U2 Re-Build Berlin Wall
2009-11-04 by Dave de Sylvia STAFF | 37 Replies | 1657 Views

U2 will perform a free concert for 10,000 lucky Berliners on Thursday night to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

The MTV-sponsored concert will take place by the Brandenburg Gate, mere metres from the site on which the wall had been built. The four-song mini-concert was planned to coincide with the 2009 EMAs taking place in the city on the night.

However, seemingly oblivious to the irony, MTV has insisted that the event will take place behind a protective barrier, disallowing all non-ticket holders from seeing the show.

A spokesperson for Berlin's city government placed all of the responsibility on MTV, stating: "I find it rather unfortunate and unusual for organisers of a free concert – particularly one of this nature – to demand such a barrier,” said a city spokesperson."

An MTV spokesperson countered, claiming that the barrier was necessary to allow the surrounding businesses to continue operation during the performance: "We are asking fans without tickets to watch the concert on television. The barrier is for security reasons and to contain the crowd, allowing the surrounding shops and restaurant continue trading."

MTV did not give an explanation for why the event was chosen to take place on Pariser Platz, on the east side of the gate, rather than the more popular Tiergarten on the west, where there are no businesses to disturb.

For East Berliners, the situation is particularly eerie: in 1987, a David Bowie concert in West Berlin ended with riots in the eastern half of the city. Fearing a repeat during the following year's Michael Jackson concert, Stasi officers allowed fans to listen to the first few songs before launching a violent clampdown on the gathering public.

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Comments:Add a Comment 
ZeroTolerance


Comments: 176
11.04.09


Hurray.

AnotherBrick


Comments: 836
11.04.09


lol at mtv...concerts are obviously better on tv anyways..

Digging: Pure Reason Revolution - The Dark Third

random


Comments: 103
11.04.09


Umm... How are U2 going to Re-build the Berlin Wall?

Digging: Protest the Hero - Fortress

burnafterbreeding


Comments: 860
11.04.09


I hate bono.

Digging: Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea

shortone323


Comments: 388
11.04.09


I think it was an attempt at a clever title. I mean, it seems like, if anything, Mtv is rebuilding it, but that wouldnt be enough information.

Digging: The Color Morale - We All Have Demons

Avirov


Comments: 934
11.04.09


Awesome maybe they'll get thrown in jail or something

Digging: Kidcrash - Snacks

fromtheinside


Comments: 2529
11.04.09


just when you thought U2 couldn't get any more pretentious........

Digging: Modern Life Is War - Witness

poweroftheweez


Comments: 997
11.04.09


"Umm... How are U2 going to Re-build the Berlin Wall?"
please read before you post.

"However, seemingly oblivious to the irony, MTV has insisted that the event will take place behind a protective barrier, disallowing all non-ticket holders from seeing the show."

Digging: Exotic Animal Petting Zoo - I Have Made My Bed in Darkness

StreetlightRock
Staff Reviewer


Comments: 2363
11.04.09


i knew it U2 are dirty communists

Digging: Gaza - He Is Never Coming Back

ShineOn75


Comments: 132
11.04.09


U2 is so cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bunch of dicks. FREE concert. FREE

Digging: Miles Davis - Kind Of Blue

Thor
Contributing Reviewer


Comments: 7992
11.04.09


further proof that u2 sucks

Digging: Circle Takes The Square - As The Roots Undo

PietroCrespi


Comments: 74
11.04.09


Free only if you're one of 10,000 lucky Berliners!

Digging: Vandaveer - Grace & Speed

Demonicgman


Comments: 236
11.04.09


tear down that wall Mr. Gorbachev

Digging: Sigur Ros - ( )

maqwep


Comments: 921
11.04.09


REAGAN SMASH

vincevega


Comments: 35
11.04.09


kinda retarded

Digging: My Morning Jacket - Z

UhhKris


Comments: 3788
11.04.09


YES THE WAR BEGINS AGAIN
LETS GO ALLIES

Digging: Converge - Axe To Fall

Burn2Burn


Comments: 1481
11.04.09


they should just wall Bono up and be done with that.


IN A WALL OF FECES THAT IS

Digging: The End - Elementary

Captain North


Comments: 2403
11.05.09


the he can eat his way out

gafel


Comments: 19
11.05.09


U2 funkin blows

Digging: Devin Townsend Project - Addicted

Damrod
Moderator


Comments: 892
11.05.09


Locking up the Brandenburger Tor has a long going tradition, I think U2 just want to go traditional.

Digging: A Wilhelm Scream - A Wilhelm Scream

Titan50


Comments: 2604
11.05.09


However, seemingly oblivious to the irony, MTV has insisted that the event will take place behind a protective barrier, disallowing all non-ticket holders from seeing the show.


*facepalm*

Digging: Pixies - Surfer Rosa

GenNarain


Comments: 218
11.05.09


Is U2 trying to reinstate communism in east Berlin?

DAMN YOU BONO

Digging: Ulcerate - Everything is Fire

scotish


Comments: 281
11.05.09


umm MTV imposing their stupid rules had nothing to do with how much U2 may or may not suck

Digging: Idlewild - Post Electric Blues

AngelofDeath


Comments: 213
11.05.09


But they still suck.

Smug


Comments: 154
11.05.09


NO, YOU SUCK

AngelofDeath


Comments: 213
11.05.09


Thank you Mr. Capslock.

Zip


Comments: 3731
11.05.09


This is retarded

Digging: Disparaged - The Wrath of God

bringonthebreakdown


Comments: 4237
11.05.09


"concerts are obviously better on tv anyways.."
haha yeah ok

Digging: Poison The Well - The Tropic Rot

CrazyFool84


Comments: 632
11.05.09


Dear U2: Please stop...just stop.

Digging: Nightrage - Wearing a Martyrs Crown

tapitforever


Comments: 51
11.05.09


i h8 u2

musicaddiction101


Comments: 653
11.05.09


I'm really happy for you U2, and Imma let you finish, but China built the greatest wall of all time!

Digging: This Is Your Captain Speaking - Storyboard

KILL


Comments: 4367
11.05.09

Album Rating: 5

agreed

Digging: Metal Church - Metal Church

greatlakes996


Comments: 29
11.05.09


REAGAN SMASH

Digging: Beastie Boys - Licensed To Ill

Nikkolae


Comments: 628
11.05.09


on a compleatly different matter, i hate bono, i think he does all the stuff he does just to feed his gigantic ego, and BTW no matter how good that concert might be, NOTHING is me watch mtv lol

Digging: Have A Nice Life - Deathconsciousness

yetanotherprofile


Comments: 33
11.06.09


Oh what a novel idea Bono!! Save the world while your at it. I bet the he thinks the reason it came down in the first place was down to him and his music. The prime example of why rock and active politics do not work. Stick to lyrics you hypocritical old codger.

Slimjim367


Comments: 208
11.06.09


stupid bono

Digging: Becoming the Archetype - Dichotomy

JDthatsme


Comments: 388
11.08.09


hahahahaha how ironic

Digging: Karnivool - Sound Awake



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