U2 at Red Rocks, 1983: The Rain-Soaked Show Behind 'Under a Blood Red Sky'

U2 played Red Rocks Amphitheatre near Morrison, Colorado on June 5, 1983, during the War Tour, and the footage made them stars in the US. The show had sold out its 9,000 tickets, but heavy rain meant only about 4,400 people turned up.

Filmed by director Gavin Taylor, the concert became U2 Live at Red Rocks: Under a Blood Red Sky. It was U2’s first video release.

What happened at U2 Red Rocks?

The band played 18 songs: a 14-song main set and a four-song encore. With mist and torches lighting the red sandstone and Bono waving a white flag during “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” the images became some of the most famous in U2’s history.

The film and the album

The film came out on VHS and Betamax in July 1984 and ran 55 minutes. A remastered DVD in September 2008 extended it to 82 minutes.

The live mini-album Under a Blood Red Sky came out in October 1983. Only two of its eight songs, “Gloria” and “Party Girl,” were actually recorded at Red Rocks.

More U2 live history

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