U2 Live: A Concert Documentary [Paperback]

Pimm Jal de la Parra (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2003

Since their formation in 1976, U2 have played over 1,000 concerts to millions of fans around the world. Now updated to include their PopMart and Elevation tours, U2 Live: A Concert Documentary takes you along to every single U2 live performance - from their earliest shows in Dublin to the heartwarming spectacle of their 2001 Elevation tour. The book includes: Information, anecdotes and facts from virtually every single U2 show ever, from 1976 to 2003. Also covers: Dates, venues, set lists, radio and TV broadcasts, quotes from the stage and details of unreleased material and dozens of cover versions performed by U2. Contains an insightful commentary which traces the band s musical development over 25 packed years. With over 500 colour and black & white photographs, most previously unseen, which follows the band s evolution from Dublin teenagers to global megastars.

Editorial Reviews

Review

The ultimate guide to the U2 live experience.' Q MAGAZINE

About the Author

Original author Pimm Jal de la Parra was the editor and publisher of the highly acclaimed U2 fanzine Collectormania between 1987-1996. He spent three years researching to produce the ultimate U2 book. Sadly Pimm died in 2002. The current update of U2 Live was written by Collectormania's associate editor Caroline van Oosten de Boer.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Omnibus Press; 2nd edition (November 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0711991987
• ISBN-13: 978-0711991989
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,756,058 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential for the U2 fan or U2 collector, May 15, 2004

By 

Brian Hedden (Concord, NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: U2 Live: A Concert Documentary (Paperback)

This is the updated version. The first book that came out covered U2 from their earliest stages up through to the beginnings of the Popmart tour. This one carries us through the Popmart tour right through to the end of the Elevation tour. Pretty much every U2 show ever played is covered to some extent, whether it's just with a setlist or a lengthy review. Each tour has a page or so dedicated to an overview and then each show is detailed to some extent. If you're just a fan of the band you'll get a kick out of many of the shows details (the pizza order/delivery from 1992 being fantastic). If you're a collector of shows this book is to U2 fans what Deadbase or those Tapers Compendium books are to Grateful Dead fans. It's either a lot of fun to read or a rich source of information. Just a blast.

On a side note most of the book is written by Pimm Jal de la Parra. I'm not sure if it says it anywhere but apparently he had passed away during the creation of this updated version. A few people had gotten together to finish it off for him. They most certainly did him proud.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Indispensable, August 17, 2001

By 

N. P. Stathoulopoulos "nick9155" (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: U2 Live: A Concert Documentary (Paperback)

This book is an absolute must for fans of U2 and ESPECIALLY for collectors of U2 bootlegs. It's like a bible that charts the correct dates for every show U2 has ever played (up until the 1998 publication.)

The correct set lists and supporting acts are also mentioned for the vast majority of the shows. Also, most shows have descriptions of highlights, lowlights, etc. Want to find out more about the show you're about to buy a bootleg for? Get out this book!

This book was updated shortly after PopMart ended, but unfortunately it seemed very very rushed and therefore there is little to no information about any PopMart shows save for the debut. (Only dates are given.) Nevertheless, it is definite that this book will continue to be updated, hopefully soon with a complete PopMart coverage and then with the whole Elevation tour.

This book must sit on every U2 fans shelf. Highly recommended!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars If you have the previous version, don't bother w/ this one., April 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: U2 Live: A Concert Documentary (Paperback)

I, like many others, agree that this is the best biographical account of the career of U2 as a live band. Other than listing & describing every single U2 concert known to man, it highlights all of the other juicy tidbits in between. I must add that the photos are also very nice. Unfortunately, I cannot give this second edition a full "5 stars" because it seems as though it was published too early. The stuff on PopMart is only the first five shows, so the PopMart info is virtually nothing special. If you you have the old one, save your money; if you don't, might as well buy this one! I don't know why Pimm couldn't have waited out the rest of the tour.