U2 (Photo by Anton Corbijn)
For the first time in history, the legendary U2 are dedicating an entire tour to one of their albums. In this case, the band will celebrate the 30th anniversary of their fifth studio album, The Joshua Tree.
U2: The Joshua Tree Tour 2017 launches in North American on May 12, and it will arrive in DC for a performance at FedEx Field on Tuesday, June 20. All North American dates go on sale to the public at 10am local time today, Jan. 17. (European dates went on sale yesterday and sold out completely.)
The tour also will include U2’s first-ever US festival headline appearance at the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, scheduled for June 8-11 in Manchester, Tennessee.
U2 published The Joshua Tree on March 9, 1987 and introduced the world to enduring singles like “With or Without You,” “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For,” and “Where the Streets Have No Name.” The album hit #1 on the US Billboard Top Pop Albums, and then went forward to sell more than 25 million copies globally. It won a BRIT Award and two Grammys, including Album of the Year, in 1987.
Watch a trailer for U2: The Joshua Tree Tour on YouTube:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sssykdiAsVM]
Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr. have expressed enthusiasm for revisiting the album with U2: The Joshua Tree Tour 2017.
In a statement, The Edge said, “It seems like we have come full circle from when The Joshua Tree songs were originally written, with global upheaval, extreme right wing politics and some fundamental human rights at risk. To celebrate the album — as the songs seem so relevant and prescient of these times too — we decided to do these shows, it feels right for now. We’re looking forward to it.”
In 1987, Rolling Stone initially reflected on the album, “The title befits a record that concerns itself with resilience in the face of utter social and political desolation… The Joshua Tree is an appropriate response to these times, and a picture bleaker than any U2 has ever painted: a vision of blasted hopes, pointless violence, and anguish… Music of great sadness but also of unutterable compassion, acceptance, and calm.”
For complete tour and ticket information, visit http://www.u2.com and http://www.livenation.com.
Tickets for the DC date are available online, starting at 10am today at this link.
U2
The Joshua Tree Tour
w/ The Lumineers
FedEx Field
Tuesday, June 20
Show @7pm
$35-$280
All ages