For a while now, there was a rumor about U2 performing a last minute outdoor concert in New York City to promote the release of their latest album How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb.

As it turns out, this was far from a rumor; not only did U2 play a live concert in New York City, but they played the city from top to bottom.

U2 performed from the back of a flatbed truck!

They started in the morning at about 11am playing in front of Columbia University around 115th Street and continued South making random stops throughout the day; Times Square, Madison Square Garden, etc…

They are amazing.

They had camera crews and a truck full of press photographers following behind them.

After finishing their stops in Manhattan, they played a FREE concert in Ferry State Park in Brooklyn. The concert was a secret until they announced it on their website around 12pm and from there the news spread through emails, blogs and mobiles like wild fire.

Word-of-mouth travels quickly in NYC…within three hours there were thousands of New Yorkers eagerly waiting for the free concert.

Who else could attract thousands of people within a few hours? Honestly, I can't think of another band or person who would draw thousands of people momentarily at the drop of a hat. Not to mention, people didn't have tickets so most were going on heresy.

U2 arrived on the back of the flatbed truck driving across the Manhattan Bridge into Brooklyn, the crowd had been facing South towards the Brooklyn Bridge when they noticed U2 coming then the fans began to cheer the band’s arrival. Bono shouted “hello New York, we’re on our way!”

Summary:
November 22, 2004 – U2 played a free concert beginning at about 4:45 and performed for about an hour.

The Dublin-based band includes The Edge, drummer Larry Mullen, lead singer Bono, and bassist Adam Clayton.

They were shooting a video and making a round of appearances in the city to publicize their upcoming album 'How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb’ which is being released tomorrow November 23rd.

The pictures are from Retuers.