by Wayne Baxter

It was a long and arduous drive up to Jo'burg to attend the concert. Tickets in hand and with good friends we boarded a bus for the stadium.... On arrival we were greeted by the massive stadium, and all around people walking round, the anticipation was building.

After a few refreshments in the beer garden it was time to head inside. We were up on a high level, and were trying as best we could to find our entrance to our seats. A good friend informed us his GA ticket was suddenly granted access to the Golden Circle... our jealousy grew in leaps and bounds, but we didn't mind, we were going to see the show from the comfort of our seats...

Teasing views of the claw were seen through the entrances to the levels... and our excitement grew... Then finally we reached our entrance and before us stood a stage unlike any. I had seen it on the site and video's but to actually see it in all it's glory right before you, that was for me the realization that we were about to witness something that will blow us away. We took our seats and awaited the start of the show...

The opening acts came and went and we sat in awe at this amazing spectacle before us.... A digitized clock came up on the screen and we watched as it went through its somewhat sped up advancement through time.... We were about to be taken into the future and we were certainly not ready for it....

And soon the clock reached 12:00 and slowly started to fall apart as the band walked up onto stage to the roar of almost 100 000 fans... it was deafening and the gentle hum that was drifting round the stadium was now replaced by the sound of 100 000 screaming, cheering fans... the chills ran up and down my spine and the band broke into song....

They were finally back. The boys from Ireland were finally here, almost 13 years back I witnessed what was the biggest and best concert ever, and now they were here again to make this an even bigger appearance....

The stage, the show, the fans, the stadium, the band..... everything just rocked. As the set list went through and the night sky lit up, we were all carried away on an amazing journey. The goosebumps crept over my skin at times, but no more so than when Sunday Bloody Sunday, With or without you and Where the streets have no name were played.

It was truly an amazing and unforgettable experience. One that will add to the euphoria that Popmart brought me... I would be talking to people about Popmart 13 years later as if it was just yesterday, but now a new experience is going to take it's place, Hopefully I need not wait another 13 years for the next one....

Thank you to U2 and crew, to 100 000 Rainbow people, to FNB stadium and the organizers, this was the best U2 concert ever....

Man dreams one day to fly. A man takes a rocketship into the sky. Lives on a star dying in the night. Follows the trail of candlelight. Turn it on.... turn it on....

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