U2 Go Home: Live from Slane Castle, Ireland
U2's final European Elevation Tour show at Slane Castle.
U2 Go Home: Live from Slane Castle, Ireland is a concert film by Irish rock band U2, filmed on 1 September 2001 at Slane Castle in County Meath. It was released on DVD in November 2003 and documents the band's final show of the European leg of the Elevation Tour. The video is the second of two concert films from the tour, following Elevation 2001: Live from Boston.
Quick Facts
- Artist
- U2
- Released
- 17 November 2003
- Recorded
- 1 September 2001
- Venue
- Slane Castle (Slane, Ireland)
- Genre
- Rock
- Length
- 132 minutes
- Label
- Island, Interscope
- Director
- Hamish Hamilton
Facts from the source article.
Background
The Elevation Tour supported U2's 2000 album All That You Can't Leave Behind. Willie Williams and Mark Fisher, designers of several U2 tours, created the stage. Its key feature was a large heart-shaped ramp extending onto the arena floor, with general admission ticket-holders placed inside the heart. Scrims mounted among the lighting rigs displayed visual images, sometimes in dynamic swirling patterns. Williams received Live Design magazine's 2001 EDDY Award for his work, with the citation noting that he used the entire arena space as a projection surface.
Filming
The film captures the second of two U2 concerts at Slane Castle on the Elevation Tour, each drawing 80,000 people. These were the band's first Slane performances since 1981, when they opened for Thin Lizzy. Bono's father, Bob Hewson, died of cancer days before the first concert on 25 August, a day after his burial; Bono dedicated "Kite" to him. The 1 September show occurred on the same day the Republic of Ireland beat the Netherlands to secure a 2002 FIFA World Cup play-off spot. The match was shown to the crowd before the concert, and during "New Year's Day" Bono draped himself in the Irish flag and referenced Jason McAteer, the goal scorer.
Release
U2 Go Home was first announced on September 17, 2003. The DVD features a remastered 28-minute documentary about the making of the band’s 1984 album The Unforgettable Fire, which was partially recorded at Slane Castle. A “Spincam” feature lets viewers switch camera angles during “Where the Streets Have No Name,” “Elevation,” and “Beautiful Day.” The main concert omits “Mysterious Ways,” but it appears as a bonus track, showing Bono dancing onstage with his daughter Eve. Other extras include DVD ROM content like a U2 calendar, screensavers, and web links. The audio comes in PCM Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1, and DTS 5.1 formats. Inside the liner notes are two photos by Jim Rinaldi, a heating and air conditioning worker and U2 fan. After he submitted the images to the fansite atu2.com, the band used them and gave him 12 copies of the DVD plus a four-figure payment. The release was one of the top-selling music DVDs worldwide in 2003. On March 15, 2021, U2 announced “The Virtual Road,” a YouTube concert broadcast series. It kicked off with U2 Go Home on March 17 (St. Patrick’s Day), preceded by a pre-recorded set from Irish musician Dermot Kennedy. To mark the event, a four-track EP of songs from the film was made available on streaming services and digital stores.
Reception
U2 Go Home received positive reviews. Chuck Myers of Knight Ridder noted that few bands can make a large gathering feel intimate like U2 on home turf, praising the performance and cinematography for a "more visceral, less sanitized quality" than Elevation 2001: Live from Boston. Michael Beaumont of Popmatters called it "the definitive document of not only the Elevation tour, but arguably of U2 live, period," citing the "loose, carefree, freewheeling atmosphere" and Hamish Hamilton's direction, concluding it is "quite simply the best live U2 performance put to DVD or video." Christian Hoard of Rolling Stone observed that the "joyous vibe" of All That You Can't Leave Behind was evident, with songs presented "in all their arena-rocking glory." Christopher Gray of The Austin Chronicle said the video "captures the Best Band Ever in peak Elevation tour form," with Bono in his element and the band playing as if in Mr. Hewson's living room. Chris Willman of Entertainment Weekly thought it might impress more if not for the earlier Elevation 2001 DVD sharing about a dozen songs, but called the show "spectacular" with a "nice, Red Rocks-ian backdrop." Tracy Collins of The Arizona Republic deemed it "a solid investment for the U2 fan," highlighting Bono's recollection during "Out of Control" of asking parents for 500 pounds. Robert Hilburn of the Los Angeles Times described the group and fans as "supercharged emotionally," comparing the home crowd to Springsteen at the Meadowlands. Dan Nailen of The Salt Lake Tribune praised the performance, audio quality, and camera work capturing the band at a creative zenith. Ron Rollins of the Santa Cruz Sentinel said the DVD "pulls in the crowd as an important element of the show."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which label released U2 Go Home: Live from Slane Castle, Ireland?
U2 Go Home: Live from Slane Castle, Ireland was released by Island and Interscope.
Who produced U2 Go Home: Live from Slane Castle, Ireland?
U2 Go Home: Live from Slane Castle, Ireland was produced by Ned O'Hanlon.
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