by Christopher Trimm

The only time U2 has played the Forum in Inglewood, California and it was quite a wait. The tickets were purchased through a lottery with only one self addressed stamped envelope allowed from any residence. U2 could have filled this building all by themselves but with Sting, Lou Reed, Bryan Adams and every hollywood celebrity wanting in, this ticket was impossible. We were content to sit in the nosebleeds this time. The concert started promptly at 7pm and five hours later we had U2. Peter Gabriel had a set that stilled everyone into shocked silence. It was mesmerizing. Bryan Adams played his string of hits and left nothing in the tank but was typical american arena rock, mere filler on the way to U2. Sting was the fire under U2 and we wondered if there would be a let down afterwards. Thanks be to the two gals who stormed the stage during Pride to lift the din into absolute bombast. I couldn't hear Larry from where I was! These two angels linked arms with Bono and proceed to leg kick in time with Pride. Sunday Bloody Sunday was the first time in the slow ballad opening that broke into rockin' mode after the second verse. It reminded me of "Tomorrow," from October. I didn't know that Maggies Farm was a Dylan cover, what with hearing Womanfish and Trip through Your Wires off Dublin TV earlier that year, this fit the mold. The blindfold act sent us into sheer terror in this- what if Bono falls off the amps? Help was a crowd favorite as we sang the chorus- Won't you pleaseee help me, help me...yes we need "professional" help here! 'Bad' had snippets of Gabriel's Biko and Sting's "Set them Free". For Sun City- Lou Reed joined U2 and Nona Hendrix for a rousing performance with poor Lou trying to balance his base with a exuberant treble from Bono. U2 stayed on and played the instrumental backing for I shall be Released and we left absolutely exhaused and spent from this performance.

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