NEW YORK: U2 frontman Bono honoured the late Anthony Bourdain toward the end of the band's special performance Monday at the Apollo Theater in Harlem.
Bono spoke of losing a "lot of inspiring, useful people" over the past few years "who gave up on their own life," referring to the suicides of musicians Chris Cornell and Chester Bennington, as well as fashion designer Kate Spade.
"And now this great storyteller, who I am sure has stories he could not tell us. So for Anthony Bourdain, and his friends and family this is a song inspired by a great, great, great friend of ours. His name is Michael Hutchence," Bono said before launching into an impassioned version of "Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of."
The Grammy-winning song about suicide was written by the band after INXS singer Hutchence was found dead in 1997.
61-year old Bourdain was found dead of an apparent suicide last week in France.
As for the performance, the band took a break from their Experience and Innocence arena tour to play a special one-night show at the legendary theatre for Sirius XM subscribers. The invite-only show had a star-studded guest list, including tennis legend John McEnroe, rocker Jon Bon Jovi, E-Street band guitarist "Little Steven" Van Zandt, and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft.
The band ripped through its 90-minute set, covering 18 songs, and maintaining enough energy to keep many of the nearly 1,500 on their feet for most of the night.
Never afraid to play songs from a new album, four came from 'Experience.' But they also included standards like 'Pride (In the Name of Love),' 'Vertigo,' and 'Desire.'
They also dusted off a few gems that have not been heard yet on the tour, including 'Angel of Harlem,' the band's homage to Billie Holliday.
Other songs marking their first tour appearance included, 'When Love Comes to Town,' ''Every Breaking Wave,' and 'Out of Control' from 'Boy,' the band's 1980 debut album.