U2 Thrill 70,000 in Chorzów
Last night at 21.10, while most of Poland was winding down after another day of work, 70,000 lucky fans went wild as rock legends U2 stepped onto their massive purpose-built stage (which resembled a giant metallic spider) in Chorzów to kick off the Polish leg of their 360° Tour.
British group Snow Patrol duly warmed up the crowd, but there was never any doubt who the thousands had come to see, and indeed, which song they had wanted to hear most.
As the first few notes of New Years Day were plucked from Adam Clayton's bass guitar and soared over the heads of crowd - the song inspired by former Polish leader Lech Wałesa and the Solidarity movement - the stadium erupted. It's not often that arguably the biggest rock band in the world writes a song in memory of a nation's struggle.
The group also dedicated their song 'Sunday Bloody Sunday' (originally written in memory of Irish civil rights marchers who were gunned down by British troops in 1972) to Iran, where violent clashes between the country's opposition movement and the government have left many dead and scores injured.
"This country is going somewhere very special – [it has] a special spirit," Bono told the sea of bodies before him.
"Is it the Irish-Polish connection? Is it stubbornness? Is it faith? Faith in the future?” he asked, before adding emphatically, "Europe needs more countries like Poland!”