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Here’s the contract for U2’s 1982 show at First Avenue

by Jay Gabler

June 06, 2017

Today, Minnesota is buzzing about the show U2 have just announced for U.S. Bank Stadium on Sept. 8. As we anticipate the upcoming show, we thought we'd look back on U2's second local show: at First Avenue on Feb. 21, 1982.

They'd previously played the venue in 1981 — when it was still known as Uncle Sam. The 1982 show marked the first time The Current's Bill DeVille ever went to First Ave ("wearing my fatigues, because that was the thing back then"). Bill remembers a night of huge energy with the band, who were promoting their sophomore album October but still had so few songs that they played their hit "I Will Follow" twice. "There was definitely something special" about the band, remembers Bill.

The encore began with a cover of Neil Young's "Southern Man" (a regular cover for the band back in those days), and Bono had to call an audience member up onstage to help him remember the lyrics.

The Star Tribune's Jon Bream was also at the concert. Writing years later, he remembered that he wasn't particularly impressed. "At First Avenue, Dave (the Edge) Evans' guitar — he hadn't yet entered the realm of stage name only — sounded like sonic experiments. The band didn't really rock like a U.K. punk band. U2 seemed to owe more to the modern-rock school of David Bowie and Roxy Music, only with more anthemic ambitions. The singer, Bono Vox (he wasn't mono-named yet, either), was intriguing but not commanding."

The band's contract and ticket sales accounting for that night are available in the First Avenue archives at the Minnesota Historical Society; thanks to Simone Cazares for retrieving these. Scroll down for a glimpse of what life on the road was like for U2 in 1982.

The band's guarantee was $2,500 — about $6,100 in today's currency. These days, the band make several million dollars for every concert...but then, they probably don't get half of that amount handed to them in cash before the show, like they did in 1982.

Update 6/7: Although the contract stipulates that the band be paid this amount prior to the show, Steve McClellan — then general manager of the venue, who signed the contract — clarifies that in fact, "the band was paid AFTER the concert an amount that included the remainder of their guarantee (as 50% had been deposited with their agent several days prior to the concert) AND the bonus monies they earned in percentage."

McClellan adds, "the concert did sell out and the number of pre-sale tickets far was greater than the 153 shown sold at the Cheapo outlets. And, because the band received an additional $500.00 on top of the bonus monies, they certainly collected more than suggested" by the documents below.

Also notable is how modest the band's 1982 rider was. All U2 needed for provisions for themselves and guests were one to two dozen beers, one bottle each of red and white wine, "light refreshment" (a deli tray is offered as a mere suggestion), and "abundant orange juice and Coke." They also asked for coffee and tea, which didn't even have to be prepared in advance — just ready for the band members to make.

The band also asked, politely, for food for their crew. "There are 4 persons in our roadcrew and we would be grateful if provisions for a hot meal for them could be made as it is unlikely that any of them will escape from the venue after get-in time."

Setlist (via U2 setlist archive fan site)

Gloria

Another Time, Another Place

I Threw a Brick Through a Window

A Day Without Me

An Cat Dubh/Into the Heart

Rejoice

Cry/The Electric Co.

I Fall Down

October

I Will Follow

Twilight

Out of Control

Fire

11 O'Clock Tick Tock

The Ocean

Encore

Southern Man

I Will Follow

U2 First Avenue contract
U2 First Avenue contract 2

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U2 First Avenue 1982
Clean Water Land & Legacy Amendment
This activity is made possible in part by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment’s Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.