by Matt Reilly, XPN Evening/Weekend Host

At this point in the history of Rock ‘n’ Roll, it is a given that U2 is one of the top live acts going. There is a reason for this. I will argue that it is because of the PopMart Tour; featuring a stage so elaborate and huge that they actually lost money on the tour. Included in this set design were a 110-foot-tall golden arch, a huge martini olive spiked high on a towering 100-foot toothpick, and an 35-foot mirrorball lemon. Oh and let’s not forget the screen: a 50 x 165 foot LED video screen, which featured over 100,000 pixels, each holding eight LEDs. The video screen was the largest in the world at the time, and is still, to date, the largest video screen ever toured. I mean, c’mon! If you saw this tour live then you know what I’m talking about. We’re talking complete mesmerization here. I didn’t even get to the drugs my friends brought. I wouldn’t have been able to handle it anyway. This is still the most amazing concert I’ve ever seen — visually.