This seems like the right place to put this.. even though it is the wrong tour.. to whomever my son helped find a cell phone on the floor of the stadium in Honolulu/Vertigo..I hope you and your wife were blessed with a beautiful child!  He told me how worried this person was that she may have gone into labor.

That's dedication right there.

Hmm, where to begin?

To the entire security staff at the Georgia Dome: THANK YOU! You made us all feel welcome, you were very accommodating, you had your act together, and you were on top of your game. You were ambassadors for the city of Atlanta, and you made spending the night on the sidewalk and spending the next day in line a lot more pleasant than it could have possibly been otherwise.

To the entire security staff at Raymond James Stadium: You SUCK! You were unorganized and ill prepared. Through your lack of communication and your conflicting instructions, you looked like bumbling idiots. This was my hometown show and you people were an embarrassment. The Georgia Dome staff made you look like amateurs. It's hard to believe, actually, that you people still have jobs, when there are so many good, bright, motivated people out of work right now. In a region geared toward catering to tourists and visitors, honestly, we can't do better than this?!

To all the rude, inconsiderate, so-spineless-they-wouldn't-even-look-you-in-the-eye GA line-jumpers in Tampa: Go **** yourselves, you **** **** **** ****ers! I don't care how many miles you traveled to be at the show, or what country you came from (but I'll mention Venezuela, Argentina, and Guatemala just because you made especially sure we couldn't forget them). You have no right to rudely push people out of the way and then justify it by telling us that you came from (insert country here) and don't care how long we've been in line. I'm a pretty easy guy to get along with, but starting a near-riot in the GA line (while very un-U2-fan-like) was the least I could do to prove my point. I'm sure it had to be embarrassing to find yourselves being pointed at and boo'ed by all the huge crowd of people you decided you were more important than. You suck as fans and individuals. I know you don't represent a country, and I hope the countries you hailed from do get their much-wanted U2 shows next year. However, if there's any such thing as karma, you, my spineless line-jumping amigos, will be stuck in your casas sitting on your Juans, suffering from excruciatingly unpleasant, fiery digestive system maladies that burn like a jabanero enema. Creeps like you have no business being at a U2 show anyway*.

To the three yellow-shirted security tough guys at the outer ramp, just to the right of center, who felt it necessary to constantly pull people over the rail, shine lights in our faces, climb up on the barrier, and continually block our view/step on us/fall on us etc as you dove into the GA crowd to engage in an unnecessary amount of tough-guy crowd enforcement, **** you! ( Just to be clear, we're talking about Mr. Baldy, Mr. Supernasty Goattee, and Mr. Shaggy Boss Man.) This wasn't a mosh pit, it was freaking U2! And, to the few guys behind us (probably aforementioned line jumpers, just sayin'), pushing, punching, spilling beer, and making such spectacles that we had security people stepping over us at just about EVERY SINGLE GREAT MOMENT OF THIS SHOW, **** you again!!!!

To all the awesome people I met in the GA lines in both cities, who hailed from all over, shared a love for U2, and made things better than they would have otherwise been, THANK YOU!

And of course it goes without saying, thanks to U2 for continuing to give us their all, even in the hottest October weather I think we've ever had in Central Florida.

Here's hoping my 2010 shows go better than Tampa. Miami and NYC, here we come!


*It should be noted that the 100+ degree heat made things generally unpleasant, especially when we were packed into tight groups on a hot sidewalk and not permitted to leave, over three hours before doors opened. However, it should also be noted that, when cups of water were being passed out to everyone, a large group of the aforementioned line-jumpers were complaining and trying to get seconds, before others in the group, including many women and older folks in line, had even been served!  I've never seen such a brazen display of "me first" attitude, always accompanied by the refrain, "I don't care about you people. I came all the way from ________." Get over it, hombres. It's 2009. People travel places all the time.

To globaljosh:

Bravo sir for your very thorough review. 

Holy smokes, globaljosh. Rough day, and I'm sorry it didn't go better. Come to Vegas next time. We'll treat you right, as most (I can't say all, because I understand there were a few early problems) of the GA line folks found things worked out very well.

Well, everything except for that Aussie pain in the butt, Briscoetheque, who kept saying, "I came all the way from Australia, by Crikey. I don't care if I didn't arrive in the GA line until 3:30 in the afternoon, day of show. You all just get the hell out of my way, OK mates? And BTW, the next person who starts singing 'Land Down Under' in response to me saying I'm from Australia, I'm going to kick your sorry @$$. And I'm big enough to do it." So instead, I just    and gave him a vegemite sandwich!! And he said ...    (I kid, BT, as I'm sure you know).

So yeah, other than that, it was all good for me. Phoenix, on the other hand, complete suckitude from 3 p.m. forward. Sounds like Tampa shipped its security crew to Phoenix, to be honest. See some of you folks in DENVER! Let's try to help each other, and security, get things right. I'm seriously planning to try to reach somebody by phone/email and let them know what works, what doesn't work, and what can completely screw people who have invested an entire day (or more) in the GA line.

VegasPatrick

globaljosh - that is a pain - Im sure U2 would love to hear that story. You should seriously let Principle Management know about that. Maybe they wouldn't on second thoughts.

To that Polish guy in Dublin on the Friday in teh middle of the pitch who thought that the whole pitch was hyst for him to dance and the people round him were strategically placed just for him to hug - thanks for being a hop-along pain!

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ @ VP

I f$#%ing WILL punch out the next person who sings Land Down Under to me yknow...

Luckily no one tested me in the Vegas heat...

I was too busy being obnoxious and pretending to be from New Zealand...

You know, like how US backpackers in Australia sew on a canadian flag to their backpack to get better service... 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ @ VP

I f$#%ing WILL punch out the next person who sings Land Down Under to me yknow...

Luckily no one tested me in the Vegas heat...

I was too busy being obnoxious and pretending to be from New Zealand...

You know, like how US backpackers in Australia sew on a canadian flag to their backpack to get better service... 

I'll remember that. Though I'm not much for backpacking. If I ever get there, it will be to see the Aussie Open. Love staying up through the middle of the night to watch that here, stateside.

To that guy - that college boy - who bought my extra GA for THIRY-FIVE DOLLARS (I was a poor college student once) and had never been to a rock show . . . I hope Muse was everything you wanted, but I *really* hope you fell in love with the main act.  U2 plays at your university and you get to see them on the floor for cheap?!?!?!  I hope you can pass on the favor some day.

To that guy - that college boy - who bought my extra GA for THIRY-FIVE DOLLARS (I was a poor college student once) and had never been to a rock show . . . I hope Muse was everything you wanted, but I *really* hope you fell in love with the main act.  U2 plays at your university and you get to see them on the floor for cheap?!?!?!  I hope you can pass on the favor some day.

As a poor college student, I sincerely appreciate your generosity.

You know, like how US backpackers in Australia sew on a canadian flag to their backpack to get better service... 

LOL i had a friend who actually did that! and totally got better service.

You know, like how US backpackers in Australia sew on a canadian flag to their backpack to get better service... 

LOL i had a friend who actually did that! and totally got better service.

I expect a red carpet rollout when I come down there next year, guys...

Because I actually AM Canadian...

EH?

To that guy - that college boy - who bought my extra GA for THIRY-FIVE DOLLARS (I was a poor college student once) and had never been to a rock show . . . I hope Muse was everything you wanted, but I *really* hope you fell in love with the main act.  U2 plays at your university and you get to see them on the floor for cheap?!?!?!  I hope you can pass on the favor some day.

As a poor college student, I sincerely appreciate your generosity.

Any time . . . just spreading the gospel of U2 in the name of love and all that . . .

And to the cameramen - This is how I could tell that U2 are the Nordstroms of rock and roll, an act in a class by themselves - that cameraman for Muse was just following directions, I'm sure, parking himself for extended periods of time in front of what was otherwise my unobstructed view.  But to that cameraman for U2 who went flying past everyone, pushing security out of the way, and using a camera balanced on top of a steep lift: RESPECT.

To all the fans on the floor in the MAD GA CRUSH in PASADENA who kept their cool and attempted to keep everyone calm, in good spirits and to a certain extent, even fun.  You guys took what was on the edge of a riot to a fan bonding experience.  Sharing some U2 stories while we were all crushed together w elbows, faces, armpits, backs and anything right up against our faces.  and no space to move.  This was really turning into a huge angry mob, with police/security unable to maintain order for more than 20 min but eventually we all reminded ourselves this is a U2 concert, relax and have fun....

Ironically the joke/theme we all clung in my areas of the crush was:, "Calm down (to the random a@@wipe),  This is U2, you arent at a Guns n Roses show, ... if so you'd probably be dead or in the hospital."  Then Slash happens to show up w the BEP

To all the fans on the floor in the MAD GA CRUSH in PASADENA who kept their cool and attempted to keep everyone calm, in good spirits and to a certain extent, even fun.  You guys took what was on the edge of a riot to a fan bonding experience.  Sharing some U2 stories while we were all crushed together w elbows, faces, armpits, backs and anything right up against our faces.  and no space to move.  This was really turning into a huge angry mob, with police/security unable to maintain order for more than 20 min but eventually we all reminded ourselves this is a U2 concert, relax and have fun....

Ironically the joke/theme we all clung in my areas of the crush was:, "Calm down (to the random a@@wipe),  This is U2, you arent at a Guns n Roses show, ... if so you'd probably be dead or in the hospital."  Then Slash happens to show up w the BEP

Hahahaha I heard someone say something along those lines! Mustn't have been too far away mbeano...

THREE things:
1) chicago 2 - We were watching the GA getting ready to be let into the venue and this guy struts up with his perfect looking girlfriend and wanted to get into the GA line. I really wanted to watch him try and I alerted the venue people he may try to jump the rope as each group was being let in. Afterall, my friends were in the first group! He said "I am from New York and can do what I want!"  thanks for the laugh you mysterious NYer!! You are a total stereotype!!

2) Chicago 2: the two girls behind us who shouted a conversation all through Your Blue Room!! Shut the ---- up during a concert!!! Just cause you dont know the song doesnt mean that someone right in front of you hasnt been waiting their entire life to hear it!!

3) Chicago 2 (again): The four metros who where sitting to our right who showed their complete U2 ignorance by leaving right in the middle of THE BEST rendition of MOS that Bono has ever sung at the end of the most amazing magical show I have ever seen U2 play!! And they expected us to move out of their way - my reply was a disgusted "hurry up".  I sure hope they got out of Soldier Field ahead of everyone else!!!