Posted by chicagomedia.org on March 11, 2009 at 07:50:34:
In Reply to: WTMX & Cara Carriveau Giving Away Tix To Special March U2 Chicago Concert posted by chicagomedia.org on March 02, 2009 at 08:05:04:
Secret's out: U2 at Metro tonight
March 10, 2009
BY KARA SPAK AND KEVIN ALLEN | Sun-Times Staff Reporters
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The secret's out: U2 will be at Metro tonight.
But, with or without tickets, you won't be hearing any music.
"It's a media event to promote the beginning of the North American tour that U2 is going on," said a 19th District Chicago Police Department source who asked not to be named. "They are not performing. Period."
The source said 500 tickets were distributed by three radio stations, who promoted the "secret" appearance by the superstar Irish rockers at the club at 3730 N. Clark St.
"It says specifically it is a media event with a studio audience," the source said, reading from information provided by Metro to the police. "They are not bringing equipment or performing a concert."
Rumors have been swirling on where the band would appear, with Metro getting in the game by posting on Twitter Monday: "Rumor squashing time: U2 will not, I repeat NOT be playing, DJing, or otherwise appearing in Smart Bar tomorrow."
Metro and Smart Bar share an address.
The source, who said he couldn't name a single U2 song, described it as a "publicity stunt." He said it sounded like there would be a half dozen tables onstage where Bono and the boys would say "what a joy it is to play North America" before "waving throngs of happy fans."
He said police would be present outside, but he wasn't expecting a huge crowd.
"This is like Cubs tickets: If you have a bracelet, you can get in," he said. "If not, keep walking."
One ticket winner who asked to remain anonymous listed his guest ticket on Craigslist for $500.
He said the instructions he received were to meet at a downtown hotel near Water Tower - he declined to give the exact location - at 5:30 p.m. He said a bus will then take the ticket winners to an undisclosed location at 5:45 p.m.
"They don't say if [the band] is going to play, spin records or anything, really," he said.
The source's understanding was that 50 pairs of tickets were given out through radio stations. He declined to say from which radio station he won his tickets.
Despite the fact that access to the event is at a premium, winning the tickets wasn't exactly a dream come true for him.
"If I was a huge U2 fan, I guess I wouldn't be trying to sell my tickets," the winner said.
The Sun-Times previously reported that U2 would be part of a "radio takeover hour" - hosted by Shirley Manson of Garbage - from 8 to 9 p.m. on Q101, WKQX-FM. The station was giving away tickets to the event at a previously undisclosed location.
The North American leg of U2's 360 kicks off Sept. 12 in Chicago at Soldier Field.