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  1. To pass the time while I’m stuck at home, I’ve been compiling a list of all the live bands and artists I have seen. This is no small task and takes a fair bit of research to find the dates, support bands venues etc. My first ever live gig was The Police in 1981 at Wembley Arena. According to Wikipedia, on all of the UK dates for the Ghost In The Machine Tour in 1981 the support act was U2. Not only that but Bono apparently joined Sting on stage during the performances of Invisible Sun. I find this astonishing, most especially as I have absolutely no recollection of it.

    This means either:
    1. The Wiki page is not accurate
    2. I was too young or it’s too long ago for me to remember or
    3. I got to the venue too late to see the support act

    Is there anyone here that was either at this gig and can confirm that U2 were the support act or knows for certain that this information is correct? I would really appreciate knowing for sure!
  2. Hi Karen

    That is plain inaccurate. Even though U2 was certainly not a worldwide known band in December 1981, The Police were already on top of the charts and most/all of their gigs are very well documented. If U2 or Bono had notably featured in any of them, it would be widely known.


    Whoever wrote that has probably mixed three well known & established facts:

    1) U2 indeed supported The Police the last date of the Ghost tour in the UK, on July 31st 1982 in Gateshead, northeast England, as part of the Rock On The Tyne festival.
    2) Bono indeed sang Invisible Sun with The Police in that Gateshead gig, and also two more times a few years later (one of which is very well documented with a proshot video).
    3) U2 indeed returned to the UK after their first American leg of the October tour and played two nights in London in late December 1981, roughly about the same time The Police were doing their arenas & exhibition halls tour in the UK.

    U2 played their last US gig in Lido Beach on Dec 13th and the first of the London gigs on Dec 20th so it's technically possible that they supported The Police at some (but never all) of the UK gigs which, to my knowledge, were these ones:

    Dec 12 - London (club show)
    Dec 14 - London (Wembley Arena)
    Dec 15 - London (Wembley Arena)
    Dec 16 - London (Wembley Arena)
    Dec 18 - Brighton
    Dec 19 - Birmingham
    Dec 21 - Queensferry
    Dec 22 - Leeds
    Dec 23 - Stafford
    Dec 31 - Edinburgh

    So Dec 12, Dec 14 and Dec 21 are out of question because the band was either in the US or playing another gig 350 miles away. That only leaves the 15th and 16th London gigs as "possible", but since a bootleg recording exist for the 16th and there's no Bono to be found in it, , it's safe to assume that Bono or any of U2 just did not take part in any of these late 1981 Police gigs, either as a collaboration or as support acts.


    Feel free to correct Wikipedia and put the facts straight on that
  3. Support act on all dates was Jools Holland & His Millionaires. I know I put the 16th out but i don't think i've ever put out the 15th which is a lot harder to find so if you want it shout up. The 14th exists "allegedly" from back in the day but he was evil to deal with so it might well be a fake. The marquee gig exists as well but usually in low bit rate. The tour turns into emergency ward 10 for the following few dates with sting cutting his hand filming brimstone and treacle and andy on a kidney machine with a doctor at the side of the stage.
  5. Bono joined Police at Invisible Sun at Gateshead Festival july 31 1982

    Edit: sorry, that was mentioned already
  6. Thanks all for such helpful information.

    It's good to know that I'm not going crazy as I was sure I would have remembered seeing U2 in support! Having said that, I don't remember Jools Holland either but I'm guessing I arrived at the Arena late as I would have travelled to London after school.
  7. Originally posted by eddiemonsoon:Support act on all dates was Jools Holland & His Millionaires. I know I put the 16th out but i don't think i've ever put out the 15th which is a lot harder to find so if you want it shout up. The 14th exists "allegedly" from back in the day but he was evil to deal with so it might well be a fake. The marquee gig exists as well but usually in low bit rate. The tour turns into emergency ward 10 for the following few dates with sting cutting his hand filming brimstone and treacle and andy on a kidney machine with a doctor at the side of the stage.
    I knew you'd chime in, that's why I quoted you Thanks for helping.

    @Lucky13 if you want to relive your memories from 1981 just give @eddiemonsoon a nod and he might provide you with good stuff.
  8. 15th up in the other thread.

    I'm struggling to think past Bono, dave edmunds (las cruces 1982), ranking roger (more than once i think), andy partridge and jools holland (france 1980) as guests on a Police stage in the original era.
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U2start is run by fans for fans. Help us reduce personal costs. Consider to make a donation to support us.
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