2001-09-21

BBC Television Centre, London, England

Set List of Show:

Filmed for 9/11 Tribute:

• "Walk On"

• "Walk On"

Additional Music

Snippets of Other Songs Performed by U2:

"Peace on Earth" (U2) / "Hallelujah" (Traditional Verse) /

Description:

U2 perform “Walk On” with Morleigh Steinberg, Natalie Imbruglia, Medhi Parisot and David A. Stewart for a 9/11 Tribute, and a Top of the Pops appearance.

Show Details:

U2 are joined in the BBC Television studios by Dave Stewart (Eurythmics), Morleigh Steinberg, Natalie Imbruglia, and Medhi Parisot to record two very different versions of “Walk On” for two different television broadcasts.

The more familiar one is a somber performance of the song, opening with “Peace on Earth”, then going into “Walk On” and ending which a chorus of “Hallelujah”‘s. This was filmed for the America: A Tribute to Heroes concert, a live broadcast in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, organized by the four major American news networks. The concert was recorded and broadcast on September 21, 2001, just ten days after the attacks. U2 performed with Stewart on guitar, and the others on backing vocals, surrounded by candles on a sparse stage. U2’s performance was transmitted live from studio in London. This performance was released in December of the same year, on CD and DVD, titled the same, America: A Tribute to Heroes. The U2 recording is included. The performance was broadcast on over 35 networks, as well as on the Internet, and was later distributed to broadcasters in more than 210 countries. The U2 piece was aired in black and white.

U2 also performed with the same group of musicians for a more upbeat version of “Walk On”. This time it was not preceded by “Peace On Earth”, but it did end as the earlier version did with a chorus of “Hallelujah’s”. This version of the performance was recorded for Top of the Pops and would air on October 19, 2001 on BBC. The video was filmed in the same studio as the first performance, although the backing walls are now uncovered and display the Top of the Pops logo, and the U2 piece is filmed in full colour. The band and other performers are dressed the same for both performances. The Top of the Pops was also broadcast again in early November.

Many thanks to Keith for uncovering some of the information used in the piece above.

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