Larry Mullen Junior Attends U2:UV Sphere Show

Original Story by Aaron J. Sams (2024-03-01)

This is U2’s 39th show at Sphere in Las Vegas, the first of two shows this weekend. The full listing of shows can be found in our show archive. These shows will be played without Larry Mullen who is healing from surgery to repair years of damage from drumming. U2 will once again be joined onstage by Bram van den Berg for this show. The crowd tonight is in a celebratory mood, singing out loud with the songs throughout the show.

Ahead of this show The Daily Mail published a report that Larry Mullen would be in attendance at this show, “Nobody knows, but he will arrive on stage on Friday evening just in time to close the Vegas shows. It’s a total surprise.” The report in the Daily Mail set off a torrent of fake reports on social media. Photos claiming to be of Mullen at the Las Vegas airport were taken in 2016 in Nice. Reports of Mullen attending the film Postcards from Earth take place before Mullen arrives in town. Claims are made that Mullen will be on stage for up to four songs, or will play bongos during the acoustic portion of the show. The reality is Larry Mullen is in Vegas, however our sources ahead of the show confirm he is not expected to perform. During the show itself Larry Mullen is seated in the boxes for the show. Mullen has had a series of surgeries in recent months, and is seen wearing an orthopedic boot at the concert, which matches reports that his last and final surgery was on his ankle. (Likewise, he is not expected to perform at the final show.)

Although he does not join U2 on stage, Bono does recognize Larry after “With or Without You” sharing, “So many rumours that we wouldn’t get here, but we did. Also rumours that Larry, our Larry, would be playing with us are not true. Sadly, but he is here with us. Up there. You can see. Is he over here? Can we get a spotlight?” A spotlight is placed on Larry where he sits, as Larry stands and waves to the crowd while the crowd begins to chant his name as Bono talks about Mullen forming the band. “We wish him a speedy, speedy, speedy recovery. We love you Larry Mullen Junior. Larry Mullen Senior would be very proud.” Introducing “Beautiful Day”, the final song, Bono shares, “Encore. We play this game every fucking night. We pretend we’re doing an encore, and it’s not an encore. It’s on the set list. There is a thing called the internet. It’s a beautiful night Larry.” A later shout out during the song happens as well “Larry Mullen you’re beautiful.”

Larry Mullen shares via U2’s social channels after the show, “What an incredible night at Sphere-So Grateful to Bono Edge and Adam and of course Bram for an amazing job-very emotional night for me personally.”

Like the previous two shows on February 23rd and February 24th, tonight’s show is filmed. A movie is expected to be released, initially at Sphere, which will allow visitors to Sphere to see U2 long after they’ve physically left the building. Cameras are located throughout the crowd, and the audience is filmed entering the video at different entrances, at the bar, and on the General Admission floor ahead of the show. “We are filming tonight. So this is the show that people will see after we all go home. In the future people will watch us, watching you! On the floor here, if you can turn around? If everyone can turn around, just look into the corner there. Give the future a wave.” Bono shares a message for the future, “If you’ve got to the future than that’s pretty good. Because that’s not a given where we are standing right here.” The Edge’s message for the future with a laugh is “it’s very clear tonight, that you are by far, the most intelligent and best looking audience we’ve had in all week”, repeating comments he made the previous week.

“Even Better Than the Real Thing” sees the first band introductions, “Who are we? I know who you are. You’re the Edge. I know who you are. You’re the first man, Adam. I think I’ve seen you somewhere before, apart from last night. Wham Bam Thank You Bram.” The Paul McCartney impression Bono has been doing these last few shows is back as Bono says “Look where we go to work” at the start of “Mysterious Ways”.

The middle turntable section tonight is the Rattle and Hum segment, with “All I Want is You”, “Desire”, “Angel of Harlem” and “Love Rescue Me”. At the previous two nights filmed, the band had played “When Love Comes to Town” instead. The substitution of “Angel of Harlem” for “When Love Comes to Town” is the only change this evening. “All I Want is You” closes with “Walk on the Wild Side” tonight with an audience sing along. Bono does the band introductions ahead of “Desire”, “not since October 1978 have we played shows without Larry Mullen Junior, and it’s only right I start by introducing the man who saved the day when Larry Mullen could not make it. His name is already legend around here to people who can pronounce it. The flying-while-sitting-in-Dutchman, Bram van den Berg on drums.” Adam Clayton is up next, “Ladies. Ladies. And some gentlemen. Let me introduce you to a magnificent man with a magnificent moustache. The first manager of U2. The first man who believed there was a future to manage. Just a very thoughtful person. The original ringmaster on bass, Adam Clayton.” The Edge is next. “Forget where we go to work. Look who we go to work with! In a town full of magicians, an actual alchemist, that’s right, turning our shite into gold on a daily basis. On guitars and everything else, The Edge!” Bono stops the music to introduce one more. “Wait, wait, wait, one more. At the center of the action – always! A giant in his own mind. Mouth almighty. On vocals, and nothing else – Bono Vox!” The turntable section ends with “Angel of Harlem” and “Love Rescue Me”.

Snippets of other songs are sprinkled throughout the main set list tonight besides those mentioned above. “Drive My Car” by The Beatles appears at the start of “The Fly”. “My Sweet Lord” makes an appearance during “Mysterious Ways” and the song finishes with “I Feel Love” at the end. “Love Me Tender” comes in at its usual spot at the end of “One”. Both “Sympathy for the Devil” and “Paint it Black” are heard during “Until the End of the World”. U2’s own “Landlady” appears at the start of “Tryin’ to Throw Your Arms Around the World”. “Viva Las Vegas” holds its usual spot at the end of the main set at the end of “Love is Blindness”. “My Way” which was skipped during the previous show is back at the end of “Elevation” tonight. U2’s “Moment of Surrender” is heard over the start of “Where the Streets Have No Name”. And during “Beautiful Day” Bono includes snippets of U2’s own “Gloria”, the song he wrote for Zucchero and Pavarotti, “Miserere” and The Beatles’ “Blackbird”.

The night before this show, Bono, Edge, Adam and Bram visited Zoo Station, the U2 Experience set up at the Venetian. The band met with fans outside, on their way into the exhibit, where they were interviewed for documentary footage surrounding the Sphere shows. They spent about 20 minutes meeting with fans, sharing stories, and signing autographs, splitting up to cover the crowd. Adam when asked if Larry would be attending the show said “maybe” and The Edge gave a thumbs up to the same question. While at the exhibit, the four signed the Trabant on the main floor of the exhibit, with Bono writing the lyrics for “Tryin’ to Throw Your Arms Around the World” on the hood, they also tried out the interactive exhibits, taking selfies in the Berlin train, and joining Vibee employees for photos on the B-Stage.

The “Lemon” Remix that opens the show started at 8:33. The show tonight is filled with members of the U2 family. Larry Mullen’s partner Ann is with Larry in the boxes. Bono’s wife Ali, and his brother Norman at at the show. The Edge’s partner Morleigh, and his son Levi are present. Supermodel Helena Christiansen is in the same box, as is musician Lenny Kravitz. Long time collaborator and friend Gavin Friday is also at the show this evening.

This is one of four shows announced on December 4, 2023 to finish off the run of shows. Ticket requests for U2.Com subscribers opened immediately and were open until December 5, at 10pm PT.  Subscribers are eligible to request again even if they have requested before, or have purchased tickets before. A general onsale happened on Friday December 8. Ticket packages were immediately available via Vibee. Ticket pricing at face value included GA Floor at $267.88, seats ranging from $140.13 to $501.35, and (RED) Zone tickets at $600. During all general sales, most tickets were raised in price due to Platinum pricing with the exception of Floor and (RED) Zone.

• 2024-03-01 U2, Sphere, Las Vegas, NV

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