“Let’s wave to the future,” Bono said, referring to the cameras trained on the band during their final show of “U2: UV Achtung Baby” at the Sphere in March.
The future is fast approaching. “V-U2 An Immersive Concert Film at Sphere Las Vegas” will be released on September 5th. The latest in the Sphere Experience production series, “V-U2” captures the “U2:UV” shows that ran from September through March. It is the first film shot with Big Sky video technology, a proprietary ultra-high resolution camera system developed by Sphere Entertainment.
Tickets for the general public go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. Presale information is available at thesphere.com/inner-circle. A performance schedule has not yet been announced. Darren Aronofsky’s “Postcards From Earth” is playing multiple times per day on the Sphere Experience’s performance roster.
In announcing the project, the company emphasized that “V-U2 will not only capture U2’s epic performance at the Sphere, but will also make the audience feel like they’re at the live show.”
The Edge and his wife, Maury Steinberg, oversaw the experience.
“The goal was to give moviegoers an immersive experience that was as close as possible to a live U2:UV concert, and then some. I’d never seen a U2 show, so it’s such a relief to have had the chance to see such an amazing show,” The Edge said in a statement.
“We knew all the amazing possibilities of the technology, but we had no idea what to expect from the filmmaking process,” said Steinberg. “This production was a true collaboration between the band, artists, producers and technology team. The end result is a cinematic experience that transports the viewer into the energy and beauty of the live show.”
According to Sphere statistics, more than 700,000 fans from over 100 countries attended the sold-out 40-day event during Sphere’s first extended live performance series.
According to published reports, the show grossed over $244.5 million in ticket sales, averaging $6.5 million per performance with 16,500 tickets sold. The average ticket price for all shows was over $390.
Overall, the U2 series will be the third-longest running permanent show ever in Las Vegas, trailing only Celine Dion’s two shows at the Coliseum.
Platzman splits up
It’s been anecdotal for about 17 months now, but we can confirm that the incredible drummer Daniel Platzman has left Imagine Dragons.
“After over a decade of incredible journey, I am leaving the incredible band that is Imagine Dragons,” Platzman said in a post posted midday on Wednesday. He expressed his “heartfelt gratitude to the band’s fans.”
Platzman said he is focusing on film music and songwriting. A representative for the band declined to comment further. Platzman is not credited on Imagine Dragons’ latest album, “Room,” which was released last month. Frontman Dan Reynolds, guitarist Wayne Salmon and bassist Ben McKee are listed as musicians on the album.
Platzman has been on a hiatus from Imagine Dragons since at least March 2023. His absence was made clear at the band’s annual Tyler Robinson “Rise Up” charity gala held that month at Resorts World.
Since then, “Platz,” as he’s known, has posted a series of video clips under the name “Platz Cats,” most notably a disco-inspired version of “The Godfather” theme released in June.
Cool Hang Alert
Touring musician Ted Sebley, who served as a sideman during The Killers’ residency at the Colosseum, will headline his own show at Eazy’s Cocktail Lounge at the Aria on Thursday at 8 p.m. The show is expected to be a big draw and admission will be tricky, but we’d be more than happy to back this pairing.
John Katsilometes’ column appears daily in Section A. His “PodKats!” podcast can be found at reviewjournal.com/podcasts. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow us! Johnny Katz @JohnnyKats1 on X and @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.