Bono Earl's Court 01 by me

photo: copyright joshthetree 2001 I loved the Elevation tour during 2001 we were very, very lucky and managed to get tickets to Madison Square Garden in New York City in June* and then most of the UK shows including both nights in the MEN Arena, Manchester, both shows at the NEC Birmingham and all four nights at Earls Court, London. The UK shows were very special as we managed to get GA tickets to most of them, through the venue box offices via the Internet, it was amazing that we had no trouble at all in getting internet tickets (how times have changed). For the first time since 'The Love Town Tour' of 1989 I took my pocket 'point and shoot' 35 mm film camera along to all these shows and got some great pictures. This is one of my favourite photos from the shows, I just happened to get my camera on Bono at the right moment. During the 'Elevation Tour' shows we managed to get to see the band leaving the NEC in their motor cavalcade, at other shows I shook hands with Bono a few times and held him up whilst he stood on a crush barrier, also on the last night at Earl's Court I held his hand and microphone for the duration of 'All I Want is You'. That was weird seeing my arm in slow motion with all the other arms around it. Highlights of these shows for me were 'The Fly', 'Gone', 'Bullet the Blue Sky', 'New York', 'Beautiful Day', 'Kite' and 'Until the End of the World'. One night in London we sat on the tube next to Steve Lillywhite.  It was great to see U2 again in relatively small arena type venues it really was U2001 :0) This tour reaffirmed where I always felt was the best place to stand at any U2 show (well post 80's anyway) - don't queue for the mosh pit - get yourself on the front of the satellite stage or along the catwalk there's more interaction with the band here and a far better close up view. *we had originally planned on NYC during September for my birthday the 10th and brought the trip forward to June to take in the U2 show. During June we followed our intended itinerary which included the world trade centre on the day after my birthday, thankfully bringing the trip forward prevented us from being in NYC on a very bad day.