Timeline Of U2
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This is a timeline of the history of rock band U2:


Pre-1976

*13 March 1960: Adam Clayton is born in Chinnor, Oxfordshire. *10 May 1960: Paul David Hewson (
Bono Paul David Hewson (born 10 May 1960), known by his stage name Bono (), is an Irish singer-songwriter, activist, and philanthropist. He is the lead vocalist and primary lyricist of the rock band U2. Born and raised in Dublin, he attended M ...
) is born in Dublin. *8 August 1961: David Howell Evans ( The Edge) is born in Essex. *31 October 1961: Larry Mullen Jr. is born in Artane, Dublin. *September 1974: Bono's mother, Iris Hewson, dies of a brain aneurysm in Dublin four days after collapsing at her father's funeral.Stokes (1996), p. 140. *Autumn: Paul Hewson and his neighbourhood friends form the "Lypton Village," in which they create their own language, dress differently, and put on art installations. The group nicknames Hewson ''Bono'' after a Dublin hearing aid store.


1976

*25 September: The band that will become U2 forms in Dublin after Mullen posts a notice seeking musicians for a new band on the Mount Temple Comprehensive School notice board. Attending the first practice are Mullen (playing drums), The Edge and his older brother Dik Evans (playing guitar), the Evans brothers' friend Adam Clayton (playing bass guitar), Bono (performing lead vocals), and Mullen's friends Ivan McCormick and Peter Martin. *September: The band name themselves "Feedback" because it was one of the few technical terms they knew. *Autumn: Martin leaves the band after the first practice, and McCormick leaves within a few weeks. *late 1976: Feedback give their first public performance at a talent contest held in the school canteen.


1977

* April: Feedback play their first gig for a paying audience at
St. Fintan's High School St. Fintans High School ( ga, Ard Scoil Naomh Fhionntán) is an all-boys Roman Catholic voluntary-aided secondary school located between Sutton and Baldoyle, Dublin, Ireland. History Background A school originally opened at Bellevue House with ...
.McGee (2008), pp.11-12 * 1977: Feedback change their name to "The Hype".


1978

*February: The Hype record a performance of "The Fool" for the RTÉ programme, ''Our Times''. *March: The ''Our Times'' performance airs, marking the band's first television appearance.McGee (2008), p. 14 *18 March: As a four-piece playing under the name "U2", the band win a talent show in Limerick, Ireland. The prize is £500 and studio time to record a demo for CBS Ireland. *20 March: The band play their last concert as The Hype. During the performance, Dik Evans ceremonially leaves the stage, and the remaining four members play a set as "U2".McCormick (2006), pp. 46–48 *28 April: Bill Graham publishes his first interview with U2 in '' Hot Press''. *April: U2 record their first demo tape at Keystone Studios, Dublin.Wall, Mick, (2005). Bono. Andre Deutsch Publishers. (Promotional edition published by Paperview UK is association with the Irish Independent), p. 45 *25 May 1978: Paul McGuinness agrees to become U2's manager. *9 September 1978: U2 play in support of The Stranglers at the Top Hat Ballroom, their biggest gig to date. They are paid £50. *November 1978: Mullen's mother, Maureen Mullen, is killed in a car accident. *December 1978: U2 play in support of The Greedy Bastards, a band made up of members of
Sex Pistols The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band formed in London in 1975. Although their initial career lasted just two and a half years, they were one of the most groundbreaking acts in the history of popular music. They were responsible for ...
, Thin Lizzy, and
Boomtown Rats The Boomtown Rats are an Irish rock band originally formed in Dublin in 1975. Between 1977 and 1985, they had a series of Irish and UK hits including "Like Clockwork", "Rat Trap", "I Don't Like Mondays" and "Banana Republic". The original line ...
, at the Stardust nightclub in Dublin.Stokes (1996), p. 140.


1979

*February: Using borrowed money, Bono travels to London to plug U2 at the offices of record companies and music magazines. *May: U2 play the first of six afternoon concerts at the Dandelion Market in Dublin. Organised for young people prohibited from the venues U2 normally play, the concerts greatly expand their Dublin audience. *September: U2's first release, an Ireland-only EP entitled '' Three'', becomes the band's first Irish chart success. *5 October: U2 play their first television performance on
RTÉ (RTÉ) (; Irish language, Irish for "Radio & Television of Ireland") is the Public broadcaster, national broadcaster of Republic of Ireland, Ireland headquartered in Dublin. It both produces and broadcasts programmes on RTÉ Television, telev ...
at a televised concert at the Cork Opera House. *26 October: U2 are featured on the cover of '' Hot Press'' magazine. *1 November : U2 receive their first cover story outside Ireland in British magazine '' Record Mirror''. *1 December: With £3,000 borrowed from family and friends, U2 begin a two-week tour of London clubs, their first shows outside Ireland.


1980

*15 January: U2 perform "Stories for Boys" live on ''
The Late Late Show ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in E ...
''. *26 February: U2's second single, "
Another Day Another Day may refer to: Albums * ''Another Day'' (Steve Ashley album) * ''Another Day'' (The Hurt Process album) * ''Another Day'' (Lene Marlin album) * ''Another Day'' (Oscar Peterson album) * ''Another Day'' (Racoon album) * ''Another ...
", is released on the CBS label for the Irish market only. *19 March: U2 share the bill with Berlin and The Virgin Prunes at the ''Sense of Ireland'' festival. Record company executives are present. *23 March: U2 sign an international deal with
Island Records Island Records is a multinational record label owned by Universal Music Group. It was founded in 1959 by Chris Blackwell, Graeme Goodall, and Leslie Kong in Jamaica, and was eventually sold to PolyGram in 1989. Island and A&M Records, anoth ...
. *March – September: The band record their first album at Windmill Lane Studios. *23 May: "
11 O'Clock Tick Tock "11 O'Clock Tick Tock" is a song by Irish rock music, rock band U2. It was released as a single on 16 May 1980, and was produced by Martin Hannett. It followed their debut Extended play, EP ''Three (U2 EP), Three'' and the single "Another Day (U2 s ...
" is released in Ireland, and as the band's first internationally released single, in the UK. *27 July: U2 play their first open-air festival to an audience of 15,000 at Leixlip Castle in Kildare. The Police top the bill which includes Squeeze and Q-Tips. *August: "
A Day Without Me "A Day Without Me" is a song by Irish rock band U2, and the eighth track on their debut album '' Boy''. It was released as the album's lead single in August 1980, and was their first release to be produced by Steve Lillywhite. Theme The song's l ...
" is released as a single. *6 September – 4 December: The band play a 57-date tour of Europe. *27 September: U2 support Echo and the Bunnymen in London's Lyceum Ballroom. *October: " I Will Follow" is released as a single and peaks at number 20 on the
Mainstream Rock charts Mainstream Rock is a music chart in ''Billboard'' magazine that ranks the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations in the United States, a category that combines the formats of active rock and heritage rock. The chart was launched in Ma ...
. *14 October: The band play to a small audience in KRO Studios in
Hilversum Hilversum () is a city and municipality in the province of North Holland, Netherlands. Located in the heart of the Gooi, it is the largest urban centre in that area. It is surrounded by heathland, woods, meadows, lakes, and smaller towns. Hilvers ...
, The Netherlands. The show is broadcast the following day to coincide with the following day's first mainland European concert. *15 October: U2 play their first continental Europe gig at Melkweg ("The Milkyway") in Amsterdam. *19 October: U2 play the
Lyceum Ballroom The Lyceum Theatre ( ) is a West End theatre located in the City of Westminster, on Wellington Street, just off the Strand in central London. It has a seating capacity of 2,100. The origins of the theatre date to 1765. Managed by Samuel Arnol ...
, opening for Slade with the hardcore punk fame
Discharge Discharge may refer to Expel or let go * Discharge, the act of firing a gun * Discharge, or termination of employment, the end of an employee's duration with an employer * Military discharge, the release of a member of the armed forces from serv ...
and Last Words. *20 October: The band's debut album, '' Boy'', is released in Ireland and the United Kingdom. It peaks at No. 52 in British charts. *6 December: U2 play their first American concert at The Ritz in New York City as part of a 14-date tour. *9 December: U2 perform their debut concert in Canada the day after John Lennon's death. The angry and emotional performance receives glowing reviews in Canadian media.


1981

*24 January – 28 February: U2 play dates in the United Kingdom and play their first tour of continental Europe. *3 March: ''Boy'' is released in the United States. *3 March – 31 May: U2 commence their first major tour of the United States playing almost 60 dates across the country largely in clubs. *4 June: U2 make their American television debut on the
Tomorrow Show Tomorrow may refer to: * Tomorrow (time), the day after today * The future, that which occurs after the present Periodicals * ''To-Morrow'' (Chicago magazine), a magazine from 1903 to 1909 * ''Tomorrow'' (New Zealand magazine), a left-wing ma ...
to promote the Boy album. Bono and the Edge are interviewed briefly by host Tom Snyder and the band plays "I Will Follow" and an incomplete version of "Twilight" during the credits *July: The single " Fire" is released. *July – August: The band record their second album at Windmill Lane Studios, in Dublin. The sessions are complicated after the briefcase containing Bono's lyrics was lost earlier in the year during a show in Portland, Oregon. *5 October: "
Gloria Gloria may refer to: Arts and entertainment Music Christian liturgy and music * Gloria in excelsis Deo, the Greater Doxology, a hymn of praise * Gloria Patri, the Lesser Doxology, a short hymn of praise ** Gloria (Handel) ** Gloria (Jenkins) ...
" is released as a single and makes the UK charts.Parra (1996), p. 25. The video for "Gloria" is directed by
Meiert Avis Meiert Avis is an Irish music video and commercial director. Avis has directed videos for artists such as Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, U2, Avril Lavigne, Paramore, Alanis Morissette, Flyleaf, Jennifer Lopez, New Found Glory and Josh Groban, ...
and shot in the Canal Basin in Dublin. *12 October: The band's second album, '' October'', is released. During the album's recording sessions, Bono and The Edge left the band due to spiritual conflicts, and U2 ceased to exist for a brief period of time. The album received mixed reviews and limited radio play. It enters the UK charts at number 11.


1982

*March: The single "
A Celebration "A Celebration" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It was released as a non-album single in March 1982, between the records ''October'' (1981) and ''War'' (1983). The song's music video was filmed at the Kilmainham Gaol former prison in Dublin. ...
" is released. * July 18 U2 support Rory Gallagher at Punchestown Racecourse festival where acts such as
Simple Minds Simple Minds are a Scottish rock band formed in Glasgow in 1977. They have released a string of hit singles, becoming best known internationally for "Don't You (Forget About Me)" (1985), which topped the '' Billboard'' Hot 100 in the United St ...
and
Phil Lynott Philip Parris Lynott (, ; 20 August 1949 – 4 January 1986) was an Irish singer, bassist, and songwriter. His most commercially successful group was Thin Lizzy, of which he was a founding member, the principal songwriter, lead vocalist and ba ...
were also on the bill. *31 August: Bono marries high school sweetheart, Alison Stewart, in Raheny, Dublin. They honeymoon in Jamaica where Bono reportedly works on the lyrics for the new album. *1 December: The pre- War Tour begins.


1983

*January: The new album's first single, "
New Year's Day New Year's Day is a festival observed in most of the world on 1 January, the first day of the year in the modern Gregorian calendar. 1 January is also New Year's Day on the Julian calendar, but this is not the same day as the Gregorian one. Wh ...
" is released and becomes the band's first hit outside Ireland or the UK. *28 February: The band release their third album '' War''. which debuts at number one in the UK. *11 March: The single " Two Hearts Beat as One" is releasedStokes (1996), p. 142. in Europe, North America, and Australia. In Germany and The Netherlands, " Sunday Bloody Sunday" is released instead. *23 April: The American leg of the War Tour starts in Kenan Stadium,
Chapel Hill, North Carolina Chapel Hill is a town in Orange, Durham and Chatham counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Its population was 61,960 in the 2020 census, making Chapel Hill the 17th-largest municipality in the state. Chapel Hill, Durham, and the state ca ...
. *30 May: US Festival at Glen Helen Regional Park, San Bernardino, CA, USA *5 June: U2 plays in the Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Denver. *12 July: The Edge marries Aislinn O'Sullivan with Bono serving as best man. *November: The live mini album '' Under a Blood Red Sky'' is released alongside the video of the Denver concert, '' Live at Red Rocks: Under a Blood Red Sky''. *22 November: U2 play their first Japanese concert, debuting in Osaka. *30 November: The War Tour ends. *December: U2 is voted "Band of the Year" in the Rolling Stone magazine writer's poll.


1984

*1984: U2 re-sign with Island Records under far more lucrative terms. *7 May – 5 June: U2 work on their fourth album at Slane Castle. The band hire
Brian Eno Brian Peter George St John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno (; born Brian Peter George Eno, 15 May 1948) is a British musician, composer, record producer and visual artist best known for his contributions to ambient music and work in rock, pop an ...
and Daniel Lanois as producers. *6 June – 7 August: U2 complete work on their fourth album at Windmill Lane Studios.McGee (2008), p. 75 *4 July: The Edge's wife Aislinn gives birth to their first child, Hollie. *1 August: U2 establish Mother Records. *29 August: The band's first tour of Australia and New Zealand begins in Christchurch. Dubbed, "Under Australian Skies Tour", it comprises 15 concerts with Australian band
Matt Finish Matt Finish are an Australian Rock music, rock band formed in mid-1979 by singer-songwriter and guitarist Matt Moffitt (1956–2003) and drummer, composer and producer John Prior (musician), John Prior. The 1981 line-up of Moffitt, Prior, Rich ...
and a largely War Tour setlist is played. *September: " Pride (In the Name of Love)" is released as the album's first single and becomes the band's biggest hit to that point, including being their first to enter the U.S. top 40. *1 October: U2's fourth album, '' The Unforgettable Fire'', is released.Parra, Pimm Jal de la ''U2 Live: A Concert Documentary'', pp. 52–55, 1996, Harper Collins Publishers, *October – November:
The Unforgettable Fire Tour The Unforgettable Fire Tour was a concert tour by Irish rock band U2 that took place in 1984 and 1985 in support of band's album ''The Unforgettable Fire''. Beginning in August 1984 with the band's first tour to Australia and New Zealand, the t ...
plays 21 shows in halls and arenas in Western Europe. *1 December: The band play 10 dates in major United States cities. Demand for tickets significantly outstrip supply indicating that U2 will no longer be able to play these smaller theatres and halls.


1985

*1985: ''Rolling Stone'' magazine calls U2 the "Band of the 80s", saying that "for a growing number of rock-and-roll fans, U2 have become the band that matters most, maybe even the only band that matters". *January – February: The band play 13 shows in Western Europe. The leg included 5 shows in Germany and the band's first concert in Italy. *Late February – May: U2 play 40 shows in 29 cities in the United States and Canada. For the first time, the band play solely in arenas with multiple nights in many of the locations. *April: The album's second and final single, " The Unforgettable Fire", is released. It reaches No. 6 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 8 on the Dutch singles chart, but does not perform as well in the U.S. *May: The four-track EP ''
Wide Awake in America ''Wide Awake in America'' is a four-track extended play by Irish rock band U2. It was released on 20 May 1985 through Island Records. It combines two live performances of songs from the group's 1984 album ''The Unforgettable Fire'' with two B ...
'' is released. *Late May – mid July: U2 play nine concerts in the European festival season. *29 June: U2 play a homecoming concert at Dublin's
Croke Park Croke Park ( ga, Páirc an Chrócaigh, ) is a Gaelic games stadium in Dublin, Ireland. Named after Archbishop Thomas Croke, it is referred to as Croker by GAA fans and locals. It serves as both the principal national stadium of Ireland and he ...
, their first headlining show in a stadium. *13 July: U2 perform at the
Live Aid Live Aid was a multi-venue benefit concert held on Saturday 13 July 1985, as well as a music-based fundraising initiative. The original event was organised by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise further funds for relief of the 1983–1985 fami ...
benefit concert for
Ethiopian famine Famines in Ethiopia have occurred periodically throughout the history of the country, which was formerly known as Abyssinia. The economy was based on subsistence agriculture, with an aristocracy that consumed the surplus. Due to a number of caus ...
relief at Wembley Stadium. The band's performance, which included a 12-minute version of "
Bad Bad or BAD may refer to: Common meanings *Evil, the opposite of moral good * Erroneous, inaccurate or incorrect * Unhealthy, or counter to well-being * Antagonist, the threat or obstacle of moral good Acronyms * BAD-2, a Soviet armored troll ...
", is a pivotal point for the band's career, showing a television audience of millions the personal connection that Bono could make with audiences. *September: Bono and wife, Ali, volunteer as relief workers for World Vision in Ethiopia. *15 October: The Edge and wife Aislinn's second child, Arran, is born.


1986

*30 January: Bono and Larry Mullen are interviewed for half an hour on Irish TV show, ''TV Gaga'', before the band play a song called "Womanfish", a rough early version of "Trip Through Your Wires", and a cover of "Knocking on Heaven's Door".Parra (1996), p. 74. *February: The debut issue of ''Propaganda'', U2's new fanclub magazine, is published. *27 February: U2 are among the readers’ choice in ''Rolling Stone'''s Music Awards, for Band of the Year. Best Songwriter was Bono, Best Live Performance was U2. In the Critics' Picks, the Band of the Year was U2. *17 May: U2 play the Self Aid festival in Dublin. The event is organised to create jobs and raise money during Ireland's unemployment crisis. *4–15 June: U2 interrupt writing for their album to serve as a headline act on
Amnesty International Amnesty International (also referred to as Amnesty or AI) is an international non-governmental organization focused on human rights, with its headquarters in the United Kingdom. The organization says it has more than ten million members and sup ...
's A Conspiracy of Hope tour. Rather than distract, the tour adds extra intensity and power to their new music. *3 July: U2 crew member Greg Carroll is killed in a motorcycle accident in Dublin. *10 July: Band members perform at Carroll's burial Kai-iwi Marae in New Zealand. *mid-July: Bono and wife Ali travel to Nicaragua on a visit organised by
Central American Mission Partners Central is an adjective usually referring to being in the center of some place or (mathematical) object. Central may also refer to: Directions and generalised locations * Central Africa, a region in the centre of Africa continent, also known ...
(CAMP), which is dedicated to human rights and economic development in Latin America. They visit Ernesto Cardenal of the Sandinista government and musician Carlos Mejía Godoy.McGee (2008), p. 98. *19 July: The group listens to President
Daniel Ortega José Daniel Ortega Saavedra (; born 11 November 1945) is a Nicaraguans, Nicaraguan revolutionary and politician serving as President of Nicaragua since 2007. Previously he was leader of Nicaragua from 1979 to 1990, first as coordinator of the ...
speak on the country's Revolution Day. *20 July: Bono is moved by churchgoers calling out the names of loved ones who have died fighting the ''contras''. *late July: Bono and Ali's group flies to
El Salvador El Salvador (; , meaning " The Saviour"), officially the Republic of El Salvador ( es, República de El Salvador), is a country in Central America. It is bordered on the northeast by Honduras, on the northwest by Guatemala, and on the south b ...
for 4 to 5 days. They meet the group COMADRES – the Mothers of the Disappeared – a group of women whose children have been killed or disappeared at the hands of the government. As the group walks through a remote rural area north of
San Salvador San Salvador (; ) is the capital and the largest city of El Salvador and its eponymous department. It is the country's political, cultural, educational and financial center. The Metropolitan Area of San Salvador, which comprises the capital i ...
, government troops shoot in their direction, scaring the group. *1 August: The band recommence recording sessions at Windmill Lane Studios in Dublin. Bono's first-hand experience of the conflicts in Central America become a central influence on songs such as "Bullet The Blue Sky" and "Mothers of the Disappeared". Motivated by friendships with Bob Dylan, Van Morrison and Keith Richards, the band looked back to the roots of rock music, and Bono focused on his skills as a song and lyric writer. *October: U2 see blues legend B.B. King play in Dublin and they meet him backstage. The band and King later record the song " When Love Comes to Town". *November: Recording sessions for the new album finish. *14–16 December: U2 travel around the Californian desert with photographer
Anton Corbijn Anton Johannes Gerrit Corbijn van Willenswaard (; born 20 May 1955) is a Dutch photographer, film director and music video director. He is the creative director behind the visual output of Depeche Mode and U2,Pitman, Joanna"The silent partner"' ...
and designer Steve Averill, shooting pictures in the desert landscape for the new album's cover. On the evening after the first day's shooting, Corbijn tells the band about Joshua Trees and suggests their use on the sleeve. The following day they find an unusual lone-standing tree, images of which are used for the album sleeve, and the album is named '' The Joshua Tree''. *late December: U2 call in Steve Lillywhite to remix a few of the new songs which he works on into the new year.


1987

*January: U2 complete B-side recordings for the album's single releases, including the tracks "Walk to the Water", "Luminous Times", and "Spanish Eyes". *February: U2 shoot a video for " Red Hill Mining Town",McGee (2008), p. 100. which was intended to be one of the album's singles but it was not released. A video is also shot for " With or Without You" in Dublin. *9 March: U2's fifth studio album, '' The Joshua Tree'', is released and goes to number one in 22 countries. *21 March: " With or Without You" is released and becomes the band's first number one single on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100. *27 March: U2 perform on the roof of a shop in downtown Los Angeles and film the video for "Where the Streets Have No Name".Parra (1996), p. 79. *30 March: In rehearsals for The Joshua Tree Tour, Bono falls backwards off the stage and his chin is gashed. He still carries the scar. ''The Joshua Tree'' enters the US ''Billboard'' 200 chart at number 7.Parra (1996), p. 97. *2 April: U2 open The Joshua Tree Tour in Tempe, Arizona. The hot dry desert air affects Bono's voice, and he is barely able to sing on opening night. Concert promoter Barry Fey reads out a statement on behalf of the band denouncing Arizona Governor, Evan Mecham's intention to abolish the Martin Luther King Day holiday in that State.Parra (1996), p. 79. *7 April: ''The Joshua Tree'' reaches number one on the US ''Billboard'' 200, where it remains for nine weeks. *12 April: Following a concert in Las Vegas, the band film the video clip for " I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" in the neon-lit streets. *14 April: Maria McKee performs a duet with Bono on U2's cover of "
I Shall Be Released "I Shall Be Released" is a 1967 song written by Bob Dylan. Dylan recorded two primary versions. The first recording was made in collaboration with the Band during the Basement Tapes sessions in 1967, and released on '' The Bootleg Series Volu ...
" during their concert in San Diego. *20 April: Bob Dylan joins the band onstage to sing "I Shall Be Released" and " Knocking on Heaven's Door".Rock's Hottest Ticket
''Time'' Archive, April 1987. Retrieved on 20 January 2007.
*27 April: U2 become the fourth rock band to be featured on the cover of '' Time'' magazine, which declares U2 "Rock's Hottest Ticket". *30 April: U2 play their first headlining stadium show in the United States at the Pontiac Silverdome. *May: Sales of ''The Joshua Tree'' surpass seven million. " I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" is released and reaches number one on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100. *27 May: U2 begin the European leg of the Joshua Tree Tour at the
Stadio Flaminio The Stadio Flaminio is a stadium in Rome. It lies along the Via Flaminia, three kilometres northwest of the city centre, 300 metres away from the Parco di Villa Glori. The interior spaces include a covered swimming pool, rooms for fencing, amat ...
in Rome. Most of the leg's 31 shows are in outdoor stadia. *2 June: After listening to
Roy Orbison Roy Kelton Orbison (April 23, 1936 – December 6, 1988) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician known for his impassioned singing style, complex song structures, and dark, emotional ballads. His music was described by critics as ...
's "In Dreams" the night before, Bono starts writing a song for Orbison. After that night's show at Wembley Arena, Orbison makes a surprise visit backstage where Bono plays the song, "
She's a Mystery to Me "She's a Mystery to Me" is a song by Roy Orbison, written by Bono and the Edge of U2. It was released on Orbison's final (posthumous) album, ''Mystery Girl'' (also inspiring the album title), and as the album's second single in March 1989. The so ...
" for him. *4 July: The show at the
Hippodrome de Vincennes Hippodrome de Vincennes is a horse racing track located in Paris, France. It has a capacity of 80,000. It was created in 1863 and rebuilt in 1879, after being destroyed in the Franco-Prussian War. It has been used for concerts as well, hostin ...
in Paris is filmed for Island Records' 25th birthday celebrations. A canister of tear gas is set off in the crowd causing mild panic and the band interrupt their performance of "With or Without You". *August: " Where the Streets Have No Name" is released as ''The Joshua Tree'''s third single. *August: U2 find out that Island Records is in financial difficulties and cannot pay them $5 million in ''The Joshua Tree'' royalties. U2 reinvest the unpaid amount into the company in return for an estimated 10% stake in the company. *26 September: U2 rehearse "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" with the New Voices of Freedom in a Harlem church, footage of which later appears in the documentary film '' Rattle and Hum''. *October: Eamon Dunphy's official biography of the band, ''Unforgettable Fire: The Definitive Biography of U2'' is published. *November: " In God's Country" is released as a single in Canada and the US. Import sales are so strong that it charts in the UK. *1 November: The Dalton Brothers make the first of three appearances on The Joshua Tree Tour as support act for U2. A
country and western A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. It may be a sovereign state or make up one part of a larger state. For example, the country of Japan is an independent, sovereign state, while the ...
four-piece that plays two songs; they are actually U2 in disguise and all but the front few rows of the audience fail to recognise them.Parra (1994) *8 November: U2 play the McNichols Sports Arena in Denver. The same day, an IRA bomb had killed eleven people at a Remembrance Day ceremony in the Northern Irish town of Enniskillen. During the performance of "Sunday Bloody Sunday", Bono condemned the violence and his ''"Fuck the revolution!"'' remark earned him the ire of the IRA. This performance and six other songs from the concert are later used in the ''Rattle and Hum'' film. *11 November: U2 play an impromptu "Save the Yuppie" concert in Justin Herman Plaza in San Francisco as a mock benefit following the
October 1987 stock market crash Black Monday is the name commonly given to the global, sudden, severe, and largely unexpected stock market crash on Monday, October 19, 1987. In Australia and New Zealand, the day is also referred to as ''Black Tuesday'' because of the time zo ...
. A cover version of Bob Dylan's " All Along the Watchtower" is captured for ''Rattle and Hum''. During a performance of "Pride", Bono spray-painted "Rock and Roll Stops the Traffic" on the Vaillancourt Fountain. The city issues a warrant for Bono's arrest and Bono writes a letter of apology. *29 November: U2 visit Graceland and footage from the visit is later included in the ''Rattle and Hum'' movie. *19–20 December: The Joshua Tree Tour concludes with two performances at the
Sun Devil Stadium Sun Devil Stadium is an outdoor college football stadium in the southwestern United States, on the campus of Arizona State University (ASU) in Tempe, Arizona. It is home to the ASU Sun Devils football team of the Pac-12 Conference. The s ...
in Arizona. Footage of five songs is later used in ''Rattle and Hum''.


1988

*February: U2 move to Los Angeles to work with Phil Joanou on the '' Rattle and Hum'' documentary. While in LA, they also record new songs at A&M Studios and STS Studios.Stokes (1996), p. 141. *March: "
One Tree Hill One Tree Hill may refer to: * "One Tree Hill" (song), a 1987 song by U2 referencing One Tree Hill, New Zealand volcanic peak * ''One Tree Hill'' (TV series), a 2003–2012 American drama series named for the U2 song ** ''One Tree Hill'' (soundtr ...
" is released as a single exclusively in New Zealand. *2 March: At the Grammy Awards, U2 win "Best Vocal of the Year" for "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" and "Album of the Year" for ''The Joshua Tree''. *May: U2 record additional material for the movie at Dublin's Point Depot. Footage of performances of "Van Diemen's Land" and "
Desire Desires are states of mind that are expressed by terms like "wanting", "wishing", "longing" or "craving". A great variety of features is commonly associated with desires. They are seen as propositional attitudes towards conceivable states of aff ...
" are later used in the movie. *September: "
Desire Desires are states of mind that are expressed by terms like "wanting", "wishing", "longing" or "craving". A great variety of features is commonly associated with desires. They are seen as propositional attitudes towards conceivable states of aff ...
" is released as the new album's first single. It is the band's first number one single in the UK. *10 October: The part live, part studio, double album '' Rattle and Hum'' is released. *27 October: The ''Rattle and Hum'' film has its world premiere. *November: The Edge joins Bryan Ferry on stage for a surprise appearance at the RDS in Dublin. *6 December:
Roy Orbison Roy Kelton Orbison (April 23, 1936 – December 6, 1988) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician known for his impassioned singing style, complex song structures, and dark, emotional ballads. His music was described by critics as ...
, for whom Bono and the Edge had recently written "
She's a Mystery to Me "She's a Mystery to Me" is a song by Roy Orbison, written by Bono and the Edge of U2. It was released on Orbison's final (posthumous) album, ''Mystery Girl'' (also inspiring the album title), and as the album's second single in March 1989. The so ...
", dies in the United States before the release of his '' Mystery Girl'' album. *17 December: " Angel of Harlem" is released as ''Rattle and Hum''s second single.


1989

*April: " When Love Comes to Town" is released as ''Rattle and Hum'''s third single. *10 May: Bono and Ali's first child, Jordan, is born on Bono's 29th birthday. *13 June: " All I Want is You" is released as ''Rattle and Hum'''s fourth and final single. Its release in Australia is delayed until October to coincide with the
Lovetown Tour The Lovetown Tour was a concert tour by the Irish rock band U2, which took place in late 1989 and early 1990 following the release of ''Rattle and Hum''. It was documented by noted rock film director Richard Lowenstein in the "LoveTown" docum ...
. It reaches number one on the Australian charts. *6 August: Adam Clayton is arrested in Dublin on drug charges. *21 September: The Lovetown Tour starts in Australia. *30 December: Towards the end of the Lovetown Tour, Bono says on stage in Dublin that "this is just the end of something for U2" and that "we have to go away and … and dream it all up again". *31 December: At midnight, U2 open the last of four Dublin shows with "Where The Streets Have No Name" as the audience counts down the last seconds of the 1980s. The show is played live on radio throughout Europe.


1990

*January: U2 begin their longest break to date, which includes a two-year break from public performance. *17 January: With the rest of U2 in attendance, Bono inducts The Who into the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (RRHOF), sometimes simply referred to as the Rock Hall, is a museum A museum ( ; plural museums or, rarely, musea) is a building or institution that cares for and displays a collection of artifacts and othe ...
McGee (2008), p. 130. *6 February: The
Royal Shakespeare Company The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) is a major British theatre company, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. The company employs over 1,000 staff and produces around 20 productions a year. The RSC plays regularly in London, St ...
's theatrical version of '' A Clockwork Orange'' debuts in London. Bono and Edge provide the score.McCormick (2006), p. 215. *18 February: U2 is named Best International Group at the Brit Awards. *March: Bono writes two songs with the
Neville Brothers The Neville Brothers were an American R&B/soul/funk group, formed in 1976 in New Orleans, Louisiana. History The group notion started in 1976, when the four brothers of the Neville family, Art (1937–2019), Charles (1938–2018), Aaron (b. 19 ...
called "Jah Love" and "Kingdom Come". *April: Mullen writes the official anthem of Ireland's 1990 World Cup Soccer Team. It is released under a Mother Records subsidiary and reaches number one on the Irish Charts. *June: U2 record " Night and Day" for the first of the '' Red Hot + Blue'' releases. The song is recorded in Edge's basement and produced by Edge and Paul Barrett. *mid-1990: The band record demos at STS studios in Dublin that later evolve into " Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses", " Until the End of the World", "
Even Better Than the Real Thing "Even Better Than the Real Thing" is a song by Irish rock band U2, and is the second track on their 1991 album, ''Achtung Baby''. It was released as the album's fourth single on 8 June 1992, and it reached number three in Ireland and Canada whi ...
", and "
Mysterious Ways Mysterious Ways may refer to: * "Mysterious Ways" (song), a song by U2 from the 1991 album ''Achtung Baby'' * ''Mysterious Ways'' (TV series), science-fiction television series which ran from 2000 to 2002 *''Mysterious Ways'', a 1990 album by Steve ...
".McCormick (2006), pp. 216, 221. *3 October: The band arrive in East Berlin to begin work on a new album. With producers Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno, they are seeking inspiration and renewal on the eve of
German reunification German reunification (german: link=no, Deutsche Wiedervereinigung) was the process of re-establishing Germany as a united and fully sovereign state, which took place between 2 May 1989 and 15 March 1991. The day of 3 October 1990 when the Ge ...
. *4 October: U2 shoot the music video for "Night and Day" at director
Wim Wenders Ernst Wilhelm "Wim" Wenders (; born 14 August 1945) is a German filmmaker, playwright, author, and photographer. He is a major figure in New German Cinema. Among many honors, he has received three nominations for the Academy Award for Best Docum ...
' home in Berlin. *December: U2 do several photo shoots with
Anton Corbijn Anton Johannes Gerrit Corbijn van Willenswaard (; born 20 May 1955) is a Dutch photographer, film director and music video director. He is the creative director behind the visual output of Depeche Mode and U2,Pitman, Joanna"The silent partner"' ...
around their hotel and at Hansa Studios, for the new album sleeve and also for publicity shots.McGee (2008), p. 133. *Christmas: The members of U2 get together in Dublin to talk about the group's future after the difficulties of the Berlin sessions. They all agree to continue.


1991

*January: The band return to Berlin to finalise some recording work.McGee (2008), p. 134. *9 February: U2 arrive in Tenerife for two weeks of photo and video shoots, which the band hopes will change its image. They dress in masks and join the crowds in the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. It is during this time that the photos of U2 in drag are taken. *late February/March – July: Back in Dublin, U2 rent the Dalkey seaside manor, "Elsinore House", to continue work on the new album.McGee (2008), p. 135. *Easter: The Edge separates from his wife, Aislinn. The pain of their separation strongly influences the album material which is being written.Fricke (1993).Gardner (1994), p. xxv. *17 March: U2 meet with Willie Williams to continue discussions on the band's next tour. *April: Tapes from the album's earlier Berlin session's are leaked and bootlegged. *May: U2 sue the '' Sunday Independent'' over an October 1990 article based on third-hand reports about U2 behaving badly in a Dublin restaurant. The matter is settled out of court including a printed apology from the paper which says the original article had "no foundation in fact".McGee (2008), p. 136. *mid-May: Island Records announces that it will pursue legal action against anyone selling U2's bootlegged studio tapes. In late May, authorities trace the tapes' distribution to Germany and a factory is shut down. *June: Anton Corbijn is commissioned for another photo shoot, this time in Dublin, the results of which include the nude photo of Adam Clayton that is used on the album sleeve. *14 June: U2 meets with Willie Williams and Catherine Owens to discuss the next tour. New ideas include placing TV monitors all over the stage and using Trabants as overhead light sources.McGee (2008), p. 137. *July: U2, Anton Corbijn, and designer Steve Averill meet in Morocco for a four-day photo shoot. *7 July: Bono and Ali's second child, Eve, is born. *20 August: Electronic band, Negativland, release a single called "U2" which includes an unauthorised sample of "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For". *5 September: Island Records obtain an injunction against the sale and promotion of Negativland's "U2" single. *13 September: Parts of the video for the new album's first single, " The Fly" are shot in Dublin. The rest of the video is shot in London a few weeks later. *21 September: At the deadline for completion of the new album, U2 stay up all night choosing mixes and the album's running order. *22 September: The Edge takes the tapes of the new album to the United States for final mastering. *October: The video of "
Mysterious Ways Mysterious Ways may refer to: * "Mysterious Ways" (song), a song by U2 from the 1991 album ''Achtung Baby'' * ''Mysterious Ways'' (TV series), science-fiction television series which ran from 2000 to 2002 *''Mysterious Ways'', a 1990 album by Steve ...
" is shot in Fez in Morocco by director Stéphane Sednaoui, and Anton Corbijn photographs the band. *12 October: Actung Baby's first single, " The Fly", is released. It becomes U2's second number one single in the UK. *19 November: U2 release '' Achtung Baby''. *25 November: "
Mysterious Ways Mysterious Ways may refer to: * "Mysterious Ways" (song), a song by U2 from the 1991 album ''Achtung Baby'' * ''Mysterious Ways'' (TV series), science-fiction television series which ran from 2000 to 2002 *''Mysterious Ways'', a 1990 album by Steve ...
" is released as ''Achtung Baby'''s second single. The song reaches Number 9 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, making it the band's fourth-highest-charting single.


1992

*15 January: The Edge inducts The Yardbirds into the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (RRHOF), sometimes simply referred to as the Rock Hall, is a museum A museum ( ; plural museums or, rarely, musea) is a building or institution that cares for and displays a collection of artifacts and othe ...
. On stage he joins Keith Richards, Neil Young, and
Jimmy Page James Patrick Page (born 9 January 1944) is an English musician who achieved international success as the guitarist and founder of the rock band Led Zeppelin. Page is prolific in creating guitar riffs. His style involves various alternative ...
for a version of " Big River". *29 February: The Zoo TV Tour begins in Lakeland, Florida. *March: The third single from ''Achtung Baby'', "
One 1 (one, unit, unity) is a number representing a single or the only entity. 1 is also a numerical digit and represents a single unit of counting or measurement. For example, a line segment of ''unit length'' is a line segment of length 1. I ...
", is released. It reaches number 7 in the UK charts, number 10 in the US charts, and number 1 on the US Mainstream Rock Tracks and the US Modern Rock Tracks charts. *5 March: U2 issue a statement denying newspaper reports that the words shown on video screens during performances of "The Fly" include "Bomb Japan Now" and that they have no wish to offend the people of Japan. *27 March: Bono orders 10,000 pizzas onstage for the audience at a concert in Detroit. The pizza supplier manages to deliver 100 pizzas. *7 May: The European leg of the Zoo TV tour opens in Paris. *31 May: Bono meets author Salman Rushdie for the first time backstage after a show in London.McGee (2008), p. 148 *7 June: The fourth single from ''Achtung Baby'', "
Even Better Than the Real Thing "Even Better Than the Real Thing" is a song by Irish rock band U2, and is the second track on their 1991 album, ''Achtung Baby''. It was released as the album's fourth single on 8 June 1992, and it reached number three in Ireland and Canada whi ...
" is released. It reaches number 32 in the US and number 12 in the UK. A remix version reaches number 8 in the UK. *11 June: In a Stockholm show, Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson from ABBA join the band for a performance of "
Dancing Queen "Dancing Queen" is a Europop and disco song by the Swedish group ABBA, released as the lead single from their fourth studio album, ''Arrival'' (1976). It was written by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Stig Anderson. Andersson and Ulvaeus al ...
". *19 June: U2 play the "Stop Sellafield" show in Manchester. They play alongside
Kraftwerk Kraftwerk (, "power station") is a German band formed in Düsseldorf in 1970 by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider. Widely considered innovators and pioneers of electronic music, Kraftwerk were among the first successful acts to popularize the ...
, Public Enemy, and Big Audio Dynamite II in protest against the operation of a second nuclear reactor at Sellafield. The following day, the band participate in a demonstration organised by
Greenpeace Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning network, founded in Canada in 1971 by Irving Stowe and Dorothy Stowe, immigrant environmental activists from the United States. Greenpeace states its goal is to "ensure the ability of the Earth t ...
whereby protesters land on the beach at Sellafield in rubber dinghies and display 700 placards for the waiting media. *29 June: Bono records a solo version of " Can't Help Falling in Love''. *7 August: After three weeks of stage erection and a week of rehearsals, U2 provide a public rehearsal. Morleigh Steinberg makes her debut as the belly dancer in "Mysterious Ways". *12 August: The Outside Broadcast leg of the Zoo TV tour opens in New Jersey. *August: The fifth and final single from ''Achtung Baby'', " Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses", is released. *28 August: During a New York interview with Rockline, US presidential candidate Bill Clinton contacts U2 live on air.


1993

*20 January: Larry Mullen and Adam Clayton attend the inauguration of United States President Bill Clinton in Washington. That evening, together with R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe and Mike Mills, they perform "One" at the
MTV MTV (Originally an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable channel that launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a di ...
1993 Rock and Roll Inaugural Ball. They dub the one-off group, "
Automatic Baby "One" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the third track from their 1991 album ''Achtung Baby'', and it was released as the record's third single in February 1992. During the album's recording sessions at Hansa Studios in Berlin, conflict ...
", after merging the names of the bands' most recent albums '' Automatic for the People'' and ''Achtung Baby''. *February: U2 start recording new material in Dublin. *23 February: Bono brings model Naomi Campbell to a U2 organisation party to meet Adam Clayton, who has a crush on Campbell. They start dating over the following days.McGee (2008), p. 159; Flanagan (1995) *24 February: ''Achtung Baby:'' wins "Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Group or Duo" but loses "Album of the Year" to Eric Clapton's ''Unplugged''. *4 March: In ''Rolling Stone'' magazine's readers' poll U2 win Best Band, Artist of the Year, Comeback of the Year, Best Tour, Best Album, and Best Album Cover, and Best Single (for "One"). Bono is voted Best Male Singer, Best Songwriter and Sexiest Male Artist. Mullen is voted Best Drummer and Edge and Clayton are runners up in their respective categories. Critics are slightly less enthusiastic.McGee (2008), p. 159. *Late April: Having almost finished the '' Zooropa'' album, U2 rehearse for the European concerts. *9 May: Dubbed "Zooropa", the Zoo TV Tour recommences with a European stadium leg starting in Rotterdam. U2 play to 2,100,000 people over 43 shows. The concert includes the premier of Bono's new alter-ego MacPhisto. Throughout the month of May, the band often fly back to Dublin following concerts to finalise mixing of the ''Zooropa'' album. *June: " Numb" is released as the first single from the new album. It is released on video only. *5 July: U2 release '' Zooropa''. *14 July: At a concert in Marseille, Bono's holds the first of a number of live on-stage interviews with documentary maker
Bill Carter Bill Carter (born 1966) is a writer and director. He directed the documentary film ''Miss Sarajevo'', which consists of amateur video material he shot during his stay in the besieged city of Sarajevo. He is the author of ''Fools Rush In'', his ...
who is in the besieged city of Sarajevo. *11 August: Author Salman Rushdie, the subject of a death Fatwa, joins U2 on stage in front of 70,000 people at Wembley Stadium. *28 August: On the final Zooropa concert in Dublin, Clayton's fiancée, model Naomi Campbell appears on stage.Parra (1996), p. 170. *September: " Lemon" is released as the second single from ''Zooropa''. *3 September: At the MTV awards in Los Angeles, The Edge makes his first ever solo appearance where he performs "Numb" in front of a miniature version of the Zoo TV set. *November: Bono records the vocal for his duet with Frank Sinatra on "I've Got You Under My Skin" in Dublin. *12 November: U2 commence the "Zoomerang" leg of Zoo TV in Melbourne.Parra (1996), p. 172. *22 November: " Stay (Faraway, So Close!)" is released as ''Zooropa'''s third single. *26 November: Adam Clayton doesn't play the first of two concerts in Sydney. Bono tells the audience that he is suffering from a virus and his guitar technician Stuart Morgan fills in. It is the first time a member of U2 has missed a performance. It is later revealed that Clayton was too hungover to play. *27 November: The second Sydney concert is filmed and shown around the world as a pay per view TV show. The concert video is released the following year on VHS.Parra (1996), p. 172. *10 December: U2 play the final gig of the Zoo TV tour at the Tokyo Dome.


1994

*February: U2 issue a writ challenging the Performing Rights Society on their exclusive rights to collect songwriting royalties for song performances. *March: ''Zooropa'' wins "Best Alternative Album" award at the Grammys. *1994: Clayton and Mullen move to New York City to study music. *April: Mullen and Clayton record four tracks with Nanci Griffith for her '' Flyer'' album. *17 May: The Zoo TV concert film, '' Zoo TV: Live from Sydney'', is released in Europe and Australia. *November: U2 and Brian Eno record new music over two weeks in a West London studio.


1995

*February: Bono and the Edge record " North and South of the River" with Christy Moore. *Mid-1995: U2, Brian Eno, and Howie B form Passengers and spend five weeks recording in Dublin. *1 June: U2 release the single, "
Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It was released as a single from the ''Batman Forever'' soundtrack album on 5 June 1995. A number-one single in their home country of Ireland, as well as in seven other cou ...
", which features in the '' Batman Forever'' soundtrack. It reaches Number 2 in the UK, Number 16 in America, and Number 1 in Australia and Ireland. *12 September: Bono, The Edge and Brian Eno premiere "Miss Sarajevo" at the annual Pavarotti and Friends concert in Modena, Italy. *7 November: The Passengers album '' Original Soundtracks 1'' is released worldwide. " Miss Sarajevo" featuring
Luciano Pavarotti Luciano Pavarotti (, , ; 12 October 19356 September 2007) was an Italian operatic tenor who during the late part of his career crossed over into popular music, eventually becoming one of the most acclaimed tenors of all time. He made numerou ...
was the only single from the release. On the same day, Tina Turner releases the theme for the new James Bond film GoldenEye, written by Bono and the Edge, on Capitol Records.


1996

*January: U2 begin working on a new album in Dublin. *April: The band move to Miami for further work on the album. *1 May: Clayton and Mullen release their version of the '' Mission: Impossible'' theme track. It enters the charts in the Top 10 in the US, the UK, and other countries. *11 May: Hot Press journalist Bill Graham dies at his home in Howth. The band fly back to Dublin from America to attend the funeral.


1997

*3 February: " Discothèque" is released as the first single from ''Pop''. *4 March: U2 release ''
Pop Pop or POP may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Music * Pop music, a musical genre Artists * POP, a Japanese idol group now known as Gang Parade * Pop!, a UK pop group * Pop! featuring Angie Hart, an Australian band Albums * ''Pop'' (G ...
''. The album debuts at number one in 35 countries and drew mainly positive reviews. Sales were poor compared to previous U2 releases. *15 April: " Staring at the Sun" is released as ''Pop'''s second single. *25 April: The PopMart Tour commences in Las Vegas. *14 July: " Last Night on Earth" is released as the third single from ''Pop''. *8 September: The live EP ''
PopHeart ''Please: PopHeart Live EP'' is a live EP by the Irish rock music, rock band U2. The EP features four live tracks from the band's PopMart Tour and was released towards end of the second leg of the tour on 8 and 9 September 1997. Two of four the ...
'' is released. *20 September: U2 play a PopMart show at the Festival Site in Reggio Emilia, Italy to an estimated 150,000 people, making it the biggest concert on the entire PopMart Tour. *23 September: U2 play a concert in Sarajevo; they are the first major group to perform there following the
Bosnian War The Bosnian War ( sh, Rat u Bosni i Hercegovini / Рат у Босни и Херцеговини) was an international armed conflict that took place in Bosnia and Herzegovina between 1992 and 1995. The war is commonly seen as having started ...
. Mullen described the concert as "an experience I will never forget for the rest of my life, and if I had to spend 20 years in the band just to play that show, and have done that, I think it would have been worthwhile." *20 October: " Please" is released as the fourth single from ''Pop''. *8 December: "
If God Will Send His Angels "If God Will Send His Angels" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the fourth track on their 1997 album, '' Pop'', and was released as its fifth single on 8 December 1997. It was also featured on the '' City of Angels'' soundtrack. B-sides ...
" and " Mofo" are released as the fifth and final singles respectively.


1998

*21 March: The PopMart Tour concludes in Johannesburg, South Africa. *26 April: One month following the conclusion of the PopMart Tour, U2 appeared on the 200th episode of '' The Simpsons'', "
Trash of the Titans "Trash of the Titans" is the twenty-second episode of the ninth season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. The 200th episode of the series overall, it originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on April 26 ...
", in which
Homer Simpson Homer Jay Simpson is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the American animated sitcom ''The Simpsons''. He is voiced by Dan Castellaneta and first appeared, along with the rest of his family, in ''The Tracey Ullman Show'' short "G ...
disrupted the band on stage during a PopMart concert. *19 October: "
Sweetest Thing "Sweetest Thing" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It was originally released as a B-side on the "Where the Streets Have No Name" single in 1987. The song was later re-recorded and re-released as a single in October 1998 for the band's compila ...
" is released as a single. *9 November: ''The Best of 1980–1990 B-Sides'' is released. *22 November: The '' PopMart: Live from Mexico City'' video is released. *20 November: U2 appear on ''
The Late Late Show ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in E ...
'' in Dublin for the Omagh Tribute. *23 December: Larry Mullen Jr and partner Ann Acheson have a baby girl whom they name Ava after the actress Ava Gardner.


1999

*17 August: Bono and wife Ali have a baby boy who is named Elijah Bob Patricius Guggi Q.


2000

*9 October: " Beautiful Day" is released as a single, debuting at Number 1 in Australia, Canada and the UK, and at Number 21 in the US. *30 October: '' All That You Can't Leave Behind'' is released. For many of those not won over by the band's 1990s music, it was considered a return to grace; ''Rolling Stone'' called it U2's "third masterpiece" alongside ''The Joshua Tree'' and ''Achtung Baby''. The album debuted at number one in 22 countries.


2001

*22 February: The single "Beautiful Day" wins 3 Grammy Awards. U2 perform in a scaled-down setting, returning to arenas after nearly a decade of stadium productions. A heart-shaped stage and ramp permitted greater proximity to the audience. *29 February: "
Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of "Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the second track on their tenth studio album, ''All That You Can't Leave Behind'' (2000), and was released as the album's second single on 29 January 2001. The band' ...
" is released as the second single from ''All That You Can't Leave Behind''. *24 March: American Leg of the Elevation Tour starts in Miami, Florida. *20 May: Bono and Ali have their fourth child, a son named John Abraham. *12 June: " Elevation" is released as the third single from the album. *7 July: European Leg of the Elevation Tour starts in Copenhagen, Denmark. *21 August: Bono's father, Brendan Robert 'Bob' Hewson, dies of cancer on the day of U2's third performance at Earl's Court Arena in London, England. However, "the show goes on", with Aung San Suu Kyi appearing in a new video before "Bullet the Blue Sky". *25 August: U2 play two sold-out concerts at Slane Castle. *10 October: U2 commence the second American leg of the Elevation Tour. Following the September 11 attacks, the new album gained added resonance. U2 perform at
Madison Square Garden Madison Square Garden, colloquially known as The Garden or by its initials MSG, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in New York City. It is located in Midtown Manhattan between Seventh and Eighth avenues from 31st to 33rd Street, above Pennsylva ...
in New York City from 24 to 27 October. *19 November: " Walk On" is released as ''All That You Can't Leave Behind'''s fourth and final single. The song is written about Aung San Suu Kyi and dedicated to her.


2002

*3 February: U2 perform during the Super Bowl XXXVI half-time show, which
SI.com ''Sports Illustrated'' (''SI'') is an American sports magazine first published in August 1954. Founded by Stuart Scheftel, it was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the National Magazine Award for General Excellence twice ...
ranked as the best half-time show in Super Bowl history. *March: U2 wins 4 Grammy awards for ''All That You Can't Leave Behind''. *13 March: Bono meets President Bush at the White House as the U.S. pledges development boost. *May: Bono tours 4 African countries with the U.S. Treasury Secretary, Paul O'Neill. *September: Bono appears on '' The Oprah Winfrey Show'' and urges Oprah's audience to take action in the fight against AIDS in Africa. *21 October: "
Electrical Storm A thunderstorm, also known as an electrical storm or a lightning storm, is a storm characterized by the presence of lightning and its acoustic effect on the Earth's atmosphere, known as thunder. Relatively weak thunderstorms are someti ...
" is released as a single. *12 November: '' The Best of 1990–2000'' is released. *December: Bono and DATA begin the Heart of America tour.


2003

*8 February: The exhibit "In the Name of Love: Two Decades of U2" opens at the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (RRHOF), sometimes simply referred to as the Rock Hall, is a museum A museum ( ; plural museums or, rarely, musea) is a building or institution that cares for and displays a collection of artifacts and othe ...
and Museum. *February: Bono receives the '
Knight of the Legion of Honour The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon, ...
' medal from French President
Jacques Chirac Jacques René Chirac (, , ; 29 November 193226 September 2019) was a French politician who served as President of France from 1995 to 2007. Chirac was previously Prime Minister of France from 1974 to 1976 and from 1986 to 1988, as well as Ma ...
. *March: U2 perform " The Hands That Built America" live at the Academy Awards. *April: Bono is on the cover of ''Time Magazine'' as one of a group of great European Heroes. *21 June: U2 perform "One" and "Pride" live at the Opening Ceremony of the 11th Special Olympics World Summer Games; Nelson Mandela joins them on stage at Dublin's Croke Park. *17 November '' U2 Go Home: Live from Slane Castle'', a concert film from the European leg of U2's Elevation Tour is released. Bono dedicates a performance of " Kite" to his father, who had died on 21 August 2001, several days before the concert.


2004

*January: The single "
Take Me to the Clouds Above "Take Me to the Clouds Above" is a song by British dance group LMC (credited as LMC vs U2). It peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart for two weeks in February 2004. The song interpolates Whitney Houston's 1986 hit "How Will I Know" (us ...
", a house-pop collaboration by LMC vs U2, is released. *16 September: Bono is nominated a third time for the Nobel Peace Prize. *8 November: The new album's first single, " Vertigo", is released. It reaches number 1 on the UK Singles Chart, number 1 on the Billboard charts, and number 5 on the Australian charts. *23 November: '' How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb'' is released. The album debuted at number one in the U.S. where first week sales doubled that of ''All That You Can't Leave Behind'' and set a record for the band. The same day, '' The Complete U2'' digital
box set A box set or (its original name) boxed set is a set of items (for example, a compilation of books, musical recordings, films or television programs) traditionally packaged in a box and offered for sale as a single unit. Music Artists and bands ...
is released by Apple on the iTunes Store. It is the first major release of a purely digital online set by any artist. It contains the complete set of U2 albums and singles, and also contains live, rare and previously unreleased material from 1978 to 2004, with a total of 446 songs. The release accompanies a U2 Special Edition iPod.


2005

*2005: ''How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb'' and its singles won Grammy Awards in all eight categories in which U2 were nominated. *7 February: " All Because of You" and " Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own" are released as the second and third singles from the album in North America and Europe respectively. *March:
Bruce Springsteen Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen (born September 23, 1949) is an American singer and songwriter. He has released 21 studio albums, most of which feature his backing band, the E Street Band. Originally from the Jersey Shore, he is an originat ...
inducted U2 into the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (RRHOF), sometimes simply referred to as the Rock Hall, is a museum A museum ( ; plural museums or, rarely, musea) is a building or institution that cares for and displays a collection of artifacts and othe ...
.U2 stars enter rock Hall of Fame
bbc.co.uk (15 March 2005). Retrieved 17 January 2007
Transcript: Bruce Springsteen Inducts U2 into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
u2station.com. Retrieved 17 January 2007
*28 March: The Vertigo Tour commences in San Diego, California. *22 April: ''
U2.COMmunication ''U2.COMmunication'' is a live album recorded by U2 and released exclusively to members of its official website in 2005. The album features performances from two different concerts from the Vertigo Tour—a concert in Chicago, filmed for the ' ...
'' is released to subscribers of U2.com. *27 April: U2 shoot a video for "City of Blinding Lights" at General Motors Place in Vancouver, British Columbia. Members of the public are invited into the venue as an audience backdrop. *9 - 10 May: Two concerts in Chicago, Illinois, are filmed for the video release '' Vertigo 2005: Live from Chicago''. *6 June: "
City of Blinding Lights "City of Blinding Lights" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the fifth track on their eleventh studio album, ''How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb'' (2004), and was released as the album's fourth single on 6 June 2005. It was produced by Flo ...
" is released as the fourth single from ''How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb''. *10 June: The European leg of the Vertigo Tour commences in Brussels, Belgium. *2 July: U2 perform at Live 8 in London's Hyde Park, opening the show. The band plays "
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band ''Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'' is the eighth studio album by the English rock band the Beatles. Released on 26May 1967, ''Sgt. Pepper'' is regarded by musicologists as an early concept album that advanced the roles of sound composi ...
" with Paul McCartney, "Beautiful Day", "Vertigo", and "One". The performance of "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" is released as a digital-single during the day and sets a world record as the fastest-selling online song. *20–21 July: Two concerts in Milan, Italy, are filmed. Ten songs would later be included on '' Vertigo 05: Live from Milan'', a bonus DVD included with '' U218 Singles''. *12 September: A second North American leg of the Vertigo Tour commences in Toronto, Ontario. *10 October: "Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own" and "All Because of You" are released as the fourth single from ''How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb'' in North America and Europe respectively, switching territories from their earlier releases. *November: "
Original of the Species "Original of the Species" is a song by rock band U2 and the tenth track from their 2004 album, ''How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb''. Promotion A live video clip of this song from the DVD '' Vertigo 2005: Live From Chicago'' is featured in a tele ...
" is released as the album's fifth and final single in a digital-only format. *14 November: ''Vertigo 2005: Live from Chicago'' is released on DVD.


2006

*12 February: An eight-date Latin American leg of the Vertigo tour commences in Mexico. *March: U2 arrive in Australia to prepare for the Australian leg of the Vertigo Tour. The tour, however, is postponed until further notice due to Edge's 7-year-old daughter Sian's diagnosis of leukaemia. *3 April: A duet of "One" with Mary J. Blige is released as a single. *Mid-2006: The band begin work on material for a new album writing and recording with producer Rick Rubin; the material is later shelved. *August: The band incorporates its publishing business in The Netherlands following the capping of Irish artists' tax exemption at €250,000. The move was criticised in the Irish parliament. *25 September: U2 play with
Green Day Green Day is an American rock band formed in the East Bay of California in 1987 by lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, together with bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt. For most of the band's career, they have been a powe ...
to open an
NFL The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the major ...
game in the Louisiana Superdome. It is the first game in the stadium following the heavy damage it sustained from
Hurricane Katrina Hurricane Katrina was a destructive Category 5 Atlantic hurricane that caused over 1,800 fatalities and $125 billion in damage in late August 2005, especially in the city of New Orleans and the surrounding areas. It was at the time the cost ...
. They play a four-song set of "
Wake Me Up When September Ends "Wake Me Up When September Ends" is a song by American rock band Green Day, released on June 13, 2005, as the fourth single from the group's seventh studio album, '' American Idiot'' (2004). The acoustic ballad was written by frontman Billie Joe ...
", " House of the Rising Sun", " The Saints Are Coming", and "Beautiful Day". *31 October: A studio cover with Green Day of The Skids' song " The Saints Are Coming" is released as a single for the charity Music Rising. *7 November: The 13 postponed dates of the Vertigo Tour in Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Hawaii commence in Brisbane. *17 November: '' U218 Singles'' and ''
U218 Videos ''U218 Videos'' is a music video compilation DVD by U2 from 2006, released the same day as its compilation album, ''U218 Singles''. The compilation features their most popular videos from "New Year's Day" in 1983 to "The Saints Are Coming" in 2 ...
'' are released. The bonus DVD on ''U218 Singles'' includes ten tracks taken from the 2005 concerts in Milan. *18 November: ''
Zoo TV Live ''Zoo TV: Live from Sydney'' is a concert film by Irish rock band U2. It was shot on 27 November 1993 at Sydney Football Stadium in Sydney, Australia, during the "Zoomerang" leg of the group's Zoo TV Tour. Directed by David Mallet, the concer ...
'' is released to subscribers of U2.com * 9 December: The Vertigo Tour concludes in Honolulu, Hawaii.


2007

*1 January: The "
Window in the Skies "Window in the Skies" is a song by Irish rock band U2 and is one of two new songs featured on their 2006 compilation album ''U218 Singles''. It was released on 1 January 2007 as the album's second single. It was recorded in September 2006 at ...
" single is released. *June: The band continue writing and recording for the album, this time with Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno as co-writers and producers. A two-week trip to
Fez, Morocco Fez or Fes (; ar, فاس, fās; zgh, ⴼⵉⵣⴰⵣ, fizaz; french: Fès) is a city in northern inland Morocco and the capital of the Fès-Meknès administrative region. It is the second largest city in Morocco, with a population of 1.11 mi ...
, where the six of them recorded, led to the band experimenting with North African influences. *20 November: ''The Joshua Tree'' is re-released as a 20th anniversary triple album.


2008

*23 January: A
3-D 3-D, 3D, or 3d may refer to: Science, technology, and mathematics Relating to three-dimensionality * Three-dimensional space ** 3D computer graphics, computer graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data ** 3D film, a ...
concert film, '' U2 3D'', filmed at nine concerts during the Latin America leg of the Vertigo Tour is released at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. *19 February: The single " The Ballad of Ronnie Drew" - a collaboration between U2, The Dubliners, Kíla, and "A Band of Bowsies" - is released. All proceeds went towards the Irish Cancer Society; the song is an homage to Ronnie Drew, who was dying of cancer at the time. *31 March: U2 sign a 12-year deal with
Live Nation Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. is an American global entertainment company and monopoly that was founded in 2010 following the merger of Live Nation and Ticketmaster. The company promotes, operates, and manages ticket sales for live entertainme ...
worth an estimated $100 million (£50 million), which includes Live Nation controlling the band's merchandise, sponsoring, and their official website. *Mid-2008: ''Boy'', ''October'', ''War'', and ''Under a Blood Red Sky'' are remastered and released. Three different formats of each were made available, featuring remastered tracks, B-sides, live, and unreleased songs. *18 December: The band complete their twelfth studio album, '' No Line on the Horizon'', and announce that the album will be released to the world on 2 March 2009.


2009

*18 January: U2 perform " Pride (In The Name Of Love)" and "
City of Blinding Lights "City of Blinding Lights" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the fifth track on their eleventh studio album, ''How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb'' (2004), and was released as the album's fourth single on 6 June 2005. It was produced by Flo ...
" at the
We Are One We Are One may refer to: Music Albums * ''We Are One'' (Maze album) (1983) or its title song * ''We Are One'' (Pieces of a Dream album) (1982) * ''We Are One'', a 2007 album by Kelly Sweet or its title song Songs * "We Are One" (global collabora ...
concert, celebrating the inauguration of Barack Obama, at the
Lincoln Memorial The Lincoln Memorial is a U.S. national memorial built to honor the 16th president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. It is on the western end of the National Mall in Washington, D.C., across from the Washington Monument, and is in the ...
in Washington, D.C. *23 January: " Get on Your Boots" is released as the first single from the new album. *27 February: U2's twelfth studio album, '' No Line on the Horizon'', is released. *27 March: ''
Medium, Rare & Remastered ''Medium, Rare & Remastered'' is a compilation album of rarities and remastered tracks by the Irish rock band U2. It was released exclusively to subscribing members of U2.com, replacing '' U2 Go Home: Live From Slane Castle'' on 22 February 2009 ...
'' is released to subscribers of U2.com. *4 May: " Magnificent" is released as the second single from the album. *30 June: The U2 360° Tour commences in Europe. The shows feature a 360-degree staging/audience configuration, in which the fans surround the stage from all sides. *17 August: " I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight" is released as the third single from ''No Line on the Horizon''. *25 October: The band's concert at the Rose Bowl Stadium is live streamed on YouTube. With a sellout crowd of 97,014, it is the highest attendance on record for one U.S. show by a single headliner based on box office totals reported to ''Billboard''. The previous record had been set by U2 in 1987. *27 October: A 25th Anniversary remastered edition of '' The Unforgettable Fire'' is released by Mercury Records. *28 October: U2 conclude the 2009 legs of the 360° Tour in Vancouver. *30 October: U2 headline the second of two consecutive concerts at Madison Square Gardens to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (RRHOF), sometimes simply referred to as the Rock Hall, is a museum A museum ( ; plural museums or, rarely, musea) is a building or institution that cares for and displays a collection of artifacts and othe ...
. *5 November: U2 are invited by the Berlin Lord Mayor to play a concert at the
Brandenburg Gate The Brandenburg Gate (german: Brandenburger Tor ) is an 18th-century neoclassical monument in Berlin, built on the orders of Prussian king Frederick William II after restoring the Orangist power by suppressing the Dutch popular unrest. One ...
to commemorate the fall of the
Berlin Wall The Berlin Wall (german: Berliner Mauer, ) was a guarded concrete barrier that encircled West Berlin from 1961 to 1989, separating it from East Berlin and East Germany (GDR). Construction of the Berlin Wall was commenced by the government ...
. They play a six-song set to 10,000 fans.


2010

*25 March: '' Artificial Horizon'' is released to subscribers of U2.com. *21 May: Bono has emergency surgery on a back injury sustained during tour preparations, and the band postpones the North American leg of the U2 360° Tour and their appearance at the
Glastonbury Festival Glastonbury Festival (formally Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts and known colloquially as Glasto) is a five-day festival of contemporary performing arts that takes place in Pilton, Somerset, England. In addition to contemp ...
. *26 June: The Edge makes a special guest appearance with Muse at Glastonbury to perform "Where the Streets Have No Name". *13 July: U2 announce the rescheduled dates for the postponed North American leg of the U2 360° tour. *6 August: The second European leg of the U2 360° Tour commences in Turin. It marks their first performance since Bono's recovery from his back injury. *25 November: U2 begin the Australasian leg of the 360° Tour at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand.


2011

*31 January: U2 announces the last date of their U2 360° Tour will be in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, their first date ever in
Atlantic Canada Atlantic Canada, also called the Atlantic provinces (french: provinces de l'Atlantique), is the region of Eastern Canada comprising the provinces located on the Atlantic coast, excluding Quebec. The four provinces are New Brunswick, Newfoundlan ...
. *10 May: '' Duals'' is released to subscribers of U2.com. *24 June: U2 headline the first night of the Glastonbury Festival. *30 July: The 360° Tour concludes with a performance in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada. *8 September: The documentary film '' From the Sky Down'', about U2 and the making of ''Achtung Baby'', premieres at Toronto International Film Festival.


2012

*1 May: '' U22'' is released to subscribers of U2.com. *17 December: '' From the Ground Up: Edge's Picks'' is released to subscribers of U2.com.


2013

*29 May: Bono and the Edge help celebrate '' Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark''s 1000th Show. *17 June: Bono speaks out for Voices Against Violence Campaign. * 18 June: The
Obama family The family of Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United States, is a prominent American family active in law, education, activism and politics. Obama's immediate family circle was the First Family of the United States, first family of the ...
meet Bono for a pub lunch in Dalkey. * 25 June: Mark Fisher, U2's longtime stage architect, dies. *16 July: Bono is made Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres by the French Minister of Culture. *2 September: U2 attends funeral mass for Seamus Heaney. * 3 September: Larry Mullen's second film, ''A Thousand Times Goodnight'', wins Special Grand Prix of the Jury at Montreal World Film Festival. *4 September: Adam Clayton marries Mariana Teixeira de Carvalho, a Brazilian supermodel, in a ceremony in Dublin. *17 October: A song titled " Ordinary Love" is revealed to be written specifically for the film '' Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom''. Subscribers of the band's official website are able to hear it first. *29 November: "Ordinary Love" is officially released as a single.


2014

*16 January: U2 receive an Academy Award nomination for "Ordinary Love". *2 February: U2 release a charity single titled " Invisible", a song incorrectly believed to be included on the band's 13th studio album. *9 September: U2 perform at an Apple product launch event in Cupertino, California, and announce that their 13th studio album, '' Songs of Innocence'', will be released through the iTunes Store to all customers at no cost that day. The first single from the album, " The Miracle (of Joey Ramone)", is also released. *16 November: Bono is involved in a "high energy bicycle accident" in New York's Central Park when he attempts to avoid another rider. Bono is rushed to NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/ Weill Cornell Medical Center's Emergency Department and undergoes "multiple X-rays and CAT scans" followed by five hours of surgery. *9 December: " Every Breaking Wave" is released as the second single from ''Songs of Innocence''.


2015

* 11 May: "
Song for Someone "Song for Someone" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the fourth track from their thirteenth studio album, ''Songs of Innocence'', and was released as its third single on 11 May 2015. It was produced by Ryan Tedder and Flood. Lyrically, "So ...
" is released as the third single from ''Songs from Innocence''. * 14 May: The Innocence + Experience Tour begins in Vancouver, Canada. * 4 September: The European leg of the Innocence + Experience Tour begins in Turin, Italy. * 7 December: The Innocence + Experience Tour concludes in Paris, France. The performance is a rescheduling of their 15 November date due to the terrorist attacks the previous day. The performance is filmed and broadcast as '' Innocence + Experience: Live in Paris'' on
HBO Home Box Office (HBO) is an American premium television network, which is the flagship property of namesake parent subsidiary Home Box Office, Inc., itself a unit owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. The overall Home Box Office business unit is ba ...
the same day.


2016

* 10 June: The ''Innocence + Experience: Live in Paris'' concert film is released on DVD, Blu-ray Disc and via digital download.


2017

* 12 May: The band commences a 30th anniversary tour for their album ''The Joshua Tree'' in Vancouver, Canada. * 6 September: "
You're the Best Thing About Me "You're the Best Thing About Me" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the third track on their fourteenth studio album, ''Songs of Experience'', and was released as its lead single on 6 September 2017. Musically, "You're the Best Thing About ...
" is released as the first single from the band's upcoming 14th studio album '' Songs of Experience''. * 8 November: The Joshua Tree Tour 2017 concludes in São Paulo, Brazil. * 1 December: U2's 14th studio album, ''Songs of Experience'', is released. * 2 December: The band appear as the musical guest on an episode '' Saturday Night Live''. * 8 December: "
Get Out of Your Own Way "Get Out of Your Own Way" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the fourth track on their fourteenth studio album, ''Songs of Experience'', and was released as the album's second single on 8 December 2017. Writing and recording "Get Out of You ...
" is released as the second single from ''Songs of Experience''.


2018

* 23 April: "
Love Is Bigger Than Anything in Its Way "Love Is Bigger Than Anything in Its Way" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the twelfth track on their fourteenth studio album, ''Songs of Experience'', and was released as its third single on 23 April 2018. In July 2018, it became U2's fou ...
" is released as the third single from ''Songs of Experience''. * 2 May: The
Experience + Innocence Tour The Experience + Innocence Tour (styled as eXPERIENCE + iNNOCENCE Tour) was a worldwide concert tour by rock band U2. Staged in support of the band's 2017 album, ''Songs of Experience'', the tour visited arenas throughout 2018. Comprising two ...
begins in Tulsa, Oklahoma. * 1 June:
Sirius XM Satellite Radio Sirius XM Holdings Inc. is an American broadcasting company headquartered in Midtown Manhattan, New York City that provides satellite radio and online radio services operating in the United States. It was formed by the 2008 merger of Sirius ...
launches a limited-time U2-exclusive radio station called "The U2 Experience" on channel 30, which features the band's music as well as interviews with the members. * 10 August: "Summer Love" is released as the fourth single from ''Songs of Experience''. * 31 August: The European leg of the Experience + Innocence Tour begins in Berlin, Germany. * 13 November: The Experience + Innocence Tour concludes in Berlin.


2019

* 8 November: The Joshua Tree Tour 2019, a continuation of the 2017 tour of the same name, begins in Auckland, New Zealand. * 22 November: U2 release a non-album single titled "Ahimsa" with Indian musician
A.R. Rahman Allah Rakha Rahman (; born A. S. Dileep Kumar; 6 January 1967) is an Indian music composer, record producer, singer and songwriter, popular for his works in Indian cinema; predominantly in Tamil and Hindi films, with occasional forays in int ...
to tie in with their first performance in India. * 15 December: The Joshua Tree Tour 2019 concludes in Mumbai, India.


2020

*1 January: A 75-minute cut of the concert video ''eXPERIENCE + iNNOCENCE: Live in Berlin'' is screened on broadcast networks worldwide. *1 July: A permanent U2-X Radio station on SiriusXM satellite radio launches. *September: U2's official YouTube channel is relaunched by YouTube, Island, Interscope, Universal Music Enterprises, and
Universal Music Catalogue Universal Music Group owns, or has a joint share in, many of the record labels listed here. According to UMG official site, the main labels are Abbey Road Studios, Bravado, Capitol Music Group, Decca Records, Def Jam Recordings, Deutsche Grammop ...
to support the remastering of the band's video catalogue to HD. Weekly releases commence on the channel, consisting of the band's music videos, behind-the-scenes footage, and unseen live videos. *30 October: ''All That You Can't Leave Behind'' is reissued on CD, vinyl, and digitally in commemoration of its 20th anniversary. The album was remastered and released in a Standard edition, a Deluxe edition, and a 51-track Super Deluxe edition.


2021

*15 March: An archival concert series called "The Virtual Road" is announced in partnership with YouTube. Four of U2's past concert films are remastered and streamed on the band's official YouTube channel for 48 hours each over the following weeks. The series began with '' U2 Go Home: Live from Slane Castle, Ireland'' on 17 March (St. Patrick's Day), followed by '' U2 Live at Red Rocks: Under a Blood Red Sky'' on 25 March, '' PopMart: Live from Mexico City'' on 1 April, and '' Innocence + Experience: Live in Paris'' on 10 April. *1 November: U2 join the social networking service TikTok and post a 30-second lyric video teasing the new song "Your Song Saved My Life". *3 November: U2 digitally release "Your Song Saved My Life" from the soundtrack to the animated musical film '' Sing 2'', in which Bono voices the character Clay Calloway.


2022

* 8 May: Bono and the Edge perform for 40 minutes in a Metro station in Kyiv, Ukraine, at the invitation of Volodymyr Zelenskyy. * 1 November: Bono's memoir, ''Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story'', is released. The following day, he begins a 14-city
book tour A book is a medium for recording information in the form of writing or images, typically composed of many pages (made of papyrus, parchment, vellum, or paper) bound together and protected by a cover. The technical term for this physical arr ...
across North America and Europe called "Stories of Surrender" to promote it. * 3 December: U2 receive
Kennedy Center Honors The Kennedy Center Honors are annual honors given to those in the performing arts for their lifetime of contributions to American culture. They have been presented annually since 1978, culminating each December in a gala celebrating five hono ...
in Washington, D.C., for their contributions to performing arts.


Notes


References

* * McCormick, Neil (ed), (2006). ''U2 by U2''. HarperCollins Publishers. * * de la Parra, Pimm Jal (2003). ''U2 Live: A Concert Documentary''. Omnibus Press. * {{U2 U2 U2