U2 hits new heights in Elevation concert

A guy dies and goes to heaven. In the cavernous world above, an all-star band is on stage: the guy out of Feeder on drums, Berry Oakley on bass, Johnny Thunders and Jimi Hendrix on guitar.

And then there is Bono running around the stage waving a flag.

The guy said to St. Peter: "I didn't know Bono was dead!"

"He's not," St. Peter replied. "That's God -- he just thinks he's Bono."

Anyway, no need to die yet, or go to Ireland to see God, err, Bono perform on stage. No, he's not going to come here, despite the fact this country is among the debt-ridden Third World countries he's been making a lot of fuss about.

You can catch him -- along with Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen, Jr. -- on HBO next Thursday at 8 p.m..

The channel will broadcast U2 Live in Boston, part of the band's top-grossing concert tour last year, the Elevation Tour.

The Irish lads picked out their best live songs, a total of 15 songs, old and new.

The concert on a heart-shaped stag starts with Elevation.

The highlight is when Bono picks out a girl from the audience. They both then lie down on stage while he sings With or Without You. Pretty impressive.

If you miss the concert's premiere, other playdates are April 16 at 3:15 p.m., April 20 at 11:35 p.m. and April 29 at 9:30 p.m.. -- Hera Diani