2025-05-22

Grosvenor House, London, UK

Set List of Show:

"Sunday Bloody Sunday"
"Angel of Harlem"

Additional Music

Snippets of Other Songs Performed by U2:

"My Way" (Frank Sinatra) / "Dancing in the Dark" (Bruce Springsteen) /

Description:

U2 accept an award, and play a few songs.

Show Details:

U2 are awarded the Fellowship of the Ivors Academy, and take the stage to perform an impromptu 3 song set, including “Angel of Harlem” and “Sunday Bloody Sunday”. U2 are the first Irish act to be named Academy Fellows, a prestigious award for songwriting. The Award was presented by Ed Sheeran.

While accepting the award The Edge sang a modified version of “My Way” which adapted the song to talk about U2. “There were times, I’m sure you knew, when Bono bit off more than he could chew! We did it my way!” Adam Clayton took the time to thank a number of people who had worked with the band over the years, including Island Records founder Chris Blackwell, who was present for the award ceremony. Also thanked were Nick Stewart (A&R at Island who signed the band), Paul McGuinness, Brian Eno, Steve Lillywhite, Flood, Declan Gaffney, and Howie B. The producers and Stewart were present for the award. A number of other music executives were thanked as well.

Larry’s thank you included the following, “Thank you so much. You will have to forgive me, this is a little longer than I expected. But I have to admit when I heard we were receiving the Fellowship award, I thought wow, surely there’s been some mistake, I can’t even fucking count. Which reminds me of 1979, when we recorded our first single ‘Out of Control’ for CBS Ireland. Now not many know this, but Muff Winwood was then the head of UK CBS. He heard the song and amazingly he offered U2 a recording deal, but only if the band fired the drummer. I know! (laughs) I know! I’m not a man to hold a grudge.” He thanked Winwood for making him more determined to have the band succeed, and he thanked the others in U2 for “letting me be in my own band for the last 50 years”.

Ahead of “Sunday Bloody Sunday” Bono introduced the song by saying “I used to introduce this next song by explaining it was not a rebel song. It was because believing in the possibilities of peace was then, and is now, a rebellious act. Some would say a ridiculous one, to believe peace was attainable between your country and ours, between our country and itself was a ridiculous idea that we’re pleased we hold on to very tightly right now. Peace creates possibilities in the most intractable situations. Lord knows there is a few of them out there right now. Hamas release the hostages. Stop the war. Israel be released from Benjamin Netanyahu. From the far right fundamentalists that twist your sacred texts. All of you protect our aid workers, they are the best of us. God, you must be so tired of us children of Abraham, in the rubble of our certainties. Children in the rubble of our revenge. God forgive us.” “Sunday Bloody Sunday” was followed by “Angel of Harlem”.

During “Angel of Harlem” Bono included a quick snippet of Springsteen’s “Dancing in the Dark”. Springsteen had presented an award to Brandon Flowers earlier in the evening, and Courtney Cox who danced with Bruce in the video for “Dancing in the Dark” was also present at the awards.

The performance was the first time Larry Mullen has joined the band for a performance of any kind since September 2023 when they filmed the video for “Atomic City” in Las Vegas. He was unable to perform the residency in Las Vegas due to a series of surgeries to allow him to continue as a drummer.

Earlier in the evening singer Lola Young performed a version of U2’s “With or Without You” in tribute to the band.

Officially Released Tracks

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