On 14 May 2015 , U2 embarked on a worldwide concert tour called the Innocence Experience Tour . It was U2 's first time playing arenas since 2005 – 2006 on their Vertigo Tour . Comprising 76 shows over two legs , the tour visited North America from May through July , and Europe from September through December . The band structured their concerts around a loose narrative of " innocence " passing into " experience " , with a fixed set of songs for the first half of each show and a varying second half , separated by an intermission – a first for U2 concerts . The stage spanned the length of the venue floor and comprised three sections : a rectangular segment that illuminated as an " I " to represent " innocence " ; a smaller circular stage that illuminated as an " e " to represent " experience " ; and a walkway between them to represent the transition between the two themes . A double-sided video screen was suspended above and parallel to the walkway ; the structure featured an interior catwalk between the screens , allowing the band members to perform amidst the video projections . U2 's sound system was moved to the venue ceilings and arranged in an oval array , in hopes of improving acoustics by evenly distributing sound throughout the arena . In total , the tour grossed $ 152.2 million from 1.29 million tickets sold . The final date of the tour , one of two Paris shows rescheduled due to the 13 November 2015 attacks in the city , was filmed for the video '' Innocence Experience : Live in Paris '' and broadcast on the American television network HBO
13 November 2015 attacks
November 2015 Paris attacks
Songs of Innocence (U2 album)