Bono kisses Polish flag during Berlin U2 gig

Polish fans flocked to a string of four gigs in the German capital in recent days, as the Irish group had decided not to play Poland on their current Innocence + Experience Tour.

However, much to the delight of Polish fans, the band played a special tribute, with a rendition of classic 1983 track 'New Year's Day', which was written in honour of the Solidarity movement, while Poland was under communist-imposed martial law.

Plucking a Polish flag from a member of the audience on Monday, Bono then proceeeded to introduce the hit.

“We'd just love to play this next song for our friends across the border,” he said.

“They know who I'm talking about.

“Solidarity with our brothers.”

The song, which was the band's first UK hit single, was a landmark track for the band. It is featured on the 1983 album 'War'. Rolling Stone magazine ranked the song as 435th in the '500 greatest songs of all time.' (nh/rk)