U2 pays tribute to Pike River miners

U2 pay tribute to the Pike River mine victims during One Tree Hill. Photo / Eoin McLoughlin

Even the biggest concert of the year acknowledged the sombre mood of the nation.

U2's Bono said the band felt privileged to be here especially at a time when hearts were aching and so raw.

Struggling for the right words to convey his condolences for the people of Greymouth, he said: "People deal with grief in all sorts of ways. In Ireland, we sing".

Bono then launched into "I still haven't found what I'm looking for".

The names of the 29 mining victims scrolled across the screen as the band played "One Tree Hill", a song penned for New Zealander Greg Carroll who was the band's roadie.

Opening act Jay-Z also paid a rap tribute to the miners saying "they will always be in our hearts and they will always be forever young."