U2 kicked off the European leg of their iNNOCENCE + eXPERIENCE Tour in Turin on Friday night, with Bono drawing attention to the plight of refugees trying to reach Europe.
The band opened their concert at the Pala Alpitour in the city with The Miracle of (Joey Ramone) and stormed through a set which included more tracks from new album Songs of Innocence and anthems from throughout the quartet's career.
"It's been five years since we've been in this beautiful country," said Bono. "We missed you." The singer addressed fans in Italian on a number of occasions.
Snippets of covers such as Send in the Clowns (Stephen Sondheim), I Can See for Miles (The Who) and Mother and Child Reunion (Paul Simon) were scattered throughout the set and among the surprises was a performance of the 1981 album title track October – the first time the song has been performed in Europe since 1987.
Drawing attention to the refugee crisis in Europe, Bono said: "Watching the news, ordinary people - all of us - seem capable of such great evil and such great love.
"I don't know the answer to the refugee crisis in Europe and Africa but I know we must work together to find an answer to the refugee crisis in Europe and Africa."
He added: "As Nelson Mandela said 'It always seems impossible until it is done'."
Bono also asked the crowd: "What do you want? A Europe with its heart and borders closed to mercy? Or a Europe with its heart open?"
Following the death this week of Syrian child Aylan Kurdi, who drowned trying to reach the Greek island of Kos, Bono changed the lyrics of Pride (In the Name of Love) to "One boy washed up on an empty beach".
'What do you want? A Europe with its heart and borders closed to mercy? Or a Europe with it’s heart open?’ #U2ieTour pic.twitter.com/SXA9zxJhtZ
— U2 (@U2) September 4, 2015
Photo: Sammy Mosher
Now here's how you make an entrance. #Bono takes to the stage at start of @U2's tour in Turin. #U2ieTour https://t.co/WRvJOnfOvo
— RTÉ TEN (@RTE_TEN) September 5, 2015
Speculation has continued that U2 will play Irish dates before Christmas. At present, the tour is due to finish in Paris on November 15.
A salute from @U2 to the Northside, the Irish Mammy & Mammies everywhere as #U2ieTour begins in Turin. https://t.co/yBQc4aD2Qs
— RTÉ TEN (@RTE_TEN) September 5, 2015
Even better than the real thing #U2 https://t.co/TKdz6S7znY
— Gianni Sibilla (@giannisibilla) September 4, 2015
Serata fantastica!! #U2ieTour #U2Torino pic.twitter.com/UyGOO7cFpi
— marzio scardocci (@marzioscardocci) September 5, 2015
The Setlist:
The Miracle (Of Joey Ramone)
The Electric Co (with Send in the Clowns, I Can See For Miles and Two Hearts Beat as One snippets)
Vertigo (with God Save the Queen snippet)
I Will Follow
Iris (Hold Me Close)
Cedarwood Road
Song for Someone
Sunday Bloody Sunday (acoustic, without final verse; with When Johnny Comes Marching Home snippet)
Raised by Wolves (with Psalm 23 snippet)
Until the End of the World (with Words snippet)
As #U2ieTour comes to Europe Bono goes all O'Connell Street & channels his inner Anna Livia as Edge solos away! @U2 https://t.co/tHWGXgF8ln
— RTÉ TEN (@RTE_TEN) September 5, 2015
The Fly (Remix)
Invisible
Even Better Than the Real Thing (Fish Out of Water Remix)
Mysterious Ways
Elevation
Ordinary Love (acoustic)
Every Breaking Wave (acoustic)
October
Bullet the Blue Sky (with Ode to Joy snippet)
Zooropa (Tour debut)
Where the Streets Have No Name (with California (There Is No End to Love) snippet)
Pride (In the Name of Love)
With or Without You
Encore:
City of Blinding Lights
Beautiful Day (with I Remember You snippet)
One (with Mother and Child Reunion intro and Invisible snippet)
Goodbye #U2, Turino sings along and waves you safely home. Tomorrow another great night is due. #U2ieTour via Andrea. pic.twitter.com/1Kmhrc6a1n
— U2start.com (@U2start) September 4, 2015
