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'Beautiful Day' for U2 fans in Jhb

Johannesburg - More than 98 000 fans went wild as the lights at FNB Stadium dimmed and an image of Irish rock band U2 walking into the arena came up on a big screen on Sunday night.

David Bowies's Space Oddity played over the public address system as the band arrived on stage.

Beginning the fifth leg of the 360° tour in Johannesburg U2 opened the concert with Beautiful Day.

Lead singer Bono told the crowd in the Johannesburg stadium that it was great to see South Africa be "world class" during the world cup last year.



"The rest of the world is finally catching up to the fact that this place [South Africa] feels like the future," he said. Thank you for your patience, we told you in 1998 that we'd be back."

U2's drummer Larry Mullen jnr told the crowd that being in South Africa was for him "as much as winning the world cup".

"From where I'm standing you look like a very attractive crowd," the band's bassist Adam Clayton told screaming fans at the FNB Stadium.

There were a few unique South African surprises on Sunday night.

World-renowned trumpeter Hugh Masekela joined U2 on stage to great applause from the crowd.



Bono shouted "Madiba" as the intro to Pride (in the name of love) started.

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