On Monday, members of U2 announced the 30rd anniversary celebration of their iconic album ‘The Joshua Tree’, worldwide selling success, with a tour in North America and Europe.

The 1987 album has sold over 25 million copies around the world, hitting the top charts with songs like “With or Without You”, “Where the Streets Have No Name” and “I Still haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”.

“I have recently heard ‘The Joshua Tree’ after almost thirty years, and it’s almost like an opera. There are these feelings that seem strangely current - love, loss, shattered dreams, the pursue for conclusion, polarization… These are all great feelings,” said the band leader Bono Vox in a press release.

The Band

u2 was created in 1976 in Ireland, composed of Bono Vox, The Edge, Adam Layton and Larry Mullen. It started in Mount Temple Comprehensive Scholl when the artists were still teenagers with limited musical knowledge. After four years, they signed a contract with Island Records and released their first album, Boy, in 1980.

During the 80s, U2 became an international hit and had more success on live performances than in albums selling, until the release of ‘The Joshua Tree’ in 1987. According to the Rolling Stone, the album elevated the band from heroes to super-stars.

The band have released 13 studio albums and are part of the list of the world’s highest album selling artists, having sold more than 170 million records worldwide. They have won 22 Grammy Awards, more than any other band. In 2005 the band joined the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Rolling Stone has ranked U2 on the 22nd position of the ‘100 Greatest Artists of All Times”, classifying them as the best band in the world. All along their career, as a band and as individuals, they have fought in behalf of human rights and philanthropic causes, including the International Amnesty, ONE/DATA, Product Red and War Child.

Announced Shows

The North America part of the tour starts in May, in Vancouver, followed by an European tour that starts in London, in July, including a concert in Dublin, the band members’ hometown. OneRepublic, Mumford & Sons and The Lumineers will be the supporting bands in North America, while Noel Gallagher will be opening the concerts in Europe. There are no confirmed concerts in Brazil yet.