Achtung Berlin!: U2 Rock Out at Iconic Brandenburg Gate (original) (raw)

Fittingly the band began proceedings with a rendition of "One," a song inspired by the divisons between East and West Berlin during the Cold War. The band spent time in the newly united city back in 1990, recording part of their "Achtung Baby" album, which featured the East German Trabant car on its cover.

Against the impressive background of a Brandenburg Gate illuminated with words such as "Freedom" and "One Love," the Hibernian heroes also belted out "Vertigo" and "Beautiful Day." The quartet was joined by US rapper Jay-Z for their performance of "Sunday Bloody Sunday," a song inspired by the conflict in Northern Ireland.

Tickets for the free concert were snapped up within three hours of being made available on the Internet last month. The show formed part of the MTV European Music Awards and later on that evening U2 were presented with an award for best live act.

One of the presenters was David Hasselhoff, of "Knight Rider" and "Baywatch" fame, who himself had preformed his hit "Looking for Freedom" at the Brandenburg Gate on New Year's Eve 1989.