Irish supergroup U2 are no strangers to touring, the Dublin-based quartet one of the biggest earnings on the live music circuit. Currently in the midst of their 360 degree World Tour, the “Beautiful Day” rockers – led by frontman Bono – have just taken out a new honour: being crowned the ‘best stage show of 2009’, as decided by the global readers of TPI magazine, a publiction catering to stage crew workers.
With the accolades dolled out at Total Production International Awards, U2 took home the biggest trophy thanks to their impressive stage set-up, which features a giant claw structure and 360 degree audience vision of the stage.
"It is a massive engineering feat, from scenery to video to audio, with the biggest PA system that has ever been seen on a tour," said the magazine’s editor-in-chief, Mark Cunningham. "It’s a fantastic achievement and the four members of U2 are effectively the icing on the cake."
It wasn’t the only award U2’s production team won, with the guitar tech for guitarist the Edge being honoured as well as their chief production staffer, Willie Williams. U2 will head back out on the road in Europe in August, with the tour set to wrap up in early 2011 in Australia.