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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183-PAS
InTroduction to son gs of experience
HELO HELO! What is the connection between the b side demo Introduction to songs of experience from the Josuha tree box set and the new album? Love the path you guys choose! Rock on! Christian Latzel
hewsonhype
30 years later...
Now that it's been 30 years, how has the meaning of these songs changed?
suzen
B-Sides
Along with playing the Joshua Tree album what b-sides are you practicing and are thinking of playing? I have been fortunate to have been going to shows since 1985 and have heard earlier songs. I am so happy my friends that haven't will now. Thanks U2 for bringing/giving me a great life with your music and involvement with causes that matter to all!! #AskU2 #U2TheJoshuaTree2017
aromero
U2 Rose Bowl
I am so excited about this tour. Joshua Tree was the album that made an official fan. I remember buying the vinyl at the Kmart by our house and listening to it almost every single day after school for months. Ironically, one of my best friends in school was Joshua, so extra cool. I would have to say I converted many of my cousins to U2. I remember moving to Ohio and coming down the last time U2 played at the Rose Bowl for the 360 tour and taking my dad with all my cousins. It was a Beautiful Day indeed. Now, this May, I am taking my mom and again with many of my cousins will be there. I believe this world needs U2 more than ever. We need to be united and not divided which I have always believed is what U2 has always done. Thank you U2 for making this world a better world. We must persevere and overcome this dark phase that we are experiencing right now. In God Speed U2!
suzen
B-Sides
Along with playing the Joshua Tree album what b-sides are you practicing and are thinking of playing? So excited as I have been fortunate to have been going to shows since 1985 and have heard earlier songs from the beginning however I am so happy that my friends that haven't will now. Thanks U2 for bringing/giving me a great life!! See you in May!! #AskU2 #U2TheJoshuaTree2017
mjbokron
Red Hill Mining Town...finally
#AskU2 #U2TheJoshuaTree2017 Hey Fellas - So, considering that I can't be the only one who enters into sacred space when hearing Red Hill Mining Town, I always wonder if you consciously or unconsciously protected it all these years - so why have you chosen to never play it live...anywhere?
nowlisten1
Continue to fight for peace and love!
Question: The Joshua Tree references water and the desert. Can the band comment on that imagery - any idea of what was the source of that theme, and how did it affect the music that accompanied the lyrics? What do those images mean to the band today? Longtime fan, dating back to the first album, and first saw the band in 1985 when they picked a guy (unfortunately not me!) to play Knocking on Heaven's Door in Cleveland.
luminous50
Still Haven't Found... and Red Hill Mini
My introduction to U2 was the Joshua Tree album and tour; my first concert was the MSG New York show with the Harlem choir, it is my favourite U2 show of many. What is the real story behind "Still Haven't Found", it is the song I love the most on the album because of the spiritual nature and power of the song, and at that first concert you guys performed it twice, and with the choir it was truly brilliant. Also, "Red Hill Mining Town" has not been performed very much or at all, why hasn't it, it is such an amazingly powerful song. Also, guys could you add some of the b-sides from the album as well, I would personally love to hear "Luminous Times" and "Walk to the Water" and from "Rattle and Hum" it would be great to hear "Hawkmoon 269" and "Silver and Gold" just to keep in with the whole spirit of that amazing album and time period. Thanks guys for agreeing to answer our questions. Looking forward to seeing you at the Meadowlands in June.
TerryB
Which JT song best lends itself to the s
Have tickets to four of your shows...and wow I just can't wait. Been a mega fan since 1985. Love you guys!
acrobat
Explain yourselves
Adam has said in the past " We are restless people in this band and the idea of repeating ourselves or of not having a challenge in the studio is not one we ever settle for" So my question with that in mind is :- If the Joshua Tree Tour 2017 is not a repetition, is it a consolidation, a celebration, a reinvention or something else?
jenik
One Tree Hill
In Bono on Bono you mention you occasionally ask for blessing. Is blessing like the rain in One Tree Hill? Overwhelming like the hope which remains when full-of-hope people are gone, breaking the heart, leaving speechless lips. Hard to express, but would love to hear your comment. See you in Berlin. And when it's rainin', rainin' hard That's when the rain will break a heart. Rainin', rainin' in your heart
rajivudani
Wild Irish Rose
Was the unreleased song "Wild Irish Rose" written around the time of the Joshua Tree? Are there plans to ever release it? (it is a great, great song). See you in Vancouver for opening night!
EnjoyTheClaw
Between the 2 legs - asking for feedback
Hello guys :-) These live meetings are very much appreciated. I cannot add much more to the questions below, in particular with regards to the requests for the b-sides (Luminous times if I have to choose one). But I would like to take the chance to ask if there'll be another Q&A time, so that we, european, can express some feedback on the setlists? Anyway, a huge THANK YOU for another extraordinary, unexpected GIFT. Silvia
High on a desert plane, to find what I'm
Tomorrow i could have an oral exam on the divine comedy, and when i imagine Dante' s ascent trough purgatory's mount i imagine he will arrive to that high desert plane that you make us see in "streets", that place where he will meet Beatrice again. I immediately connect this to Iris, and to all the related themes in your lyrics. "... now we lie together in whispers and moans": that could be part of the dark forest. Beatrice lights Dante's way from the paradise. If the poet had listened to Streets he would have sung to his woman "and when i go there, i'll go there with you", and yes then he met her again where the streets have no name. Soo... Bono, that place you sing about is paradise, isn't it? It isn't just an utopian world you like dreaming about. Is that the place where you will find all you're looking for? #asku2
crhutch
Raw Emotion
From the first time I heard Streets, Bullet, Running to Stand Still, One Tree Hill, and Exit in 1987 until today, the emotion in these songs hits me in my gut, my soul, my heart - every time. Is there one particular song on the album (or even a b-side) that does the same for you?
Elena_Alesso2
First global album
Hi, I'm Elena from Italy and 1987 concert in Modena has been my first one. Joshua Tree has been the first jump outside Ireland (from communication to sound, from lyrics to group appearance). How did you come to that strong change and were you aware that you were loosing your strong Irish connotation? Thanks guys, see you in Rome!!
U2_SFBayArea
Which one song on the record proved the
Was there one that you just didn't think would "take off" but you included it because it was personal to a member of the band?
jordymetten
Comparrison to the Joshua Tree / #AskU2
#AskU2 #U2TheJoshuaTree2017 The Joshua Tree is a definitely one of the best albums ever. But how do you deal with this legacy? After the Joshua Tree you could have chosen the safe path and keep the style of the follow up albums the same as TJT. But you chose not to. This resulted in new records which were received with mixed feelings. Achtung Baby for example, well we all know how this was received. But other albums which were great didn’t get the credits they deserve (Pop, songs off innocence). How do you deal with this? It is your heart and soul on these records. Isn’t disappointing that new records are compared to TJT and sometimes the reward for being innovative is not given. Do you never regret that you did not choose the safe path after TJT?
natenphx
Songs of Experience "Trumped"
Hey guys, You've said that the new album was delayed because it maybe didn't accurately depict the current emotional landscape of the world since the "Candidate" became the President. How will the new album try to capture the essence of these unprecedented times we're living in today?
sspence1
Red Hill mining town
This is one of my favourite U2 songs . What inspired the band to write this song ? The Joshua Tree tour was the first gig I attended and brings back so many good memories for me. I am from Glasgow, why are U2 not coming to Scotland as part of this tour ? I am really disappointed, this will be the first U2 gig I have missed for over 20yrs .
Shonnad
The Joshua Tree marks the beginning of a
The Summer of 1987 I met my future husband. He always insisted on paying for our dates, so when The Joshua Tree was coming, knowing how much he loved U2, I bought tickets, insisting this was MY treat. The morning of the concert he had an emergency appendectomy, and I ended up taking my sister. Fast forward 30 years, we've been married 28 years, have two married daughters and 5 grandchildren, and U2 has been the sound track of our entire relationship. Looking forward to FINALLY being able to see The Joshua Tree with my life time love - fingers crossed there are no medical emergencies! Can't wait to see you boys again! :) #askU2
meganyoex1
Vocal exercise
Bono, how do you keep your voice in excellent condition. As an anchor woman for a local radiostation i read the news. I loose my voice on a regular bases. I am curious to know what your secret of vocal fitness is.
Victor Enrique
Song Arrangements
The first U2 song I ever heard was RHMT and got hooked and finally I will get a chance to hear it live. Will the song of JT have any new arrangements or will they be straight forward? Is there any chance you can squeeze Ultraviolet or So Cruel in the set list for Pasadena?
ckk
Favorite Song?
#AskU2 So my favorite Joshua Tree song is "Red Hill Mining Town" (in fact, one of my all time favorite U2 songs, period). What are each of your favorite songs from that album and why... if you can articulate it?
Macphisto69
What would you change?
#AskU2 #U2TheJoshuaTree2017 If there was one thing that you could change, if at all possible, with The Joshua Tree, what would it be?
Jdubdub
Wild Irish Rose
#AskU2 Since you are looking back at the Joshua Tree time period Do you have any plans to release the song Wild Irish Rose in the near future. Die hard fans would love an official release.
daveyned
SHOES
Every album is inspired by a pair of shoes...apparently! Can you guys think of a pair of shoes that inspired The Joshua Tree?
amaurihtdaab
Where The Streests Have No Name video cl
On the roof of a liquor store (Republic Liquor Store on 7th with the main in downtown Los Angeles). This performance resulted in the video for "Where The Streets Have No Name". You got there and recorded it, in a way we're going to say that "without warning" haha, out of nowhere, and the people were coming and coming together, out of nowhere. Today, would you do this surprise concert again without warning? At the time, what was the feeling, the reciprocity of the audience that you felt?
Andremayon
Joshua Tree
Have you noticed a racial diversity in your fans? And do you think The Joshua tree album and tour contributed to this diversity further more do you think the 2017 tour will be more diverse?
The Joshua Tree Blu-ray 5.1 surround sou
Any chance for the 30th anniversary we might see a 5.1 Blu-ray Audio release of The Joshua Tree with the surround mix being done from the original analogue multitracks by someone who really gets surround sound? Steven Wilson, Elliot Scheiner, Bob Clearmountain, these guys truly understand how a good 5.1 mix should be presented. Also maybe a deluxe 45rpm 4LP release on vinyl cut in an all analogue chain directly from the original stereo master and pressed at one of the top pressing houses like RTI in California, Optimal in Germany, etc? Looking forward to seeing you in Toronto in just three months!
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