U2 announce new Auckland concert dates

U2 will bring their Vertigo tour to NZ in November.

Rock band U2 have announced they will be back to play in New Zealand in November.

The band were originally booked to play two concerts in March but had to postpone the dates after a close family member of one of the band fell ill.

The rescheduled dates are:

Friday, November 24 replaces the old date of Friday, March 17th.
Saturday, November 25 replaces the old date of Saturday, March 18th.

Kanye West will join the band as opening act for the concerts at Auckland's Mt Smart Stadium (formerly Ericsson Stadium).

Tickets to both original dates sold out soon after they went on sale last year and will be valid for the new dates. A refund is available to fans unable to attend the new dates from the original place of purchase.

The ticket sell-out in December last year sparked a buying frenzy on internet auction site Trade Me. Those who missed out paid a premium on scalped tickets. Pairs of general admission tickets worth $99 each were sold at between $670 and $850, while single tickets went for up to $600.

Soon after the original shows were cancelled U2 singer Bono told ABC's Enough Rope show in Australia the band promised "amazing shows" on their return down under.

"Oh yeah, because it will be the only time we get a chance to play these songs for a long time. It will be extraordinary and the member of the band whose life has been turned upside down by this recent news, he will be on fire as opposed to having a cloud hanging over them. They'll be amazing shows" he said.

"It's only happened (postponing shows) once before... It makes you feel ill. For those who have to travel and change travel arrangements we're really, really deeply sorry."

- NZHERALD STAFF