On this day (March 27) in 1987, U2 played a surprise rooftop concert to film the video for "Where the Streets Have No Name," a single from the band's landmark The Joshua Tree album.
The concept was inspired by The Beatles legendary 1969 rooftop concert as seen in the original 1970 Let It Be film as well as the 2021 docuseries, The Beatles: Get Back.
Like the Beatles set on the rooftop of the Apple Corps offices in London, U2's gig in downtown Los Angeles was also eventually shut down by police.
The Fab Four, assisted by Billy Preston on keyboards, snuck in a 10-song set -- including two takes of "I've Got a Feeling" and "Don't Let Me Down," and three runs through "Get Back."
U2 also did a mini concert, performing "Where the Streets Have No Name" four times, as well as a cover of The Impressions' "People Get Ready," and their own "In God's Country," "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and "Pride (In the Name of Love)." They were rewarded for the effort, as the clip won a Grammy in 1989 for Best Performance Music Video.
The U2 shoot took place on the roof of the Republic Liquor Store on the corner of 7th and Main Street. The video clip isn't just a performance but a mini documentary featuring radio clips, including the voice of legendary DJ Rick Dees, and video prior to the performance.
In the run-up to the performance, an angry police officer dresses down a rep involved in the shoot, claiming that the rooftop concert will create all kinds of havoc.
Nearly three minutes into the clip, Bono, the Edge, Larry Mullen Jr. and a shirtless Adam Clayton kick into the song, much to the joy of the throngs gathered below.
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