More than 70,000 people turned out Saturday night for the U2 concert at Seattle’s Qwest Field, listening as Bono belted out classics like “I Will Follow” and “Where the Streets Have No Name.” But it was one Seattleite who got special mention by the lead singer of the Irish band: Bill Gates.

During the encore, Bono took a moment to thank the Microsoft chairman who he has bonded with over philanthropic issues in recent years.

“Bill & Melinda are a couple who have changed the world. And they have changed my life, and I just want to give it up to them. The Gates Foundation, Bill and Melinda,” said Bono to cheers from the crowd. “They are not just changing lives, they are transforming lives.”

He added: “Thanks for your passion, your brain power and your cash, actually.”

In 2005, Bono and Bill and Melinda Gates were chosen as Time magazine’s people of the year for their efforts to fight poverty and disease. They’ve remained close since then, an odd pairing of sorts with the geek and the rock star.

Word is that Bono also stopped by the new offices of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation when in town this week.

It was unclear whether Bill and Melinda were in the audience Saturday night. And this is not the first time that Bono has reached out to the billionaire during one of his shows.

In Vancouver, B.C. two years ago, Bono sang happy birthday to Gates.

Here’s the Bono shout out from the concert in Seattle Saturday night.

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