U2 GIG

U2 guitarist The Edge has defended the size and cost of their 360 world tour, as the band rocked Wembley Stadium on the first night of their UK leg.

The three steel structures cost between £15m and £20m each, offering a largely unobstructed view of the rock quartet.

The Edge said: "We're spending the money on our fans, I don't think there's a better thing you could spend it on."

Last month, protests delayed the removal of the custom-built set from Ireland, and it also came under fire from Talking Heads singer David Byrne. He slammed the band on his blog and said their world tour costs were "excessive", considering their stance on world hunger.

$40 million to build the stage and, having done the math, we estimate 200 semi trucks crisscrossing Europe for the duration.
"It could be professional envy speaking here, but it sure looks like, well, overkill, and just a wee bit out of balance given all the starving people in Africa and all."- David Byrne