by Jim Taggart

Flashback to 1987.

U2 plays crumbling RFK stadium in Philadelphia. Bono , as was his nightly habit, calls for guitarists from the audience to help him play "People Get Ready". Who should show up that night but the Prince of Asbury Park himself, Bruce Springsteen. The crowd erupts. Bruce and U2 plays "Stand By Me" to the shock and delight of the Philadelphia crowd.
The event is filmed by Phil Joanou, for possible inclusion in the "Rattle & Hum" documentary, but winds up missing the final cut.

I wasn't there.

I was too young, too distracted by G.I. Joe's and the occasional cartoon.

Flash forward to Monday October 17th, 2005.

U2 plays an emotional set. The set list, the sound, the overall energy is different, even from the night before's outstanding show.

The crowd carries them. They sing an entire verse of "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For". They sing along to the call and response ending of "Pride". It's a wave,it's a tribal gathering with yer man as head shaman. It's a strange phenomenon, but when audience is excited, it gets U2 excited. And that usually results in that oh-so sought after "magic" show. The one you remember.

The one that keeps you coming back.

Bruce Springsteen joins U2 again tonight, after Bono pleads for someone to play his guitar. An already frantic audience explodes.

"BRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCE!"

This is the show you will tell your kids about. This is the show that you will compare to all the other U2 shows you will see in the future.

And you will see more. Because the band, and the excitement that surrounds the band, is really the most exquisite drug, and you are most definitely addicted.

Jim and Kelly, hope you got in to the ellipse.

Sigmund brothers, you make La Salle proud. Rawk!!

Dee, your pictures are coming. A lot turned out great. Thank you for letting me cheat a bit.

Dom, Rob, was that not the best show ever? You can hold this over Pat's head for a long time to come, I think.

And Smasher, I hope you like the book. Why should Willie get all the swag, right?

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