Bono has called for a Europe of mercy to refugees as U2 played its first concert since the Paris attacks.
The Irish rock stars were among those to cancel high-profile gigs in the French capital following Friday’s terrorist attacks, which saw at least 129 killed and hundreds injured.
Bassist Adam Clayton wore a Stiff Little Fingers T-shirt in tribute to the veteran Northern Ireland punk band which refused to call off a performance following the carnage.
Bono asked Belfast concertgoers whether they wanted “a Europe with its heart open or its borders closed to mercy”.
The bloodiest attack came at the Bataclan theatre, where American rockers Eagles of Death Metal were performing when gunmen stormed the venue.
A characteristically evangelistic Bono urged: “We refuse to hate because love will do a better job.”
We refuse to hate because love will do a better job
U2 played City of Blinding Lights as a large screen showed the Eiffel Tower with the message ‘Stronger Than Fear’, the Arc de Triomphe and Vive La France.
This was the first time U2 had played in Belfast since their 1997 Pop tour.
They performed at a packed SSE Arena a nostalgic theme focusing on the early years in north Dublin and Bono’s courtship with his wife.
The outfit introduced themselves as a band from Dublin’s Northside.
The Innocence and Experience Tour honours the music that first inspired them to pick up instruments. A single light bulb swung from the ceiling meant to evoke Bono’s childhood bedroom. He said: “Allow us to take you back to where it started. We won’t stay in the past for long but I am told if you don’t at least visit there you are condemned to stay.”
Along with early hits including I Will Follow and the more recent Vertigo, Bono recalled first loves and first losses.
A giant LED screen hung above the catwalk in the middle of the arena and the lead vocalist paid tribute to his late mother with Iris (Hold Me Close). The display showed still images of Iris Hewson and a video of her son.
The reminiscences continued with Cedarwood Road about Bono’s early years. He walked between two sets of massive screens, appearing to be striding down the street of his formative years.
Also, footage of a bombed-out Syrian city and refugees walking on railway tracks created a dramatic backdrop to the gig.
U2 played anti-war classic Bloody Sunday and new Troubles track Raised By Wolves, images of bombings flashing on screen, part of new material from their latest album Songs of Innocence.
Bono lauded the peacemakers of Belfast and quoted former South African leader Nelson Mandela’s attitude to struggle: “He said it always seems impossible until it is done.”
Physicist Stephen Hawking’s quote calling for global citizens was also rolled out.
An acoustic version of Every Breaking Wave, with the Edge on piano, played on the theme of romance.
The concert finished with the crowd joining in a rendition of One. The U2 frontman also referred to the battle against Aids.