U2 playing Wembley Stadium pre Live Aid:

That would have really made the news. A show there pre Live Aid was very rare. And very big.

Remember a big BBC news item on Springsteen playing there in 85.

Only The Stones, The Who & Springsteen had managed it pre Live Aid. Queen didn't play there until 1986.

Only 2 weeks prior to Live Aid U2 had played to over 120,000 at Milton Keynes & Croke Park. Prior to that they had played 10 UK shows in late 84. Including 4 in London,  2 at London's Wembley Arena. U2 fans then flooded Live Aid.

Some of these shows would have had to have been cancelled in order to play Wembley Stadium. Nothing wrong with that. Springsteen's 3 Wembley Stadium shows were his only UK shows.

TUF was released in October 84.

Believe if U2 had not toured Britain until the summer of 85, they would have filled Wembley Stadium.

Fans would have fully digested TUF. Band Aid may have got them new fans & TUF single made the UK top 10. TUF video also came out. They would have enhanced their reputation as the worlds best live band playing big shows in America & Europe.

U2 had been hailed 'the band of the 80's'. Fans from around the country would have travelled to Wembley Stadium. Putting them up there with legends in their mid 20's.

However they had already played 10 UK shows in 1984 so just played to 120,000+ at Croke Park & MK in the summer of 85.

But thousands of fans were not finished. They were going to Wembley Stadium on the 13th July 1985!

U2 had only had 3 top 10 UK singles pre Live Aid. However that is more than Springsteen, who had 2.

Both artists had built up their fan bases through albums & live performances. U2 had no American hits but still played Madison Square Garden.

Springsteen & The Who were in their mid 30's when playing Wembley Stadium. The Stones mid 40's.

U2 being mid 20's would have certainly blown them away in 85. Freddie wouldn't have been too happy that young upstarts had beaten Queen to the twin towers either. 

I think Freddie would have been happy to have 24yo Bono beat him.

Wonder why Springsteen became so popular in the UK in the mid 80's. When in his mid 30's. I had never heard of him.

It wasn't hit singles. Were his albums that great? Or was it just his live performances?

Paul McGuinness could have said 'lets play Europe & America first. Then see where we are in early 85. Maybe we can book a date at Wembley Stadium in the summer'.

U2 went after Michael Jackson in 83, so wouldn't have been intimidated by that.

Easy with hindsight.

The Wembley Stadium show/s would have replaced the 4 other London shows.

Fans that would have travelled to the Milton Keynes,  Birmingham or Manchester shows would have been quite happy to travel to London instead.

U2 would have wanted Croke Park, Edinburgh & Glasgow to still go ahead.

So summer of 85 - London, Ireland, Edinburgh & Glasgow. 

If they were not confident of filling both Croke Park & Wembley Stadium, what would they choose?

Maybe a smaller Irish venue. Not sure they could have resisted the iconic twin towers.

Croke Park is even bigger than Wembley.

If they were not confident of filling both Croke Park & Wembley Stadium, what would they choose?

Maybe a smaller Irish venue. Not sure they could have resisted the iconic twin towers.

No such problems 2 years later.

Edge announced Wembley Stadium on TV before TJT had even been released. 

Other big venues around the country were booked, including Croke Park - twice!

Croke Park is not bigger and never has been bigger than Wembley Stadium.

Croke Park is not bigger and never has been bigger than Wembley Stadium.

Realised you are right.

Says Croke Park holds 82,300. Wembley Stadium held 100,000. For sporting events.

Wembley held 72,000 for concerts. So Croke Park probably around 55,000.

Just checked Croke Park held 57,000 for concerts in the 80's.

U2's bigness from 'New Years Day' onwards was underestimated. Although not a household name.

They had already built up a live reputation & had critical acclaim.

War went straight in at number 1 in the UK. That was so strong people would have then bought the equally strong Boy & October.

UABRS confirmed them as the worlds best live band & TUF elevated them further. Lots of Irish fans for obvious reasons.

Wembley Stadium in 85. Could of happened. 

Was going to suggest U2 turned down booking Wembley Stadium as they knew they were playing there at Live Aid.

That is doubtful. Once they had played the ten 1984 UK shows, unlikely Wembley Stadium was an option. Fans that went to the 1984 shows would be unlikely to fork out again 6 months later.

If they cancelled Croke Park they couldn't rely on enough Irish fans travelling to London.