Your Band. Your Questions.

6 Mar 2017285

This Thursday it’s thirty years to the day since the release of The Joshua Tree and Adam, Bono, Edge and Larry will be live online to answer your questions about this iconic record.

Ask them anything about the legendary 1987 career-defining release The Joshua Tree and the subsequent sold out tour which saw U2 take The Joshua Tree on the road, playing stadiums for the very first time.

What’s your question?

Which was the song that nearly never made it? 
What was your personal highlight of 1987 ?
What was it like recording in Adam’s house? 
Which one song on the record proved the biggest surprise?
 
Your band, your questions - post them in the comments below or on FaceBook, TwitterInstagram, Google + and Tumblr. Use the hashtag #AskU2 #U2TheJoshuaTree2017
 
Then tune in to the band’s facebook page this Thursday at 3pm (EST) to catch U2 live from the studio… answering your questions.

UPDATE: If you missed it...Celebrating the 30th anniversary of The Joshua Tree #askU2 #TheJoshuaTree2017

Comments
285
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Marcy
How?
How will you choose which 11 questions to answer today?!? ;-) Love Marcy
njp3
Album Cover
The Joshua Tree album artwork is by far my favorite, but the four of you look like you're having a really crap time. Why does everyone look so grim? -Nick
eileen
JT Tour
While on tour, are you planning on playing any of the songs from the album in an acoustic version? Been a fan over 30 years - thank you for staying together all these years. Your music lifts me up - Love and Peace! XO
ericj13
St. Louis, Mo USA
You guys thought about moving to St. Louis? Cool up and coming town for a cool up and coming group like U2! ;) Bono can have the top of the arch as his apartment.
jonhyu2
Songs for the tour
Impressive this tour, wishing to see you in Barcelona and Dublin (my first time). I have possibility to listen in some of these 2 Bad concerts or kind of homecoming ??. Thank you
Zinger007
Remember?
I just wondered what I did this Day 30 years ago... Can you remember what you did??? Was the band together checking the records reception??? ROCK ON!!!
loveandpeace83
For me It was yhe year of my 25 years..
30 years later what memory do you have left of this album ? this is for The Edge Larry Mullen Jr Adam Clayton and Bono.... For me It was yhe year of my 25 years..... Wonderful Memories ! Best Wishes from South of France near Cannes I Love You So much I Have my Place of Paris on July25th. Never had the chance to see you (the four) just to talk : it's a dream...... Why do not you come to Nice (France) for "ONE" Concert .... #AskU2 #U2TheJoshuaTree2017
Elena_Alesso2
First non-Irish album
Hi guys, I'm Elena from Italy and 1987 concert in Modena has been my first one. Joshua Tree has been your first global album and a big jump outside Ireland and Europe. From communication to sound, from lyrics to your appearance, it has been a sort of transformation of what you were since then. What has been the inspiration that led you to such a big change? And has it been difficult for you to get through it? Thanks guys, see you in Rome!!
gpmalecki
Luminous Times
Any chance of Luminous Times or Walk to the Water making live appearances on upcoming tour? It would put huge smiles on many faces!
crowy77
Album design
Hi Bono, Larry, Adam and the Edge.... There was lots of amazing people involved in the creation of The Joshua Tree including one of my favourite photographers of all time, the great Mr Anton Corbijn. Did you guys have a specific idea in mind as to the style and look of the album cover or was it something spontaneous? And were you in agreement on the final image used on the cover, inside the album and accompanying singles? Thank you and i look forward to seeing you on tour. Paul Crowther
gpmalecki
I remember the day
30 years ago. Man, I feel old. I remember it like it was yesterday. The days before online presales or amazon. Right about this time my buddy and I decided to take the day off school and headed to our local (mall) record shop and wait for them to open. We were the first to purchase and we bought 1 each of the LP and cassette. That was the beginning... we spent the rest of the day driving all over Ft. Lauderdale listening to the tape. 1 song at a time, with several imperfect rewind attempts to replay or relisten to a certain melody, riff or lyric... then RTST came on. We had to pull to the side of the road for that one. Breathtaking. The Unforgettable Fire and Live Aid had catapulted them to arenas previously, but at this moment I realized (to my simple, twisted and shattered 18 year old ego) that U2 was no longer just "my" band... I had to let go and truly share them with the world. I'd been hanging on to the inevitable for too long and would have to swallow pride and take solace in the fact that "I heard them first. " And the rest is history, folks. Just had to share as I stroll down memory lane. Peace and love!
Oussou
oussama from algeria
what is reaison of wherer the streets have no name and with out you we love u2 u2 running in my blood
gpmalecki
I remember the chills...
30 years ago. Man, I feel old. I remember it like it was yesterday. The days before online presales or amazon. Right about this time my buddy and I decided to take the day off school and headed to our local (mall) record shop and wait for them to open. We were the first to purchase and we bought 1 each of the LP and cassette. That was the beginning... we spent the rest of the day driving all over Ft. Lauderdale listening to the tape. 1 song at a time, with several imperfect rewind attempts to replay or relisten to a certain melody, riff or lyric... then RTST came on. We had to pull to the side of the road for that one. Breathtaking. The Unforgettable Fire and Live Aid had catapulted them to arenas previously, but at this moment I realized (to my simple, twisted and shattered 18 year old ego) that U2 was no longer just "my" band... I had to let go and truly share them with the world. I'd been hanging on to the inevitable for too long and would have to swallow pride and take solace in the fact that "I heard them first. " And the rest is history, folks. Just had to share as I stroll down memory lane. Peace and love!
U2war40
Side 2 of the Joshua Tree
Which song has been the most interesting to revisit since rehearsals began?
Bolti
Bono sunglasses and The Joshua tree
#AskU2 #U2TheJoshuaTree2017 Will Bono wear some new type of sunglasses on stage or will he be without shades as during the concerts of 1997? :-)
laughinggasboy
Anyone for tennis?
Bono is the Federer of music, makes it look and sound so effortless but Edge is the evervescent Nadal who never gives up. Adam Clayton is the metronomic equivalent of Djokovic and Larry Mullen is the Celtic heart that beats in tandem with Andy murray. Do any if you play tennis?!
VERMEULEN
together
Hello 2U, isn't it wonderful that after 30 years you' re still all there & together ! Have you (running to) stand still thinking about this ? This concert tour 30 years The Joshua Tree will be with the same U2 members like 30 years ago . How fantastic is that !!! Feels great , looking forward to see you in Brussels 1st of August. Love you U2
giulirapanui
Giulia (Italy)
(For all of you....) Have you found what you are looking for now?......And rethinking about you story (musically and not-musically speaking): which things could you have lived without? And which not?
jonnymo
Joshua Tree set list 2017
Obviously, the list isn't going to start with "Streets" and end with "Mothers of the Disappeared". What about other songs that inspired the album and that were relevant to the political/social turmoil at the time. Or songs that were made for the album but didn't make it on; "Sweetest Thing". Or, since Running to Stand Still is the sequel to "Bad", why not play "Bad" and go right into "Running" or vice versa?. No U2 concert should be void of "Bad"
blues
Joshua tree tour
What songs are your individual favourites and why ? Looking forward to seeing you in London kind regards joe
newlight47
About Greg Carroll
What did you learn from Greg? What was his favourite U2 song (mine is The Unforgettable Fire)? Would you consider playing his favourite song on the upcoming 30th Anniversary Tour?
Oussou
Oussama from Algeria about without you
Why do not you play all the tracks in concert why always the same songs live And What the purpose of without you I love u2 this my life my soul my heart
m7
Yum! Stadiums.
Did you think at that time in 1987 that you'd continue to play in sold-out stadiums 30 years later?!
BEFORE AND AFTER THE JOSHUA TREE
I was 14 in 1987, I discovered the L.P and never was the same, it opened another world, my favourite song is WITH OR WITHOUT YOU, my father didn't let me go to the concert in Madrid, but since then I've been to all the concerts in Barcelona, we'll see you again the 18th july, thanks to let us be part of your music
madrockmachina5
Lots of Questions
What other artists/musicians influenced your approach to the sound on the album? After your music from The Joshua Tree album was featured in the movie Blown Away, were you happy with the association with the film, how the songs were portrayed, and the opportunity that it gave new fans to hear your music? and did Tommy Lee Jones ever come to your concerts? Bono, did you ride bicycles back then, in 1987? Have you ever considered The Joshua Tree a hybrid gospel-rock opera album with a political backdrop? and would you like to consider it that? How important was the "Where the Streets Have no Name" video on the rooftop to the band's image at the time and also your personal growth as a band with a message people need to hear? How proud and incredible is the feeling to know that children born and young around 1987 literally grew up with your music as the soundtrack to their lives, but also they have never lived in a world without your band's successful sound and place in the world much in tribute to and because of the success of The Joshua Tree album? Which song on TJT do you enjoy playing/singing the most live and just listening to? Are their any songs on TJT you would consider re-recording with different instruments/arrangements or partner with other musicians on? Why name the album 'The Joshua Tree'?
curtisdallas
Faith and Music
What role does your faith in God have in your music?
Ronzo50
Impact
In your past tour, you have thanked the audience for "Giving you a Great Life", as Rock and Roll Stars.....Can you sum up how it feels to have personally given Millions of fans a great musical life, especially those touched by the passion of The Joshua Tree? At the time of it's creation, did you realize that you were possibly molding the emotional/musical core for millions of people's lives?
finbarr
when can we meet?
Lads I saw ye in Croke Park in 1987 just a couple of weeks before I emmigrated to Canada,I'm still in Canada and have seen you boys on every tour since,it is a lifelong dream of mine to meet ye but as the years go by that dream is fading,can ye fulfill the dream of a huge fan from West Cork whose whole life has been influenced by U2, love you boys.
Yoda_Stereo
From Peru!!!
#AskU2 #U2TheJoshuaTree2017 Hello, I'm Pedro from Peru, old band fan, I'm delighted that you have this initiative to answer questions from the fans, I think you should do it more often. Here my questions: Will The Joshua Tree Tour '17 be coming to South America, including Peru? Why now take so long to release records if in the 80's they got them faster? Still have contact with Paul McGuinness? Thank you for your answers, congratulations and I hope you will soon come to Peru for a great concert, which will be a success
Afliktor
11 questions for my 4 favourite people i
Hi U2, thanks for saving my life. I'm going to 5 shows this tour and I can't wait! I've been on this musical journey with you for 20 years now and so I actually have way more than 11 questions... but for the sake of thematic integrity I've narrowed it down to just 11. 1. 2017 is also the 20th anniversary of Pop, which is the album that made me a lifelong U2 fan when I was just 8 years old. You’ve kind of distanced yourself from it over the years and it seems to unfairly have gone down in history as a “misstep.” Are you guys aware that it’s actually quite popular within the fandom, almost like a “cult classic?” Would you consider playing any songs from Pop for the upcoming tour? ...Please? :) (Bono, I'm looking at you. I know you love Please.) 2. Do you remember the first time you played Streets live and you felt like “God walked in the room?” Did you know from the beginning it’d be a song you’d end up playing every show of every tour? 3. In re-listening to The Joshua Tree 30 years later, are there any songs that surprised you somehow? Like songs that are better than you remember, or you’re able to see in a new light? Which one are you most excited to play live? 4. When is Songs of Experience coming out? Anyone but Bono can answer. (I love you Bono. Call me.) 5. With The Joshua Tree U2 became the biggest band in the world. Did you realize your dominion over the earth would last over 30 years? Will there ever be a successor to U2, or are you truly “the last of the rockstars?” 6. You’ve played Bullet the Blue Sky almost every tour, and brilliantly re-invented it each time. Which version do you think was best, and how do you plan on playing it this tour? Considering the Trump presidency, can we expect more righteous anger from Bono like the Dreamforce performance? (mind-blowing, btw!) 7. Is there any song from The Joshua Tree you’d like to hear remixed by a modern artist? If so, can you please send me the master tracks and also all the stems to Pop? Thanks! 8. If you could go back in time and re-record The Joshua Tree, what (if anything) would you change? 9. Edge, you said in U2 by U2 that you wrote Where The Streets Have No Name one evening by “attempting” to “conjure up the ultimate U2-live song.” What other ridiculously ambitious and unbelievably awesome things have you managed to conjure up in a single evening? Do you think you could have built Rome in a day, or do your powers only work at night? 10. Larry, you’re one of the most underrated drummers ever, and one of the things that amazes me is how you can come up with a “signature beat” that defines a song, which is very rare in rock music - Bullet and Sunday Bloody Sunday, for example. How do you do that? What’s your approach? 11. Can The Joshua Tree Tour 2017 Make America Great Again? You’re our only hope, U2. Please save us. If you guys answer one of my questions I will be overjoyed... love you <3333 #AskU2 #U2TheJoshuaTree2017
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