Bono and The Edge took part in a charity livestream benefitting concert crews currently out of work due to the coronavirus pandemic and played an abbreviated version of the Led Zeppelin classic “Stairway to Heaven.”
The performance was part of Songs From An Empty Room, which was simulcast across Ireland’s RTE’s television, radio and internet channels over the weekend.
Bono introed the performance saying, “Irish road crew — best in the world, that is for sure. We can say that — and the U2 group, we’ve been all over the world and that is well known.”
Bono continued, “There’s one annoying aspect of an Irish crew that has to be said. Wherever you go in the world, whatever venue you’re playing — whether it’s the Olympia or 3 Arena or Madison Square Garden — you walk into the venue and it’s a big moment, and you’ll hear a song that we said, ‘We’ll never, ever play this.’ And that’s right, ‘Stairway to Heaven.’ These professionals believe they play this better than the band. And you know, it might be true.”
Bono and The Edge would go on to play “Stairway” for a little over a minute before both the singer and guitarist would break and say, “It does, Edge. It makes me wonder. It makes me wonder if they’re not right. They can play the tune better.”