Las Vegas bore witness to a monumental weekend with the grand inauguration of The Sphere, marking the official commencement of U2’s residency in the Entertainment Capital of the World.
The legendary U2, comprised of the iconic trio Bono, The Edge, and Adam Clayton, alongside the talents of Bram van den Berg, ignited The Sphere’s stage with an electrifying opening night performance that exceeded all expectations. This extraordinary spectacle, aptly named U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere, marks a groundbreaking moment in the area of live music, revealing the world’s most advanced and cutting-edge venue.
The innovation on display was nothing short of awe-inspiring as U2 harnessed every inch of Sphere’s LED screen, acclaimed as the world’s largest and highest-resolution display. This gallery featured exclusive works from celebrated artists, including Es Devlin, John Gerrard, Marco Brambilla, and Industrial Light & Magic.
The event also saw the presence of numerous VIP guests, a veritable who’s who from the realms of entertainment, sports, and business. Notable attendees included luminaries such as Adam Scott, Andre Agassi, Ava DuVernay, Bobby Shriver, Bryan Cranston, Chelsea Clinton, Chris Blackwell, Connie Britton, Dakota Fanning, Jason Bateman, Jeff Bezos, Darren Aronofsky, Diplo, Dr. Dre, Elizabeth Banks, Jimmy Iovine, Jimmy Kimmel, Flava Flav, Gayle King, Guy Oseary, Henrik Lundqvist, Jane Buffet, Jane Seymour, John Starks, and Jon Hamm.
Further enhancing the star-studded atmosphere were additional VIPs like Josh Duhamel, Katy Perry, Lars Ulrich, Lebron James, Luke Wilson, Oprah, Orlando Bloom, Oscar De La Hoya, Mario Lopez, Maria Sharapova, Martin Garrix, Matt Damon, Michael Rapino, Neil Patrick Harris, Paul McCartney, Paul McGuinness, Sheryl Sandberg, Skylar Astin, Snoop Dogg, Tom Schanley, Zane Lowe, and many more.
This 25-date series of performances serves as a tribute to U2’s acclaimed album, Achtung Baby, and its groundbreaking ZOO TV Tour, which revolutionized the music industry back in 1991. To make the occasion even more memorable, U2 treated the audience to a rendition of their latest creation, “Atomic City.” This song pays homage to the magnetic spirit of 70s post-punk, with a subtle nod to the legendary Blondie, whose pioneering collaboration with Giorgio Moroder left an indelible mark on the band.
“Atomic City” is a musical ode to Las Vegas, once known as Atomic City in the 1950s, when the nation’s fascination with nuclear energy was at its peak, and the city proudly embraced its identity as a hub of atomic tourism, courtesy of its proximity to the Nevada Test Site.
