Watch U2 Perform ‘Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)’ For 1st Time Since 1987

U2 surprised fans attending their concert Friday night at Sphere in Las Vegas by playing a holiday classic for the first time in 36 years. The band covered Darlene Love’s “Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)” during the segment of the concert performed on a stage resembling a turntable.

U2 previously played “Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)” at a concert held on December 20, 1987, which was the final show of The Joshua Tree Tour. Written by Phil Spector, Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry, “Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)” was popularized by Darlene Love, who released her recording in 1963.

U2 recorded a version of “Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)” that was included on the 1987 charity compilation holiday album, A Very Special Christmas. U2’s recording featured Love on backing vocals. Love named U2’s version when asked to select her favorite cover of the song during an appearance on The View podcast Behind The Table.

Love explained her choice by stating:

“I have a connection with U2 and the song because U2 wanted me to do all the background parts. Not me and some more people. I did all the backgrounds for it. We went in and we did the song and it has a special meaning to me because it’s totally different from what everybody else did. It was a U2 ‘Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).’ That’s what made it so great.”

Watch U2 perform “Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)” for the first time in 36 years during Friday’s Sphere concert:

U2 recently confirmed the final dates of their U2:UV Achtung Baby Live residency at Sphere in Las Vegas. The Irish rockers were the first band to play at the newly opened state-of-the-art performance venue. The run will end in March 2024, with the final shows bringing the total to 40 concerts at the Vegas Sphere.