May 2017 Archives

The U2 frontman also warned President Trump's budget cuts will put progress at risk, meaning "needless infections and lives lost."

by Colin Stutz, Billboard

Since George W. Bush's presidency, Bono and the former head of state have developed somewhat of an unlikely friendship over their shared mission to fight the global HIV/AIDS epidemic and save the lives in Africa.

On Friday, the U2 frontman shared a photo with Bush taken at the former president's ranch in Crawford, Texas, applauding his righteous work and warning against the current president's proposed budget. In turn, Bush returned the praise with some kind words of his own.

U2 were the guests on Jimmy Kimmel Live on May 23, 2017. Check out their 20+ minute interview and a surprise performance of "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For":

Also watch U2's performance of their new song "The Little Things That Give You Away":

by Chris Willman, Music Writer, Variety

"We feel at home," Bono told the crowd early into the first of two weekend shows at Pasadena's Rose Bowl, quickly amending that to make it clear he meant in L.A., U2's home away from Irish home. But before he clarified that, you might've momentarily leaped to the conclusion he meant the stadium setting itself, since the band slummed its way through mere arenas its last time around before settling on more massive gigs this time around as, well, a sort of homecoming.

The thing that's bringing them to the dance this summer is the same thing that introduced them to stadiums in 1987: "The Joshua Tree," one of the great rock albums of all time by many critical and popular measures. Playing a 30-year-old LP from start to finish may seem like a sop to conventional nostalgia for a group that's been reluctant to give in too readily to laurels-resting, at least musically. Maybe they sensed it was their last chance to reach nightly concert audiences this vast; maybe they're doing something this crowd-pleasing as a make-good for that whole iTunes kerfuffle. Whatever the rationale, U2 has actually found ways to make a "Joshua Tree" reprise feel more like opening a newspaper --albeit a print one -- than an old high school yearbook.

A clearly anti-Donald Trump message and long queues for some fans were among the talking points after the opening show in U2's tour, celebrating the 30th Anniversary of The Joshua Tree.

By Hot Press

The Joshua Tree tour got off to a powerful start in Vancouver, Canada on Friday night. But the show was not without its controversies.

There was the political dimension for a start, with Bono offering an anti-Donald Trump salvo to the Canadian audience - who clearly empathised.

By Jim Harrington, [email protected], Bay Area News Group

The Joshua Tree" changed everything for U2.

Released in 1987, the album took the band to the top of the U.S. pop charts for the first time and brought Bono and the boys their first Grammy Awards. It soared to global sales of more than 25 million, making it one of the best selling albums of all time.

This fifth studio effort -- the follow-up to 1984's "The Unforgettable Fire" -- made U2 the biggest band in the world. And the group has been in pole position pretty much ever since.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame act is celebrating the 30th anniversary of "Joshua Tree" with a giant tour that touches down May 17 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara. And the best news is that, for the first time, the group will be performing the album in its entirety at each stop on the tour.

In honor of the occasion, we are taking a long look back at this landmark rock album. Here are 30 things you should know about U2's signature album.