This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/entertainment/7915370.stm
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| U2 play surprise rooftop concert | |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| Rock band U2 have played a surprise gig on top of BBC Broadcasting House, in central London. | |
| A crowd of around 5,000 watched the rooftop show, which capped off a day of promotion for the Irish band's 12th studio album No Line On The Horizon. | |
| U2 had been special guests on BBC Radio 1 and rumours of the gig appeared on internet message boards during the day. | |
| The band performed four tracks during the 20-minute gig, including new songs Get On Your Boots and Magnificent. | |
| Bono told the crowd: "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." | |
| U2 also performed Beautiful Day and Vertigo, as onlookers danced, clapped and sang along in the street below. | |
| 'Great honour' | 'Great honour' |
| 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.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. | The band all wrapped up against the cold, except The Edge who wore a short-sleeved lumberjack shirt and hat. |
| The performance was also broadcast live on DJ Chris Evans' BBC Radio 2 show. | |
| U2's impromptu gig echoed The Beatles' 1969 rooftop performance at record label Apple's London headquarters. | 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. |