JUNE 17: not to do anymore climbing / U2 returns to Ireland to record B-sides / "Feet On The Ground" / U2 loses the battle over HQ / red shirt #2 / U2 receives a Lifetime Achievement Award!

"War" tour - june 17, 1983. U2 perform in Los Angeles, California at the Los Angeles Sports Stadium. This is U2's first Arena show, and was a last minute addition to the tour. Although Worcester, Massachusetts was to be the first Arena date, tickets there sold so rapidly, that an additional "practice" date in an Arena was added. Bono climbs upto the balcony of the stadium, and when people keep pulling at his clothes, he threatens to jump. When the pulling doesn't stop, Bono jumps 20 feet into the crowd, dragging his sound technician with him. Screaming fans reach out for him, and when one fan pushes him, Bono pushes back. Dennis Sheehan jumps into the fracas, and half-pulls, half-carries Bono back to the stage. The flag pole Bono is carrying with him is broken in two places. After the show, in the dressing room, the 3 other members of U2 and Paul McGuinness tear into him and order him to stop that type of behaviour at concerts, and Bono is ordered not to do anymore climbing. Bono later commented on the events at this concert in a Rolling Stone interview: "I lost my senses completely...Somebody could have died at that concert, it was a real sickener for me. It's mean a total re-evaluation of what we are about live. We don't need to use a battering ram. It has to be about the music." Support is "The Alarm".

"The Joshua Tree" tour - june 17, 1987. U2 perform in Basel, Switzerland at St. Jacob's Stadion. Bono again walks out on stage while the road crew are setting up the stage to sing "Stand By Me" while it plays in the background over the speaker system. The show is poorly organized, and fans must show their ticket vouchers to exchange them for actual tickets--however, there is only one ticket exchange booth and fans are required to show identity papers in order to exchange their tickets. Many fans have not carried ID to the show, and as a result the crowd gets restless. By the time fans are allowed in without exchanging the vouchers for tickets, the support acts have already finished playing. A candy display is looted, and the looters throw their booty into the crowd. Gusting winds distort the bands sound, and those at the back of the venue hear only a garbled version of most of the songs. Support is "Big Audio Dynamite", Lou Reed, and "The Pretenders". After the show, U2 return to Dublin, Ireland to record some tracks for the B-sides of yet-to-be released singles.

"Feet On The Ground" - june 17, 1989. Adam joins Hothouse Flowers on stage at the Glastonbury Festival in Scotland for "Feet on The Ground".

"ZOOTV" tour - june 17, 1992. U2 perform in Sheffield, England at the Sheffield Arena. Support is B.P. Fallon and "Fatima Mansions".

"U2 loses battle over Hanover recording studio" - june 17, 2002. Dublin's planning board rules against U2 in an appeal to block a development which calls for demolition of the band's Hanover Quay recording studio. The docklands area will be redeveloped, and the project includes 1,200 new homes and the creation of 20,000 jobs in a development of shops, restaurants, bars and an open-air amphitheatre for concerts. Shortly after the planning board's ruling, U2 announces it has an agreement with the Dublin Docklands Development Authority (DDDA) for a replacement studio building which will enable them to remain in the docklands area. U2 had invested heavily in the development of the Hanover studios over the past seven years and had recorded four albums there: Passengers, Pop, the soundtrack for Million Dollar Hotel and All That You Can't Leave Behind.

"Elevation" tour - june 17, 2001 / New York, NY - Madison Square Garden - PJ Harvey. U2 is back at legendary Madison Square Garden for the first time since 1992 and the VIP area is packed. Before 'Desire,' Bono wishes Happy Birthday to Paul McGuinness, who turned 50 a day earlier. Edge wears red shirt#2.

June 17, 2005: U2 honored by British music industry

U2 receives a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Nordoff-Robbins Silver Clef Awards tonight in London. The entire band is on hand to accept the honor. Never at a loss for words, Bono thanks the band and gives a plug for the upcoming Live 8 concerts, too.