Vertigo Tour
Five legs of arena intimacy and stadium spectacle supporting How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb.
The Vertigo Tour was a worldwide concert tour by Irish rock band U2, staged in support of their 2004 album How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. Running from March 2005 to December 2006, the tour featured five legs that alternated between intimate indoor arena shows in North America and large outdoor stadium concerts internationally. The design included a stripped-down main stage with a distinctive ellipse-shaped catwalk extending into the audience, known as the "bomb shelter." By its conclusion, the tour had sold 4,619,021 tickets across 131 shows, grossing $389 million to become the second-highest-grossing concert tour at that time. The experience was captured in two official films: Vertigo 2005: Live from Chicago and U2 3D.
- Album Supported
- How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
- Duration
- March 2005–December 2006
- Number of Legs
- 5
- Total Shows
- 131
- Total Gross
- $389 million
- 2005 Gross
- $260 million from 110 sold-out concerts
- North America Gross (2005)
- $138.9 million from 1.4 million tickets
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
The tour's production was crafted by architect Mark Fisher and lighting designer Willie Williams. A defining element was the ellipse-shaped ramp connecting to the stage, where fans could stand inside or outside the structure. In North American arenas, seven retractable LED bead curtains hung behind the band, displaying abstract patterns and moving figures using 189 strings of "MiSphere" golf-ball pixels developed in Belgium. These curtains allowed excellent visibility for all attendees while rolling up when not needed. For stadium shows across Europe, Latin America, and Australia, these curtains were swapped for a large LED screen assembled from BARCO O-Lite modules, rigged similarly to the PopMart Tour. The stage also featured dynamic lights embedded in the floor and B-stage ramp, along with four screens suspended above showing close-ups of each band member.
In Their Own Story
The tour opened on 28 March 2005 at the iPayOne Center in San Diego after rehearsals in Vancouver and Rosarito. The first North American leg included 28 sold-out arena shows, ending in Boston on 28 May. The second leg took U2 to European stadiums starting 10 June in Brussels and finishing 14 August in Lisbon, where they broke Irish box office records with three Croke Park concerts selling over 240,000 tickets. In the Netherlands, Belgium, France, and Austria, tickets sold out within 60 minutes. Autumn brought a third North American leg of 50 shows starting 12 September in Toronto and ending 19 December in Portland. A fourth leg began 12 February 2006 in Monterrey, Mexico, visiting Brazil, Argentina, and Chile—many locales unseen by U2 in nearly a decade. The fifth leg faced delays due to lead guitarist The Edge's daughter Sian's leukaemia diagnosis but resumed 7 November 2006 in Brisbane, concluding 9 December in Honolulu after thirteen shows.
Reader's Guide
The setlist varied significantly between legs and show types. Arena shows typically opened with "City of Blinding Lights," "Vertigo," and "Elevation," while stadium concerts often began with "Vertigo," "I Will Follow," and "The Electric Co." Early in the tour, "Wake Up" by Arcade Fire served as introduction music. Every show included a tribute to Bono's father with "Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own" and a politically themed sequence featuring "Love and Peace or Else," "Sunday Bloody Sunday," and "Bullet the Blue Sky," centered around the theme of "Coexist." The first encore frequently revisited the Zoo TV Tour with "Zoo Station," "The Fly," and "Mysterious Ways," though later legs substituted this for acoustic sets. The final leg in Australia introduced new closers like "Kite" accompanied by a didgeridoo, and the Honolulu finale featured special guests Billie Joe Armstrong, Eddie Vedder, and Mike McCready.
Did You Know?
- The tour grossed $260 million in 2005 alone, making it the top-grossing tour of that year.
- Tickets for shows in The Netherlands, Belgium, France, and Austria all sold out within 60 minutes during the European leg.
- The ellipse-shaped catwalk area was nicknamed the 'bomb shelter' in reference to the supporting album's title.
- U2 broke Irish box office records with three Croke Park concerts that sold more than 240,000 tickets in record time.
- The final concert in Honolulu featured special guests Billie Joe Armstrong, Eddie Vedder, and Mike McCready.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which album was supported by the Vertigo Tour?
The tour served as the global launchpad for their thirteenth studio record, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. It showcased renewed creative vigor following a period of personal struggle and hiatus.
When did the Vertigo Tour take place?
Running from 2005 to 2006, this concert series spanned over two years of intensive performance. It remains one of their most extensive global runs in terms of duration.
What was the unique stage design called?
The primary visual feature was a massive circular LED structure famously known as The Ring. This setup bridged intimate storytelling with massive stadium scale through advanced technology.
How many continents did U2 visit on this tour?
The band performed on every inhabited continent except Antarctica, cementing their status as a worldwide act. This global reach highlighted the universal appeal of their music during that era.
Is there a live documentary from the Vertigo Tour?
Yes, fans can watch the official release titled Vertigo (Live from Milan) for a complete look at the production. It documents the convergence of light, sound, and technology that defined the show.
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