Magnificent

Magnificent. That is the name of one of the new songs on U2's new album, No Line On The Horizon. It is also a very good word to describe my day yesterday.

U2 have been out and about this week, promoting their album that comes out on Monday. They were here Thursday night taping the Jonathan Ross Show and then the plan for yesterday was to spend all day at the BBC, doing various interviews and an in the studio concert, called the Live Lounge. There was a contest to win to see that, but unfortunately I didn't win. Rumors got out earlier this week that there might be a "secret" gig. By Thursday night, more and more details were coming out. I went back and forth about whether I should try to go and could I get the kids taken care of, etc. Finally, after some encouragement from my lovely hubby and some sweet friends from the U2 board, I decided "carpe diem!" I had spoken to one of my friends from the U2 board who lives over here. She couldn't go, but knew a couple of others that were going and would love to have me tag along. So we met up at Victoria Station and set out on our adventure.

We ended up getting to the BBC building a little after 11 in the morning. It was at this point that we knew the "secret" gig was happening, as there were speakers and lights on top of the building. We watched the winners of the Live Lounge contest go in. Then spent the next 4 1/2 hours hanging by the side door, calmly behind the barrier. Met several great Zootops (U2.com members), a couple of oddballs (not Zootops) and saw several crew members. Came fairly close to getting to talk to Dallas (Edge's guitar tech), but no.... At about 4, thanks to one of the Zootops that has met the band several times, we shifted positions to the Western House where the band were doing an radio interview at 5. Again calmly behind the barriers. Around 4:45, security started beefing up and then....they arrived!!! And that is where it became unreal and if anyone that was there reads this, please feel free to correct or add to it if I get it wrong. I think Paul McGuinness was the first one out, but I honestly don't remember. Then the pushing and craziness started. Larry was the first one out and by the time I actually got my eye on him, he was basically at the door. No photo. Then Adam was out and signed maybe 3 or 4 things, but as far as I saw on the other side. I have a blurry picture of his back. (And mind you, none of the pictures are great because it's hard to take a picture when you are being pushed and because you are shaking from excitement. And straddling the bottom of a barrier bar because it's very close to going down.) Then came Edge and Bono. Wow! They were talking a bit, signing autographs. Everyone was yelling "Bono", "Edge" and holding up stuff to get signed. And there I was holding up my Boots single and Edge is right there and he took it and signed it. Mine! I have a picture of him signing it. And I managed to get out a "thank you." Bono was right next to him but switched sides because a camera guy had moved right there and was in the way. They finally go in the building and the crowd started dispersing and I got interviewed by some French tv guy. And then one of the newspapers. Wow! What an experience! I'm still pinching myself to make sure it was real.

Then we made our way back around to the front of the building where they were doing the gig. One of the girl's sister who had been with us all day, but only to just be there for the ride, had gotten us some great seats on the steps of the church across the street from the BBC. Met up with J and waited there and watched Dallas and Sam (Larry's drum tech) and probably some others taking pictures of us from the rooftop. Then at about 6:40, they came out. The setlist was: "Get Your Boots On", "Magnificent", "Vertigo", and "Beautiful Day". And it was absolutely incredible! It had to be what it felt like to be at the "Where the Streets Have No Name" video. We couldn't really see too much other than when they came to the edge, but the sound was great. They sounded really good and I can't wait until the tour starts later this year. And I did get to see it when we got home, as the BBC were playing in on continual play on Red Button.

It was a beautiful day! And I will never forget it.