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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| U2 in surprise rooftop gig at BBC | U2 in surprise rooftop gig at BBC |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Rock band U2 have played a surprise gig on top of BBC Broadcasting House to promote the launch of their 12th studio album No Line On The Horizon. | Rock band U2 have played a surprise gig on top of BBC Broadcasting House to promote the launch of their 12th studio album No Line On The Horizon. |
| A crowd of around 5,000 watched the rooftop show in London on Friday, said BBC reporter Darryl Chamberlain. | A crowd of around 5,000 watched the rooftop show in London on Friday, said BBC reporter Darryl Chamberlain. |
| The Irish band had been special guests on BBC Radio 1 and rumours of the gig appeared on internet message boards. | |
| The two new and two old songs in the 20-minute gig were Get On Your Boots, Magnificent, Vertigo and Beautiful Day. | |
| 'Great honour' | 'Great honour' |
| The performance was also broadcast live on DJ Chris Evans' BBC Radio 2 show. | |
| The BBC's Darryl Chamberlain, who was at the scene, said: "Some people tried to crowd on to traffic islands to see them... the crowd was screaming and cheering. | The BBC's Darryl Chamberlain, who was at the scene, said: "Some people tried to crowd on to traffic islands to see them... the crowd was screaming and cheering. |
| "Others were spilling out of pubs and shops to see it, and looking out of windows. It was a good natured crowd and people really seemed to be enjoying it." | "Others were spilling out of pubs and shops to see it, and looking out of windows. It was a good natured crowd and people really seemed to be enjoying it." |
| Police closed Portland Place in Westminster to divert traffic away from the area, the BBC reporter added.News of the unannounced gig spread on internet message boards | Police closed Portland Place in Westminster to divert traffic away from the area, the BBC reporter added.News of the unannounced gig spread on internet message boards |
| The band all wrapped up against the cold, except The Edge who wore a short-sleeved lumberjack shirt and hat. | |
| U2's impromptu gig echoed The Beatles' 1969 rooftop performance at record label Apple's London headquarters. | |
| Earlier the band revealed they are preparing to tour later this year, and hope to offer tickets with cheaper, recession-busting prices. | Earlier the band revealed they are preparing to tour later this year, and hope to offer tickets with cheaper, recession-busting prices. |
| Frontman Bono told BBC Radio 1's Jo Whiley they had "something very special planned" for early summer. | Frontman Bono told BBC Radio 1's Jo Whiley they had "something very special planned" for early summer. |
| He added that it was "a whole way of trying to do shows outdoors and make them very intimate". | He added that it was "a whole way of trying to do shows outdoors and make them very intimate". |
| In an interview on Radio 5 Live with Simon Mayo, Bono said that he had "gone off" Get On Your Boots a few weeks ago, but was now "back on it". | In an interview on Radio 5 Live with Simon Mayo, Bono said that he had "gone off" Get On Your Boots a few weeks ago, but was now "back on it". |
| "It's a small song, a tiny little song, a little shot of adrenalin," he added. | "It's a small song, a tiny little song, a little shot of adrenalin," he added. |
| Another song from the album, Breathe, had its live debut at an intimate Radio 1 concert on Friday morning. | Another song from the album, Breathe, had its live debut at an intimate Radio 1 concert on Friday morning. |
| Bono told the audience: "This is a great honour. This is the first time we've played these songs to people, so we hope we don't screw it up." | Bono told the audience: "This is a great honour. This is the first time we've played these songs to people, so we hope we don't screw it up." |
| He said they were "trying" to work on some cheaper ticket prices, but added: "We're also going to have some very expensive ticket prices because rich people have feelings too!" | He said they were "trying" to work on some cheaper ticket prices, but added: "We're also going to have some very expensive ticket prices because rich people have feelings too!" |
| Radio 1 also apologised on-air immediately after Bono used an expletive to describe Coldplay's lead singer Chris Martin. | Radio 1 also apologised on-air immediately after Bono used an expletive to describe Coldplay's lead singer Chris Martin. |
| The BBC said it had received no complaints about it. | The BBC said it had received no complaints about it. |