U2 - initial 2009 Tour Dates (Giants Stadium)

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BILLBOARD: How does it feel to have two years of touring laid out in front of you?

THE EDGE: We’re very excited to go on the road with this album. It’s an album that I think is going to translate so well to the live context. The songs we’ve tried in rehearsal are sounding fantastic, so that’s got everyone really fired up.

Going on a long tour is always difficult at first to say goodbye to the family and get on the tour bus, so to speak. But the shows themselves are always what really makes it worthwhile. There’s such a special thing that goes on between the band and the audience at a U2 show, and we never get tired of that. It’s always unique; it’s always really uplifting. It’s like a kind of semi-religious experience for the band and I think for the audience, too. I couldn’t begin to explain why; it’s just always been that way.

I think it’s all to do with the music, and we kind of go there ourselves to serve the music and people’s connection with it. For a lot of people it’s the soundtrack of their lives. It’s not just the band they’re applauding, it’s themselves and their own history and their connection with the music.

It’s a very personal thing.

That interview segment comes from the new Billboard Magazine U2 cover story. The “U2360” tour (that is sponsored by Blackberry)…

Commenting on the new relationship between U2 and BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion (RIM), Paul McGuinness added: “This tour announcement marks the first stage of a relationship and shared vision between RIM and U2 that we expect will lead to new and innovative ways to enhance the mobile music experience on the BlackBerry platform for U2 fans. We look forward to sharing more details as the relationship unfolds.”

…hasn’t been fully announced yet, but four North American dates were revealed and one of them is September 24th at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. They also named a bunch of cities without exact dates or venues. All of that, below…

U2 – 2009 Tour Dates
Jun 30 – Nou Camp Barcelona
Jul 7 – San Siro Milan
Jul 11 – Stade De France Paris
Jul 15 – Parc Charles Ehrmann Nice
Jul 18 – Olympic Stadium Berlin
Jul 20 – Arena Amsterdam
Jul 24 – Croke Park Dublin
Jul 31 – Ullevi Gothenburg
Aug 6 – Slaski Stadium Chorzow
Aug 10 – Maksimir Stadium Zagreb
Aug 14 – Wembley Stadium London
Aug 18 – Hampden Park Glasgow
Aug 20 – Don Valley Stadium Sheffield
Aug 22 – Millennium Stadium Cardiff
Sep 12 – Soldier Field Chicago
Sep 16 – Rogers Centre Toronto
Sep 20 – Gillette Stadium Boston
Sep 24 – Giants Stadium New York

“In September and October, U2 360° Tour will also visit: Atlanta, GA; Charlottesville, VA; Dallas, TX; Houston, TX; Las Vegas, NV; Los Angeles, CA; Norman, OK; Phoenix, AZ; Tampa, FL; Washington, DC and Vancouver, BC. Complete Tour and ticketing information to follow.” (thx Bao)