COURTESY PHOTO Pearl Jam will join U2 in their Dec. 9 stadium gig.

Pearl Jam joining U2 at Aloha Stadium

Fans in Hawaii are astounded by the show scheduled for Dec. 9

Yesterday's announcement of U2's new concert date of Dec. 9 came with a surprising bonus: the addition of Pearl Jam (pictured below) to the Aloha Stadium bill, setting up a rock pairing that far exceeded ticket-holders' dreams.

"I'm so emotional, I've been phoning and e-mailing my friends all day," ticket-holder Monica Munro said. "This concert is a total dream come true."

A further bonus: With the stadium converted into football configuration for the University of Hawaii season, reserved seats will be closer to the stage than in the previously planned baseball configuration, stadium spokesman Patrick Leonard said.

"The stage's location will remain in the north side of the field," he said, "and (that) should bring both sideline seats closer."

U2's April 8 Aloha Stadium date was put off because of the sudden illness in the family of a band member. That postponement is looking like a blessing in disguise.

Rumors had been circulating among Hawaii fans that the veteran Seattle band Pearl Jam would play the islands after its Australia tour, but no one anticipated a pairing with U2.

Honolulu residents who held onto their tickets are now doubly excited.

"I knew that U2 wasn't going to let us down," Munro said. "They take care of their fans. Pearl Jam is also loyal to their fans."

All previously postponed Australia dates for U2's "Vertigo '06" tour are also being honored, and three Tokyo dates have been added. The last Japan date is Dec. 4, five days before the tour closes in Honolulu.

"I'm glad I didn't sell my tickets," Tamara Kong said. "My husband wasn't originally going to go with me, but he changed his mind once he found out Pearl Jam is coming."

Earl Crawford said he and his wife had been considering returning their tickets for a refund. "We spent 300 bucks on two tickets like everyone else," he said.

"When my wife and I first heard about the rescheduling of the concert, we were totally stoked. ... I guess my first reaction was, 'I wonder how much I could get for these tickets on eBay,'" he joked.

Rocco and the Devils, led by U2's longtime stage manager, Rocco Reedy, will open the concert as originally planned in April.

Reedy said he remembers Pearl Jam last opening for U2 in 1992 in Italy. Interviewed by phone from Illinois, where he is touring with Def Leppard and Journey, Reedy also said the Aloha Stadium appearance will maintain the same "Vertigo" staging, as individual video and sound setups will be gathered from vendors around the mainland for reassembly. "It was just a case of cutting up the pie and getting it back together," he said.

Those with tickets for the original April 8 show who are unable to make the Dec. 9 date have until Thursday to return their tickets to the point of purchase. (For tickets purchased online or by phone through Ticketmaster, call 877-750-4400.) Leonard said those tickets -- he will not know the number until next week -- will be sold to the public beginning Aug. 5.

Leonard also said the stadium staff would meet today about the addition of Pearl Jam to the bill. "I would assume that we'll have to start a little earlier than the originally scheduled time."