U2 unveils musical monster
By James J. Reece Kansan staff writer
2 will perform at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday as part of its 1992 Zoo TV Tour. But accompanying attendants, a behemoth stage and 44 video screens, all part of the planned musical chabos, have alarms found their way to the stadium.
found their way to the stadium.
The attendants are keepers of the 2.4 million pounds of equipment used on the tour. The equipment includes a 248 feet by 80 feet stage, 12 laser disc players and a 60,000 pound sound system — all part of U2's latest video and music feast.
"It's in a class by itself," said Brian O'Neal, the publicity assistant for U2.
Public Enemy and the Sugarcubes will open the concert.
A herd of roadies rolled into Arrowhead on Monday and started to assemble the stage and its sound and video equipment for the tour, according to Barb Polster of New West Presentations, which is promoting the Kansas City concert.
The Zoo is a musical monstrosity of a tour in support of the triple-platinum album "Achtung Baby." The album is U2's latest release and was recorded in Berlin shortly after Germany's reunification.
According to the Oct. 1 issue of Rolling Stone, the blitzkrieg of a concert combines a wide variety of media, including video art and live television broadcasts, often at blinding speeds, to punctuate the performance. Eleven Trabant cars from East Germany also are used, including two suspended above the stage.
Polster said yesterday that about 10,000 of the 55,000 seats were still available for the concert. The tickets will be on sale until Sunday and can be purchased at the stadium.
In addition to video images, Bono, lead singer of U2, often uses telephones to entertain the crowd. In past performances, he has called to order pizzas for the audience and has called the White House regularly.
"It's usually after Mr. Bush has gone to bed, "O'Neal said. He bono had called the White House so frequently that he has become familiar to it's
O'Neal said Bono had never spoken to George Bush but had talked to Bill Clinton during one of the concerts while Clinton was performing on a rock music radio call-in show.
Many KU students may experience the musical mayhem Sunday. Some that will attend are traveling in a bus caravan organized by Jon Humiston, Hutchinson senior.
Humiston and some friends arranged the rental of five Lawrence school buses as a safe alternative to drinking and driving while traveling to and from Arrowhead.
"If I can prevent at least a couple deaths or DUIs, then it's worth it," Humiston said.
Students disagree— about Zoo TV
(Clockwise from top) Larry Mullen, Bone, The Edge and Adam Clarion.
might be live, or it might be MTV.
By Tracl Carl
By Tracil Can Special to the Kansar
It's Zoo TV, U2's world tour featuring its latest recording, "Achting Baby."
"It was incredible," Jackie Flannigan, Leavenworth sophomore, said. "Loved Zoo TM." The technology was great."
14. The technology stage the show features brightly painted compact cars on cranes, television screens in different shapes and sizes that switch from broadcasting satellite channels to close-ups of the band and even a belly dancer for the song "Mysterious Ways".
review
Kristy McGraw, Chesterfield, Mo., junior, said she liked the concert, but all the activity on stage was overwhelming.
"There was a little too much going on," McGraw said. "I found myself looking at the screens more than them. When I left I was like, 'Wow, what just happened?'
Flannigan saw U2 Sept. 11 in Ames, Iowa. She said the television screens helped include everyone in the stadium.
"I was so far back, they gave me some sort of show to watch," she said.
In the concert, Bono, the lead singer, often played the entertaining host. At one point he pulled a girl out of the audience, served her champagne and then had her film him with
his camcorder. Flannigan said she liked Bono's personal, laid-back attitude.
"He tried to involve the crowd," she said. "When you have a crowd of 50,000 it's easier 'a feel it's not even live.'
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Real KU Life begins on the weekend.
calendar
Nightlife
1601 W. 23rd St.
Tonight That Statue Moved
Benchwarmers Sports Bar & Grill
Tonight - That Statue Moved
Friday - That Statue Moved, Pop Poppins, The
Spin
Sunday - Soul Shaker, That Statue Moved Monday - Monday Night Football Wednesday - Pilgrimage
The Bottleneck
737 New Hampshire St.
Tonight - Reverb Brothers with Hellcat Trio
Friday - VCR, Clan Dyken, Wavy Gravy
Saturday - Baghdad Jones
Sunday - Groove Alley
Monday - Open mike
The Brass Apple
3300 W. 15th St.
Features 10 TVs with satellite dish & Monday
Night Football
Congo Bar
520 N. Third St.
Friday - Southwind Express
Saturday - Excalibur
Dos Hombres
815 New Hampshire St.
Tonight - Jeff n-Jeff
Friday - Chris Seegan
Gusto's
925 Iowa St.
Friday and Saturday - Rhythm Kings
Henry T's
3520 W. Sixth St.
Karaoke every Thursday night
Henry T's
Hockenbury Tavern
Hockenbury Tavent
1016 Massachusetts St.
Tonight - Molotov Cocktail
Friday - Chubby Smith and Orchestra
Saturday - Tango Love
Sunday - Acoustic open mike
International Club 21 Inc.
106 N. Park St.
Friday - Inka Inka
Jazzhaus
Jazzmus 9261/2 Massachusetts St.
Continued on Page 12.