"Hey, this is Red Rocks! "

June 5, 2005 1:17 PM

"A number of people I talked to there felt like the Red Rocks show was a religious experience. Nobody was prepared for what the band did. It stunned everybody." 22 years ago today, U2 filmed their "Under a Blood Red Sky" concert at Red Rocks amphitheatre outside Denver, Colorado.
posted by scody (47 comments total)

Tickets were 8 bucks, which -- due to the inclement weather -- wound up including admission to a second concert the next night in Boulder. 4400 fans who managed to brave the sleet and mudslides got to witness a turning point in the band's career. (Although why it's never been released on DVD is anyone's guess.)
posted by scody at 1:18 PM on June 5, 2005

22 years??

Excuse me, there's a geriatric ward I have to check into...
posted by jonmc at 1:21 PM on June 5, 2005

yeah, painful, isn't it? I watched the video on the 20th anniversary with the friend I attended the show with (her parents had to drive us!), and we spent most of the night just sighing heavily. Well, and laughing at Adam's hair.
posted by scody at 1:27 PM on June 5, 2005

Red Rocks is an awesome ampetheatre. Good sound naturally wherever you sit. (unlike Fiddler's Green)
I've never seen U2, but saw The Red Hot Chilli Peppers front row there some 15 years ago, as well as Tom Petty and Tori Amos.
If you ever get a chance to hear someone you like there, it's definately worth it.
posted by Balisong at 1:28 PM on June 5, 2005

I have nothing but the best memories of U2 from those days. I saw them at the Capitol Theatre in Jersey when I was all of 15 years old in 1983, and there was something kind of life-affirming and life-changing about that show (it didn't hurt when I saw the Ramones at Fordham a couple of weeks later to seal the deal as far as forming an early direction for my musical tastes).

However, I had vague memories of U2 being simply incredible a couple of years later at Live Aid. But, I bought the Live Aid DVD set last winter, and upon re-watching the U2 segment, they (or, moreover Bono) came across as stiff, pretentious and musically not very good or very interesting. To be fair, this view might have been colored by the fact that by now, in 2005, I have loathed U2 for longer then I loved them.

That said, this post was a great walk down memory lane, and I probably would check this video out if it were available on DVD.
posted by psmealey at 1:39 PM on June 5, 2005

The use of actual greater than and less than symbols instead of their HTML entities in the title breaks the MeFi RSS feed.
posted by eustacescrubb at 1:48 PM on June 5, 2005

To be fair, this view might have been colored by the fact that by now, in 2005, I have loathed U2 for longer then I loved them.

That's the odd thing about U2, whenever I'm ready to loathe them, they'll create some great song that'll make me like them again, the bastards. It's been that way ever since I sawthe video for "Gloria" on a neighbors MTV. I also remember some of my more hardcore hescher buddies thinking it was a little suspect that I liked them. Although, I never, ever need to hear "New Years Day," again, but like a lot of bands who wavered in quality and credibility over the decades like The Who, Zep, Metallica (who I discovered not long after U2), they'll always have a place in my heart for trying.

As to the aging thing, I'm still a bit disconcerted that I've seen at least three dead people perform (John Lee Hooker, Willie Dixon & Tito Puente. Time marches on, it does.
posted by jonmc at 1:55 PM on June 5, 2005

I'll say it with complete confidence - "Bad" at Live Aid was one of the best live performances ever.
posted by davebush at 1:59 PM on June 5, 2005

I'm still a bit disconcerted that I've seen at least three dead people perform (John Lee Hooker, Willie Dixon & Tito Puente. Time marches on, it does.

I wouldn't be as concerned with that. I saw Miles and Dizzy play the years that the died. Those two and the ones you mention above were geezers when you saw them. As far as the age thing goes, what bothers me more is that my favoirte bands comprised of my own contemporaries (Soundgarden, Swervedriver, Ride, Blur, etc.) are long since broken up, retired or are sort of has-been hollow shells of their former selves.
posted by psmealey at 2:14 PM on June 5, 2005

THINK ABOUT IT: The only actual member of U2 is Flood. The others are just four Irishmen who have agreed not to age badly.
posted by elwoodwiles at 2:15 PM on June 5, 2005

As far as the age thing goes, what bothers me more is that my favoirte bands comprised of my own contemporaries (Soundgarden, Swervedriver, Ride, Blur, etc.)

I just realized that you could add Johnny and Joey Ramone to the list of dead people I've seen perform. And I've watched Metallica become sellout jokes, and the Replacements wither and die, (I remember the day Bob Stinson died, all my co-workers were afraid to tell me because they thought I'd go bananas. So, I know where you're comingfrom.
posted by jonmc at 2:20 PM on June 5, 2005

oh, god. what jonmc said.

I went to the show in April, and thought I'd skip November. I'll be there in November. Thanks, scody!
posted by Space Kitty at 2:29 PM on June 5, 2005

I hate Bono.
posted by fire&wings at 2:39 PM on June 5, 2005

I just realized that you could add Johnny and Joey Ramone to the list of dead people I've seen perform.

I saw Alice In Chains at Lala in 93 (I think). They were so morose, so absolutely talented that the guys in the mosh pit just stopped for a bit and watched them. People were pressed close to the stage, and you could hear everyone around you humming and singing along.

Years later, when Lane overdosed, you couldn't say you didn't see it coming -- but he did what he was meant to do, apparently.
posted by thanotopsis at 2:40 PM on June 5, 2005

Well. I was three years old at the time, apperantly. And this "writing" his horrible. Who the hell writes a story comprized entirely of quotations? All he did was copy and paste their names over and over.
posted by delmoi at 3:13 PM on June 5, 2005

Well. I was three years old at the time, apperantly.

Get offa my lawn, dammit.
posted by jonmc at 3:15 PM on June 5, 2005

"And this 'writing' his horrible. Who the hell writes a story comprized entirely of quotations?" (irony in original)
posted by monju_bosatsu at 3:39 PM on June 5, 2005

I bet Bono gets so much pussy.

/bobcatgoldthwiat
posted by fandango_matt at 4:59 PM on June 5, 2005

Rumor has it a DVD box set is coming this year, including the 83 Red Rocks, 93 Zoo Sydney and 97 Mexico Popmart shows, previously available only on VHS or Laser Disc.

Here's hoping the Red Rocks show will be the full show, and not the shortened one that we all know and heart.

Seriously, how could you leave "Out of Control" out of the video release? Who's the brain trust that cut that one out?
posted by corianderstem at 5:33 PM on June 5, 2005

Red Rocks is great. It's worth it to watch the sun rise there. The seats / steps etc were built as part of the WPA.

I've seen many concerts there, and been there for picnics and geology field trips (the red rocks are part of the Fountain formation) and scavenger hunt checkpoints. It's a beautiful, beautiful place. Check it out if you visit Denver.
posted by beth at 5:33 PM on June 5, 2005

Great live album from a legendary band. I just started listening to this album again recently. Timeless stuff.

Thanks for pointing out the occassion.
posted by 27 at 5:58 PM on June 5, 2005

I saw them in Dallas on this tour at the Bronco Bowl. I snuck down to be closer to the stage and my friend got caught nad thrown out. I stayed for the show and it was one of the best concerts I've ever seen. What I would have given to be @ red rocks.

Yeah, my dad had to come and get me. Oddly, he wasn't too mad. Wow.
posted by damnitkage at 6:19 PM on June 5, 2005

Yea that was a really great show. Almost all of their shows in those days were religious expereinces. Listening to the whole audience sing "40" all the way out into the parking lot at numerous U2 shows back in the day were by far the most religious I've ever been. Really amazing stuff. When they stopped closing with "40" it really broke my heart. I haven't seen em in many years though. I'm far too old now to care to wait in line or go through any of that hassle anymore for a big rock show. But wow between U2 shows and Dead shows those are some great memories. Thanks for the link!
posted by filchyboy at 7:21 PM on June 5, 2005

thanks...a...lot...i...lov--

*gets throat sliced by the sarcasm squad*
posted by gorgor_balabala at 8:58 PM on June 5, 2005

They had been closing a lot of the shows so far this tour with "40," but then they started mixing it up a bit. I'm not sure if they wanted to end on an upbeat note instead, or were bummed that the audience didn't continue to sing it after the house lights came up.
posted by corianderstem at 9:01 PM on June 5, 2005

I saw them in Phoenix about a month ago and they closed the concert with "40". I don't think they were disappointed.
posted by 27 at 9:15 PM on June 5, 2005

This is the Edge! (can't believe nobody chimed in within 25 comments!)
posted by shoepal at 9:23 PM on June 5, 2005

shoepal, I love you! I was waiting for that.
posted by scody at 9:47 PM on June 5, 2005

I think I am older than most here; I have seen many artists perform who have since died (and remain dead). Too many to count or even want to. I want to know, though, jonmc, what incantations did you recite in order to see dead people perform? Or are you Haley Joel Osment?
posted by beelzbubba at 9:51 PM on June 5, 2005

I can't stand U2 and have pretty much always hated them. Probably has something to do with being a Negativland fan and thinking U2 are mega-hypocrites.

This, however, made me laugh--as did the cover of the new Bono book.
posted by dobbs at 9:58 PM on June 5, 2005

That's the letter U and... Just play the record. Just play the goddamn record.

That's the letter 2 and the numeral U...

...and these guys are from England and who give's a shit?

Fuck Snuggles.

/Casey Casem.

About as edgy as a butter knife. Gonna have to break out the four-oh-nine on that one... Melting, weeping plastic...
posted by loquacious at 10:04 PM on June 5, 2005

And preemptively: One can talk about art, and about rock and roll, how U2 might possibly be these things - but the one thing they are not is edgy or revolutionary or anything new.

Negativland inteviews Edge for Mondo 2000.

And the story of Negativland's U2 according to Wired.


My attitude about U2, arena-rock, rock-stardom and celebrity (and those who seek it, and those who support it) in general can be pretty much defined by this quote from the bottom of the ImprovEverywhere.com article linked by dobbs:

Agent Robertson

I overheard a teenage girl being interviewed after the band was broken up. She was practically crying she was so excited and she said, "Oh my God, this is like the best thing that's ever happened to me in my life. I don't know how I could ever have anything better" or something very close to that.

There is a proverb of sorts I picked up from somewhere that I don't remember, but it goes something like this:

Imagine walking through a gorgeous forest, a nice, beatiful and pristine wooded path. Up ahead alongside the trail, there's a patch of the most astoundingly bright and colorful wildflowers. As you meander through the curving forest path, you lose sight of the wildflowers, but then come around a turn to see them right before you. Except they aren't wildflowers. They're candy wrappers, discarded by some other thoughtless hiker.

Does that make the moment you first saw these "wildflowers" in the distance any less beautiful? Why?

And why does this hero-worship matter so much? Especially in the creative and media realms?

And why can't people just as easily, if not more easily, worship themselves - their own talents and abilities, your own, my own, everyone's own abilities? Why is the hero worship such an important part of the whole rock experience? Why not just get on with the rocking?

There are so many countless bands, groups, experiences and experimentations that I've seen that'll never "make it", they'll never chart, and they frankly don't want to, that rock circles around any arena experience I've ever had.

The main thing that's happening in the arena experience is the magic of the "group experience". We might as well just agree to meet somewhere en mass without a band and choose to worship one (or a few) randomly chosen persons for the evening, and it would probably be more fun, more rewarding, and more constructive.

Admittedly, I bend towards rave-like experiences. But the fundamental reason why I like them so much is that when it's being done right the dividing line between performer and audience is being eradicated with gleeful abandon. No fuckin' spectators.

But it could be almost anything. Zydeco. A good jug band. Squaredancing. A drum circle. Real hands-on punk in someone's garage or basement. Good blues. Tribal chanting. It could be all kinds of stuff, as long as it's immediate, personal, and unmediated. Don't play at me, jam with me.

The moral of my tirade and picking on U2 is to hopefully inspire people to quit buying pre-packaged styles and tastes. Quit buying someone else's tunes and song - the only coin music should be paid for in is more music. Everyone can make music. Nobody else has to like it.

The most important and satisfying song of all is your own.
posted by loquacious at 11:08 PM on June 5, 2005

bono ever find what he was looking for?
posted by quonsar at 11:23 PM on June 5, 2005

dobbs...note how he has his hair pulled back so everyone can see his DOLCE AND GABANNA sunglasses.
posted by ackeber at 11:45 PM on June 5, 2005

I wonder sometimes - briefly, only briefly - if Bono owns more pairs of sunglasses than Imelda Marcos owned shoes.
posted by loquacious at 11:56 PM on June 5, 2005

Alas Red Rocks. The City of Denver has spent several millions of dollars sanitizing (Disneyfying) the park. To recover some of the money, more tickets per event are sold as seat sizes have been reduced to pre-teen dimensions.

Back in the day, if you were willing to wait in line for a couple of hours before a show, you were guarenteed excellent seats up front. To get a good seat now ... $$$.

Back in the day, the concert experience was generally a mellow party. These days, the price of marijuana has made alcohol the drug of choice. If you are lucky, the kid next to you will puke under the seats instead of on them.

I'm still going up to the Rocks for concert in July. There is no better place to see a band on a summer's eve.
posted by tgyg at 12:53 AM on June 6, 2005

Ok - who borked the closing "small" tag? :-)
posted by Chunder at 3:00 AM on June 6, 2005

"Here's hoping the Red Rocks show will be the full show, and not the shortened one that we all know and heart."

Didn't U2 have to pay out all kinds of money because Bono started singing Send in the Clowns during Red Rocks? Am I thinking of another concert? Is that part on the VHS? I can't remember anymore. I need more ginko.
posted by OmieWise at 6:23 AM on June 6, 2005

He sang a bit of "Send in the Clowns" during "Electric Co," and I think it's snipped on the "Under a Blood Red Sky" album. I believe they left the whole thing in for the video and had to pay through the nose or something. Whatever the snipping, it wasn't the reason for editing the show. A different edit of the show (still incomplete) aired on Showtime or HBO or something around the same time.

And as much as I unapologetically love Bono and U2, I wish he'd ditch those stupid sunglasses.
posted by corianderstem at 8:44 AM on June 6, 2005

I always wondered who the woman was that Bono danced with on stage.

What a great story to tell the rest of your life.
posted by DieHipsterDie at 9:29 AM on June 6, 2005

If I were that woman, I don't know if I'd tell anyone, if only because I'd be so embarrassed to be on film forever wearing a dead Muppet as a coat.
posted by corianderstem at 12:32 PM on June 6, 2005

Hey, I was there last night! (Old fogey alert: I was at Red Rocks chaperoning three thirteen-year old girls, who had their first marijuana-smoking viewing.)

A beautiful night. It probably would have helped if I'd recognized even one of the Pixie's songs...but the Violent Femmes were odd and beautiful and upbeat. Them I enjoyed.

And not a cloud in the suburban Denver sky. A beautiful place indeed. Last concert I saw there? Dylan, ten or twelve years ago.
posted by kozad at 12:41 PM on June 6, 2005

Probably has something to do with being a Negativland fan and thinking U2 are mega-hypocrites.

U2 supported Negativland. Island went after them.

But it's cool that you hated them before they were popular.
posted by kenko at 1:13 PM on June 6, 2005

ahh...Red Rocks. One of my favorite memories of my youth was an entire day (got there at 9:00 am) spent waiting for Jimi Hendrix to perform. We sat in about the 20th row. Jimi was nearly at his worst, but the day (and night) was great nonetheless.
I'll take my walker and leave now...
posted by dbmcd at 1:49 PM on June 6, 2005

U2 supported Negativland. Island went after them.

Heh. Yeah, whatever. You got any proof of that prior to U2 being shamed in the press? No member of U2 spoke out in favor of Negativland till it was too late.

And are you seriously suggesting that Island wouldn't do anything and everything that U2 told them to do (including dropping the lawsuit)? U2 were the reason Island was still alive at that point. Island had no other artist(s) keeping them afloat. Hell, even Tom Waits sued them and left the label after they fucked him over. Had Bono or any of U2 "supported" Negativland there would have been no issue.

But it's cool that you hated them before they were popular.

Thanks! Now that my coolness has been validated I can die a happy man!
posted by dobbs at 10:03 PM on June 6, 2005

No proof at all, nor do I really care to procure any, since I don't really give two shits about U2.

Thanks! Now that my coolness has been validated I can die a happy man!

I didn't say you were cool, just that something about you was. /obnoxious pedantry.
posted by kenko at 12:14 PM on June 7, 2005

Did all the fans sing all the words to all the songs at the top of their collective lungs like every other U2 concert I have seen? Feh.
posted by terrapin at 1:46 PM on June 7, 2005