U2 Tour Can't Make A Profit
Filed under: Music Minute > Bono
…even though the shows are selling out!
U2 has been touring the world for the past three months and they have yet to make a dime off of it because of the supremely costly stage set-up.
The Claw, as it is called, is their portable stage - and it costs about $750,000 to construct and transport…for every single show!
The band isn't expected to turn a profit of any kind until they finish the North American leg of their U2 360 tour in October.
Although, let's be honest, they already have heaps of money.
It's nice to know they're putting on a good show for their fans even though it might not be the cheapest endeavor.
[Image via WENN.]
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How about going back to just playing rock 'n roll on a simple stage without all the BS lightshows, etc?
That's ’cause they suck!
I've been to the show in Paris and in Berlin - it was great, amazing, wonderfull. Maybe it would have been that without that stage - true. But I only can say: I loved it!! I'll go again next year in Munich and Vienna…
How about donating the money to a good cause instead of laser beams and smoke machines? wow.
They rock. So stow it, Flo.
I'm with Poindexter-X, all of these elaborate shows by everyone from Madonna to Kanye are totally stupid and completely unnecessary. they've all become way too Vegas-y and of course, the cost is passed down to ticket buyers. if performers simply focused on the music, we'd all be better off.
Their stage setup is RIDICULOUS. Who really needs that if your already good, i know i wouldnt waste almost a million dollars on that bs, but BONO HAS TO CONQUER THE WORLD!!!!!
They're one of the most overrated bands ever. They haven't put out a decent album in over 20 years. Check out Bono's most recent pics from the beach. He's so out of shape– it's hilarious. He's got moobs. Adam is in serious denial. He had an affair with Pete Townsend. Sometimes he dates girls like Naomi Campbell when he's pretending to be straight.
This isn't the first time that U2 have done shows without profit. The Zoo TV tour in the early 90s', one of the most historical rock spectacle tours ever, was carted all over the world (Including war-torn Sarajevo) and they made no profit off of it.
Bono has spoke openly about his frustrations in the past regarding a stage where he could not go out and connect with his fans and so the purpose of the Claw is so that he can walk around and give everyone equal amounts of a show. Costly? yes.
They buy Carbon Credits to offset the cost as well.
And I have to say, no one puts on a live show like they do although sadly they didn't come to my town, Pittsburgh, this tour which gave me a major case of sads.
Michael Jackson did that too. He wanted the give back to his fans, shows to be so good he sunk massive amounts of his own money into them.
Re: WILLIAMALEXANDER – That's a little bit stupid. Bono and U2 have been almost rediculously active in the field of philanthropy. Why don't they trade in their tour bus and travel around on bicycles, donate the extra money to charity?
i'm going to see them! Can't wait
That's quite the carbon footprint you're creating, toting all that equipment and a crew of 1000 around the world, "Enviro" Bono.
maybe they could downsize
They CHOOSE to put up such a costly set up. No sympathy here.
shit!!! they should have joined the perezcious tour!
.
in that case, their fail would be less obvious
Waste of money especially in these times. Check out a band like Mutemath who has the most simple lo-fi setup ever that'll still blow your mind with raw energy from start to finish.
First of all U2 SUCKS, so who give a f*ck, but Why doesn't loud mouth Bono have a simple stage and donate that $750,000 to a charity, he's a hypocrite, he sucks, they suck. The Edge, wTF kind of name is that.
there doing an open-air concert across the street from where I live and theyve been building that stage for like 5 days now and the cranes and stuff theyre using are driving me crazy. its quite annoying
Re: Talia88 – Yeah…your opinion is ignorant. their is no validity to your point. You have no point. Why on earth would Bono's man boobs have anything to do with the stage production? For someone having such a retro stance on liking their earlier work you have a very juvenile stance on something as shallow as a man being out of shape. A man who has donated and raised tens of millions of dollars for poverty. What the fuck have you done in your life besides binge drink on the weekends and pretend to work everyday? grow up…
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that's because they are SOOOOOO overrated… and need to get over themselves!!!!
I did see the Zoo TV concert here in Denver and it was something else.But also a bit much. Like the Stones it seems the older this group gets the more of a large stage presence it needs to have for a successful show. Why not just do smaller venues and just play instead of depending on Gimmics to enterain the crowd?
They are an absolutely horrible band. How the hell they are so big is one of life's great mysteries.
"U2 Tour Can't Make A Profit" Well looky there, Pumpkinhead, your tour and U2's 360 tour have something in common after all.
awww, poor U2, how about we all chip in and pay extra for tickets.
I THINK MOST OF THESE COMMENTS ARE IRRELAVENT….U2 IS ONE OF THE BEST BANDS EVER AND THEY ARE GIVING BACK TO THE FANS AND PROBABLY DON'T REALLY CARE ABOUT THE MONEY THEY HAVE ENOUGH!! I JUST SAW THE CONCERT AND IT WAS THE BEST ONE I HAVE EVER BEEN TOO…. AND I KNOW THAT IF THE WERE PERFORMING WITH NO SPECIAL EFFECTS IT WOULD BE EQUALLY AS GOOD!!
I work in the industry, a nearby competing city actually has the show next week. It's because the cost of the tour/stage is so expensive and because they're still at the beginning of a 3 tour contract. They aren't expecting to start making profits until about halfway through. 100 trucks is pretty crazy, but if you can believe it the stage and screen for the Arena tour of Radio City Christmas Spectacular is even bigger! 11 elevators, and a whole backstage city underneath! All put together and disassembled without the use of one tool….pretty sweet.
I saw them at Giants Stadium last Wednesday. They were AWESOME!
I've said it before and I'll say it again: MOST BORING/TEDIOUS BAND EVER!!!!!
Just saw the show last Wednesday and it was UNBELIEVABLE!!!! U2 ROCKSSSSSS