By Jae-Ha Kim
Chicago Sun-Times
June 29, 1997
After a spectacular concert Friday night at Soldier Field for more than 40,000 fans, U2 hosted an intimate after-show party in the Bears’ locker room.
The party celebrated the kickoff of a three-night stand in Chicago, one of the band’s most popular markets.
About 60 invited guests – including country singer Naomi Judd and her actress daughter Ashley, Nine Inch Nails’ frontman Trent Reznor, Chicago Bull Steve Kerr and actor Robert Downey Jr. – sipped wine, designer water and Guinness beer on tap as vocalist Bono, guitarist the Edge and bassist Adam Clayton mingled with well-wishers. (Shy drummer Larry Mullen Jr. was nowhere to be found).
“I just finished writing a book at midnight last night,” Naomi Judd explained, “and Ashley said, `Let’s go see U2.’ That seemed to make sense at the time. They were just wonderful.”
Both Judds, as well as Huey from the Fun Lovin’ Criminals (U2’s opening act), sat at the Edge’s feet as he quietly chatted about music.
Clayton stuck close to Downey and his entourage, signing autographs and gladhanding with his fans. Bono was in the hallway surrounded by autograph seekers.
At the show, U2 had worked out the kinks in the Las Vegas kickoff in April. The two-hour, 21-song set was heavy on songs from the band’s latest album, “Pop,” but also included crowd pleasers such as “With or Without You,” “Where the Streets Have No Name” and “I Will Follow.”
