U2 | Matt Finish

I first heard of U2 around early 1983, following the release of ‘War’. I dug deep into their back catalogue, and even managed to get my hands on some rare live concert footage from some of their European shows. Then they released the live album (partly) recorded at Red Rocks in November 1983 and I was super keen to see them live.

So when they announced the Live Under Australian Skies Tour was coming to Melbourne, I was ready!

They played at the old Entertainment Centre (now the Collingwood Football Club training facility). I went with a mate from school. To my shame I cannot remember his name these days, but he looked remarkably like Bono Vox, and on the night of the concert, he dressed in a long black great coat and a similar hat to the style Bono wore at the time. Needless to say, he got more than a few looks from the young ladies in the crowd.

The support was Matt Finish!

We had seats on the floor, and as the band began we were able to rush to the front. At some stage during the concert, my mate through his hat on stage, and we were beside ourselves when Bono picked it up and put it on.

An awesome night of music. As with many bands, “I like their old stuff better than their new stuff”, and soon after this I lost interest in U2, and find their later (and probably more popular) stuff less enjoyable.