Southern Hemisphere Fans React to U2’s The Joshua Tree Tour 2017
When U2 announced The Joshua Tree tour, fans from North America and Europe were very happy. Fans from other parts of the world? Not so much (see this meme). That’s because this is the U2’s second tour in a row that is skipping Latin America and Oceania.
During the Innocence + Experience tour, we heard that U2 was not playing in Latin America because the show’s arena format would be hard to fit into local venues. Now, with a stadium tour, rumors from fans in the social media say the logistics are complicated and the tour would cost more money. To be clear, none of these reasons is official. Anyway, there is always an excuse. The truth is, thousands of fans from Latin America and Oceania are very sad and impatient. The last time U2 came to Southern hemisphere was during 360° tour… six years ago.
In a recent interview for U2com, Bono confessed that “it’s not fair.” He also said he felt disappointed for not playing outside North America and Europe, and the band is “working on it”. That was it. No more details about whether The Joshua Tree tour, or the likely second part of Innocence + Experience tour, will reach other parts of the world.
This is not the first time U2 has said the band will come back soon and it doesn’t happen. That’s why so many people are unsatisfied and tired of waiting. Great artists and bands are touring in Australia and all of the Americas. Why not U2?
The band’s manager, Guy Oseary, spoke to Billboard after 1.1 million tickets for The Joshua Tree tour were sold within 24 hours. One comment that grabbed my attention was “I wish we could go everywhere.” Contrary to what Bono said, it seems the answer is already “no”, The Joshua Tree tour won’t happen in the Southern Hemisphere. If the band’s manager can’t do anything about it, what /who is making it difficult? It’s not easy to take a tour to all parts of the world, but the band doesn’t seem to be making the same efforts as in the past. So what has changed? Since 2011, fans are hopeful every time a tour is announced, but then comes the frustration.
Australians are very angry and got the media’s attention. The press reported about their discontentment: here, here and here.
In Latin America, U2 Brasil joined other fan sites from all continents to make some noise in social media using the hastag #U2ComeToLatinAmerica. The campaign was considered a success; local radios from many countries (Peru, Colombia, Chile, Uruguay, Brazil, Uruguay, Venezuela) reported on it, and the hastag became a Trending Topic. Even the Consulate General of Ireland in São Paulo showed support for fans.
Those actions probably won’t change anything. Maybe U2 band members and management are not even aware of it, but it’s a way to say we’re a big part of the world — and I didn’t even mention Africa and Asia. We’re saying, We’re not invisible; we’re here.
All of this encouraged me to talk to fans from different countries to get their reactions. Below are some opinions from Latin American and Aussie fans.
“Brazil is a country of continental dimensions. Every time U2 comes to my country, we need to travel to São Paulo or Rio. This is an additional cost that never gives many longtime fans the opportunity to watch a live show. Only a few Brazilian fans can afford to travel to the U.S. and Europe… It’s very sad not to be able to see them for the second consecutive tour in my country. It makes us feel like we’re second-class citizens to our beloved band.”— Patricia from Ultraviolet Brazil
“We still hope U2 will return to Latin America, and that U2 will visit our country for the first time. Big bands have visited Latin America, but we have been waiting for U2 for a long time. We believe when they visit our continent, our lives will change forever. We still do not lose hope of a return soon by U2 to Latin America.”— Jose from U2 Colombia
“Another year without U2. I’m very disappointed, really. I love the band, but their attitudes in some ways make me think that we’re second-class fans; we’re not a priority. I hate to see lots of shows in the U.S. and none here. It makes me feel very angry because we need to be rich to watch a show abroad; it’s not fair.”— Ezequiel from U2 News (Argentina)
“We’re participating in a campaign with friends of our region. I’m very sorry that there are no show dates here in Latin America. We have a big and massive audience, and it’s a shame the promoters are not considering it. The first time U2 came to a Hispanic area was during Zoo TV, so we missed the (Joshua Tree) tour at the time the band achieved global fame. If they’re now offering a second chance, they should come to our countries.”— Irma from U2 Paraguay
“I’m been a huge Mexican fan since I was 14 years old. I’m feeling very disappointed, angry and sad because my favorite band ignored us during the last tours. The situation in Mexico is so critical and I can’t travel to another country to see U2. I hope they come back soon because I really miss them.”— Vanessa from Mexico
“Since the release of the album Songs Of Innocence in 2014 and then the I+E tour, Latin American fans are waiting for the band. Almost three years later, another tour is announced and once again we’re here waiting. Many fans are very frustrated because this is an important moment: The Joshua Tree’s 30th anniversary. Everyone loves this album. I can understand the logistics issues, but it’s a bitter taste to see U2 playing again in the same countries they visited in 2015, while the band’s last show here was in 2011. Even those who saw the I+E tour in North America and Europe are waiting for U2 in their countries; it’s an act of recognition and affection from the band toward their fans.”— Ricardo from U2 Vision (Brazil)
“It’s a shame the band promotes the tours only in North America and Europe. This is not bad, but we feel that it is not fair. The passionate Latin American fans have been waiting for the announcement that they’re coming back after so long. Many of us have to leave the country to watch U2, but that requires a lot of money. It seems unfair because the shows in Latin America are always incredible.”— Wilson from U2 Costa Rica
“Almost all U2 fans here are disappointed. U2 did not visit Chile, all of South America, Australia or Asia during the I+E tour. And now again with The Joshua Tree tour, which will happen only in the U.S. and Europe. Talking about equality is easy, but doing it is something different.”— Richard from Chile
“With regards to The Joshua Tree tour not coming to Australia, it is very frustrating. Like many U2 fans I was expecting a new album to be out this year, and then a tour to support Songs Of Experience. But as U2 is known to do, plans are made to be broken. While I am disappointed we won’t be seeing them anytime soon, I can also understand why they are touring the U.S. and Europe again given the political shift happening in those countries. I’m hoping we get to see them in arenas again, not stadiums. I’m sure the band will pull out something special for us when they finally get here.”— Sandro from U2 Australia
“Two years ago, the tour promoting Songs Of Innocence passed through the U.S., Canada and Europe. When it finished, we were expecting it to come to Latin America, where people have a lot of affection for the band. Especially in Mexico, three shows at a stadium can be sold out in a few hours, and for arenas, at least five. It doesn’t seem fair that they played recently in the same cities where now they’ll play again with The Joshua Tree tour. It’s been six years the band since the band has come to Mexico. They should have more consideration for my country and all of Latin America, which has the best audiences in the world.”— Carlos from Mexico
“As Peruvians, we have never seen a U2 show. So many of us expect to see one even if it is a unique night. The Joshua Tree tour, in my opinion, was more related to the artistic and political environment in the Northern Hemisphere than to our lands, a commemorative “tiny tour” as a pause in the current delayed Innocence + Experience tour. We feel a little disappointed about the South American leg. … (U)ntil now this tour has been so delayed that we can only wait for any comment/confirmation from the official webpage. We don’t know when it will be possible, maybe next year, or in 2019, and we hope to be announced for the first time. We never give up!!!”— Lesly from U2 Peru
“After coming for the first time in 1998, they left us out of tours twice: the Elevation and I+E tours. We can accept one, but not two, especially because The Joshua Tree has ties with Central and South America. They couldn’t come to South America in 1987 because of dictatorships that are a theme on the record. It’s very disappointing and almost unacceptable not playing now when it’s possible to amend that historical failure. To come and play here on the next tour is almost poetic. Things can improve; things can be better. If this tour is for making a political statement, they are missing a big point here.”— Matías from Chile
*All the quotes from Latin Americans fans are translated. I tried to keep them as close to the original as possible.
