Game Changer
Game Changer
Game Changer

Game Changer

Noel Gallagher, currently touring the US with his High Flying Birds, was at the second show in San Jose last night. Afterwards he spoke to U2.com. Here's what he thought of the show.

20 May 2015

Noel Gallagher, currently touring the US with his High Flying Birds, was at the second show in San Jose last night.

Afterwards he spoke to U2.com. Here's what he thought of the show.

'I thought it was as great a leap forward as it was when I saw ZOOTV the first time, which itself was a great leap forward from Rattle and Hum. If it's at all possible to get a great leap forward from that, then tonight was it.

It was theatre.

It starts off as a punk rock gig but then it gets intimate, there's a lot of truth in it about where they come from and the people that they are.

At points it's quite touching when you see footage of people like Bono's mum and his kids, stuff like that, walking up the street they grew up on.

Visually the band were explaining it to me for a good six months but I still had no idea about this screen they were talking about, it didn't make much sense to me at all - most things don't with Bono at four o clock in the morning. But tonight, I don't like to use the phrase, but this is a game changer, not only for them but for shows in general. It is something competely different.

You don't expect to have that screen in that position and doing that thing... and the beauty of it all is that it still does not take away from what a great band they are.

It was always going to be a contentious thing what they did with the album release but I think it paid off tonight because the stories of the songs have been told visually and it works, I really do think it works in a visual sense.

For people who haven't seen it, they play inside of a video screen and it's something else, it's like watching a television but you kind of forget sometimes that they are actually there on stage and they are playing live. It's a psychedelic experience.

I've been a fan since hearing 'New Year's Day' in 1983 and I've seen them loads of time. With the greatest respect in the world when I saw the 360° Tour I thought that was the end of something, and not in a bad way. I thought, this is so staggering and huge and tall, so amazing, I thought this was the end of something and I wondered what the beginning of the next thing will be - and here it is.

It was staggering - and only the fourth show. I can't wait to see it again.'

MORE NEWS

ALL NEWS
Another Night in Milan
THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH TOUR

A third Milan show has been added to The Greatest Show On Earth World Tour. A presale for...

06 NOV 2026
Third Night in Stockholm
THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH TOUR

A third and final Stockholm show has been added to The Greatest Show On Earth World Tour. A...

06 NOV 2026
Additional Nights in Berlin, Paris, London and Lisbon
THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH TOUR

Four more shows have been added to The Greatest Show On Earth World Tour. On sale tomorrow, Friday...

05 NOV 2026
Barcelona, Seville shows and third night in Amsterdam
THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH TOUR

Three shows in Spain and another night in Amsterdam have been added to The Greatest Show On Earth...

05 NOV 2026
U2 & Guinness
CARNAVAL DE LUZ

Exclusive, one-off limited run of Carnaval De Luz on pearl, white marble vinyl.

04 NOV 2026
UK & Europe Dates for The Greatest Show On Earth World Tour
CARNAVAL DE LUZ

European tour to open in Stockholm on April 26th. U2.com subscriber presales from Monday November 2nd.

29 OCT 2026
Listen Up!
CARNAVAL DE LUZ

Want to hear Carnaval De Luz first? Head to one of the global listening parties.

27 OCT 2026
Two More Shows in Latin America
THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH TOUR

A third show in Buenos Aires and a fourth in São Paulo have just been announced. Subscriber presales...

27 OCT 2026
'Get Back To Now'
CARNAVAL DE LUZ

It's a bonus track on Carnaval De Luz and it's only on the album from the iTunes Store....

25 OCT 2026
Fourth Night in Mexico City
THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH TOUR

A fourth and final Mexico City show has been added for The Greatest Show On Earth World Tour,...

23 OCT 2026
Third Night in São Paulo
THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH TOUR

A new show has been added for U2's The Greatest Show On Earth World Tour: Estádio MorumBIS, São...

22 OCT 2026
Third Night in Mexico City
THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH TOUR

A new show has been added for The Greatest Show On Earth World Tour: Mexico City on Sunday...

21 OCT 2026
SHOWING 12 OF 4785 STORIES KEEP SCROLLING FOR MORE ↓

Related Topic

LATEST COMMENTS

FROM THE ARCHIVE PICKED AT RANDOM
Street Of Dreams - Lyric Video 2026 Street Of Dreams - Lyric Video WATCH →
THE NEW ALBUM
CARNAVAL DE LUZ

The new album. Out 13 November 2026.

PRE-ORDER

SUBSCRIBE TO U2.COM

Special editorial and video, exclusive newsletters and events, 25% coupon for the shop and first access to ticket sales when the band tour.