LISTEN: U2 professes love for Vancouver on a local radio station

Irish rock band U2 is in Vancouver to kick off their Innocence + Experience world tour tonight. And ahead of their gig, the band sat down for an exclusive interview with Willy Percy from Willy in the Morning on Rock 101 radio station.

In an interview with the station, lead singer Bono talked about why he loves to perform in Vancouver.

“Vancouver has been very, very welcoming of us at a time when we were very fragile,” he says. “Because you get quite vulnerable when you are preparing to launch a tour. I know it sounds odd, but there is a level of nausea, you feel ill. It is a really anxious time.”

Bono says they have big ambitions for the show and they want to see it succeed.

“Here in this city, we feel very free. And I like to get out of the city and I go wandering, I go cycling, you know. I get lost around here, and I like getting lost in B.C.”

To listen to the rest of the interview, go here.

Earlier today, Percy talked about his exclusive interview with U2 on Global BC Morning News.

Bono, the Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. spent the last couple of weeks rehearsing at the Pacific Coliseum, with an army of fans from all over the world waiting outside, hoping to catch a glimpse of the band.

READ MORE: Rehearsing for U2 tour in Vancouver, Bono opens up about injuries

Some have been camping out outside Rogers Arena for the release of the final general admission tickets.

And a few very lucky fans even got an autograph from Clayton outside Rogers Arena in the wee hours of Wednesday morning.

READ MORE: U2’s world tour kicks off in Vancouver and fans are very excited

The band will perform two shows here in Vancouver — on May 14 and 15. They will also perform in Montreal on June 12, 13, 16, and 17 and in Toronto July 6 and 7. Their tour ends in France in November.