By MATT KIELTYKA and GRAEME McRANOR - 24 hours Vancouver

VANCOUVER - Thousands of U2 fans were at GM Place yesterday where the mega-band was filming a music video and needed 4,000 volunteers.

But before people could get into the free event, they had to wait outside for the doors to open at 4p.m., which was an event all its own.

Thirteen VanCity employees found out about the shoot and asked to have the day off. They camped outside of GM Place all day, from 6:30 in the morning.

"I'm absolutely ecstatic," said Joanne Shadbolt, who's been a U2 fan since they formed but has never seen them live until yesterday. "Their music is brutally honest and they have such a raw, powerful sound.

Fans throughout the line-up were singing U2 songs while waiting, but

3-year-old Connor Stork took the cake with his rendition of Vertigo.

Connor and his 7-year-old sister, Callie, are second-generation U2 fans and their parents didn't hesitate to bring them along.

HUNT ON FOR BONO SIGHTINGS

He's sought here, there, everywhere. "Anyone seen Bono yet?"

That was the cry on the streets of Vancouver and in the media after a video casting call for the band's next single drew the masses down to GM Place yesterday.

Four thousand wristbands were handed out on a first-come basis. Meanwhile, press, TV and radio scouted entrances for a glimpse of Bono or any other band members. But they were lying low - sunburn was all there was to show for the day-long stakeout.

Meanwhile, the rest of the city remains agog as the countdown to Thursday and Friday's sellout concerts continues. There is more interest in the group than in the provincial election politicking now underway here.

Even the controversy over the Olympic icon Ilanaaq seems softened by Bono's shades.

So what's the buzz on where to catch a glimpse of the rockers in the flesh? Well, if you didn't secure a wristband for your place in rock history, and you don't have tickets for the shows, you can always shell out some green to ubiquitous scalpers.

Don't have a king's ransom in your wallet? There's always the luck of the Irish.

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