U2 celebrate their work with Brian Eno at a Tate Modern show for the BBC

U2 played an intimate show at London’s Tate Modern on 3 November, tracing more than four decades of collaboration with Brian Eno. The set was recorded as a BBC special ahead of “Carnaval De Luz”, the band’s sixteenth studio album, due on 13 November.

According to OndaRock, the band performed in the Tanks, the former tanks of the power station turned museum, dressed with projections of Eno’s visual work. Four of the 11 songs came from “The Unforgettable Fire” (1984), the album where the partnership began: its title track, which opened the night after an intro of “Zooropa”, plus “Bad”, “MLK” and “Pride (In The Name Of Love)”. During “Bad”, Bono worked in lines from the Rolling Stones’ “Ruby Tuesday” and “Sympathy For The Devil”.

Three songs were played live for the first time: “Can’t Stop Us Now” and “The Greatest Show On Earth”, both from the new album and co-written with Eno, and “COEXIST (I Will Bless The Lord At All Times)” from the “Easter Lily” EP. The set also included “In A Little While”, “One”, “Beautiful Day” and “With Or Without You”, during which Eno joined the band on stage to applause and a crowd chant led by The Edge. Noel Gallagher and London mayor Sadiq Khan were in the audience, and guests had their phones locked in sealed pouches.

The special airs on BBC Two in late November, while BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds will broadcast the concert on 30 November with a new interview by Jo Whiley.

Formed in Dublin in 1976, U2 played Mount Temple and Bewley’s in Dublin on 25 September to mark their 50th anniversary. In October mbuzz reported that the band announced 12 UK and European stadium dates for 2027 on “The Greatest Show On Earth” tour, with Wolf Alice supporting.