low. Just as the plane lifted off, three masked individuals "flew" up the center aisle, capes fluttering, carrying a huge tape recorder blaring the Superman theme. It'll end in tears. June 13th Chicago Rosemont. The second to last show -- how time flies when you're having fun. A stunning show -- Jack Healey's ranting and raving about how Amnesty would be enough to make Attila the Hun join up. June 14th Complete anarchy descended on the flight to New York, as a massive pillow fight broke out, by way of a farewell. Hilarious -- half a 707 buried in a white snowstorm of pillow-hurling frenzy. The air hostesses just joined in. U2 slip off to an anti-apartheid rally in New York City. It's all go at Giant's Stadium, in preparation for the TV broadcast tomorrow. June 15th The "Conspiracy of Hope" ends live on TV with a million more guests and companies joining in. These included Muhammad Ali, Third World, Joni Mitchell, Santana and the awesome Yoko Ono. The usual finale, "I Shall Be Released," closed the show, during which several real "prisoners of conscience" whom Amnesty have helped release, join the assembled gathering of musicians onstage. A very moving moment, and it reminded everyone yet again of what it was we came here to achieve. © Propaganda, 1986. All rights reserved.
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