U2 Comes to Fordham University – March 6, 2009

What began as a road show in advance of their then new album, No Line on the Horizon had its unique debut at the Bronx campus of Fordham University.

It was a bitter cold morning.  Students were lining up early to get a position on Edward’s Parade.  When Bono told students, “I joined a rock & roll band so I could get out of going to college," the crowd cheered and chanted his name.

U2 played a six-song set that was aired on Good Morning America. "Maybe if it looked like this, and felt like this, things could have been different," Bono added.

The performance took place on the steps of the university's Keating Hall.  A packed crowd surrounded by snow and chilly weather kept warm by their moving and dancing to the music. This image of Bono shows his passion and joy performing at Fordham.

The band played three tracks off of No Line on the Horizon ("Get On Your Boots," "Magnificent," and "I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight"), and heard a thunderous applause for songs the crowd most likely had not heard before.

It was an early wake up call for everyone: students, staff, and faculty.  Nonetheless, the students and everyone were enthusiastic and supportive of the performance. 

According to Bono, “One of the new tunes, 'I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight’, was written about Fordham University's campus, particularly Friday nights at the Fordham University campus.” By the end of the tune it seemed as though students had caught onto the words, "Every generation gets a chance to change the world" and they sang along.

The closing remarks by Fordham’s president, Father McShane, S.J., captured the essence of the morning when he said, "U2 transcends rock stardom. They are deeply committed to social justice and advocacy." McShane added that the band represents a group who display "great joy in life by giving back to others." U2's performance brought Fordham into 4.5 million homes this morning, "rightly putting Fordham on the map.”

This image taken that morning of the performance makes me think how special Fordham was to so many people that day and how great it is to be an Irish-American from the Bronx.