U2 debuted a brand new tune, “Atomic City,” throughout a pop-up efficiency on Fremont Street in Las Vegas.
The monitor will get its title from a Nineteen Fifties nickname for the famed Nevada metropolis. For a long time, the U.S. authorities examined nuclear gadgets at a web site roughly 65 miles northwest of Fremont Street.
During the efficiency, Bono referred to “Atomic City” as “a rock ‘n’ roll 45 in the tradition of ’70s post-punk, Blondie, the Clash, some ’70s punk … We’ll take it from everywhere.”
U2’s shock gig additionally served as a music video shoot. Bono and the band ran via “Atomic City” a number of occasions, permitting the cameras to catch them from all totally different angles. An enthusiastic crowd of followers was readily available for the efficiency, gleefully embracing the Irish rock legends.
READ MORE: U2’s ‘Achtung Baby’: A Track-by-Track Guide
Notably, the unannounced mini-concert included Larry Mullen Jr., who continues to be recovering from again surgical procedure. The drummer is not going to be enjoying with U2 when the group launches their extremely anticipated Achtung Baby Las Vegas residency at the MSG Sphere later this month.
“The four of us recorded [‘Atomic City’]. Sadly, Larry Mullen Jr. won’t be with us at the Sphere,” Bono famous to the group, as relayed by the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “He doesn’t listen to doctor’s orders. Neither do many of us. But he is here tonight … Give it up for Larry Mullen Jr.!”
Watch Fan-Shot Footage of U2 Performing ‘Atomic City’
U2 Returns to Sin City
U2 has had an extended historical past with Las Vegas. Decades earlier than their current session, the band wandered the identical Fremont Street location whereas filming the music video for “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.”
READ MORE: When U2 Roamed Las Vegas for ‘I Still Haven’t Found…’ Music Video
That shoot was far much less formal than the “Atomic City” gig. While on tour supporting The Joshua Tree, the Irish rockers had been charged with shortly filming and turning round a music video at their insistence of their label. U2 had no finances and little or no time for the shoot, however nonetheless wanted one thing that could possibly be partaking to viewers. The group was already scheduled to play in Vegas, and the town provided one thing no different location might.
“I only had two lights, really, but Las Vegas has the biggest lighting budget in the entire world,” director Barry Devlin later recalled. “It was so low-tech… but that meant we could get in right close [on the band].”
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U2 do not encourage weak reactions in folks. There are passionate U2 followers, and passionate U2 haters, and little or no in between.
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