Bono Events

1960 May 10 Bono (Paul David Hewson) born in Dublin, Ireland
Bono was born in Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland, and was raised there with his brother, Norman Hewson, by their mother Iris (née Rankin), a Church of Ireland Anglican, and their father Brenda...
1976 Sep
to 1977 Mar
U2 formed
The band formed in Dublin on 25 September 1976. Larry Mullen, Jr., then 14, posted a notice on his secondary school notice board (Mount Temple Comprehensive School) seeking musicians for ...
1979 Sep U2 releases Three (EP)
Three, also known as U2 3, is the first release by Irish rock band U2, a three-song EP recorded and released in 1979. It was produced by the band with Chas de Whalley and only available i...
1980 Feb 26 U2 releases first single, "Another Day"
"Another Day" was U2's first single release, and was released in 1980 following their EP, Three, and prior to their debut album, Boy. It was released only in Ireland. 1. "Another Day"...
1980 May 23 U2 releases "11 O'Clock Tick Tock" single
"11 O'Clock Tick Tock" was U2's third single, released May 23, 1980 (1980-05-23). It followed debut EP/single "Out of Control" and "Another Day," and was released prior to their debut alb...
1980 Aug U2 releases "A Day Without Me" single
"A Day Without Me" is the lead single from U2's debut album, Boy and was released in August 1980. It was the second single the band recorded after signing the contract with Island Records...
1980 Oct U2 releases "I Will Follow" single
"I Will Follow" is the opening track from U2's debut album, Boy. The song was released as a single, and has since become a fan favorite live; it is the only song U2 has performed on every...
1980 Oct 20 U2 releases debut album "Boy"
Boy is the debut album from Irish rock band U2, released October 20, 1980. Produced by Steve Lillywhite, the album received generally positive reviews. Common themes among the album's son...
1981 Oct 12 U2 releases second studio album, "October"
"I remember the pressure it was made under, I remember writing lyrics on the microphone, and at £50 an hour that's quite a pressure. Lillywhite was pacing up and down the studio... he cope..." —Bono on the challenges encountered recording October after a briefcase full of lyrics was stolen
1983 Jan U2 releases "New Year's Day" single
"New Year's Day" is the third song and lead single from U2's 1983 album, War. The song is driven by Adam Clayton's distinctive bassline and The Edge's keyboard. It was the band's first UK...
1983 Feb 28 U2 releases third studio album, "War"
War is the third studio album by Irish rock band U2, released on February 28, 1983 (1983-02-28). The album has come to be regarded as U2's first overtly political album, in part because o...
1983 Mar U2 releases "Sunday Bloody Sunday" single
"Sunday Bloody Sunday" is the opening track and third single from U2's 1983 album, War. The song is noted for its militaristic drumbeat, simple but harsh guitar, and melodic harmonies. On...
1983 Nov 7 U2 releases live album "Under a Blood Red Sky"
Under a Blood Red Sky is a live album by Irish rock band U2, produced by Jimmy Iovine and released in 1983. Along with its companion concert film, Live at Red Rocks: Under a Blood Red Sky...
1984 Sep U2 releases "Pride (In the Name of Love)" single
"Pride (In the Name of Love)" is the second song on U2's 1984 album The Unforgettable Fire and was released as the album's first single. Written about Martin Luther King, Jr., "Pride" is ...
1984 Oct 1 U2 releases fourth studio album, "The Unforgettable Fire"
The Unforgettable Fire is the fourth studio album by Irish rock band U2, released in 1984. Far more ambient and abstract than the hard-hitting War, it was at the time the band’s most mark...
1984 Nov U2 releases "Live at Red Rocks: Under a Blood Red Sky" concert film
Live at Red Rocks: Under a Blood Red Sky (also known simply as Live at Red Rocks or Under a Blood Red Sky) is a concert film by U2. It was the band's first video release, originally relea...
1985 May U2 releases Wide Awake in America (EP)
Wide Awake in America is a four-track EP by the Irish rock band U2, released in 1985. It combines two live performances of songs from the group's 1984 album The Unforgettable Fire with tw...
1987 Mar 9 U2 releases fifth studio album, "The Joshua Tree"
The Joshua Tree is the fifth studio album by Irish rock band U2, released 9 March 1987 on Island Records. Recording took place from July to November 1986 at Windmill Lane Studios in Dubli...
1987 Mar 21 U2 releases "With or Without You" single
"With or Without You" is the lead single from U2's 1987 album, The Joshua Tree. It has since become highly-acclaimed as one of the band's most popular songs. Released as a single in March...
1987 May U2 releases "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" single
"I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" is the second track from U2's 1987 album The Joshua Tree, and was released as the album's second single. It became the band's second #1 song o...
1987 Aug U2 releases "Where the Streets Have No Name" single
"Where the Streets Have No Name" is a song by Irish rock band U2, from their 1987 album, The Joshua Tree. It was released August 1987 as the third single from The Joshua Tree. Bono was in...
1988 Oct 10 U2 releases "Rattle and Hum" album
The album, which was made following the band's 1987 Joshua Tree Tour, is a mix of live recordings, covers, and new songs. To a greater extent than their previous album, The Joshua Tree, t...
1988 Oct 27 U2 releases "Rattle and Hum" rockumentary
The film documents the band's Joshua Tree Tour of the United States and the band's experiences with American music. Although the album and motion picture were intended to represent the ba...
1991 Oct 12 U2 releases "Fly" single
"The Fly" is the seventh song on U2's 1991 album, Achtung Baby and was released as the album's first single. Lead singer Bono described the single as "the sound of four men chopping down ...
1991 Nov 19 U2 releases seventh studio album, "Achtung Baby"
Achtung Baby is the seventh studio album by Irish rock band U2, released on 19 November 1991. Stung by criticism of their previous album, Rattle and Hum, the album was a calculated change...
1991 Nov 25 U2 releases "Mysterious Ways" single
"Mysterious Ways" is the eighth track on U2's 1991 album, Achtung Baby and was released as the album's second single. When the covers to "Even Better Than the Real Thing", "The Fly", "Who...
1992 Feb 29
to 1993 Dec 10
 U2's Zoo TV Tour
The Zoo TV Tour was an elaborately-staged worldwide concert tour by Irish rock band U2. Launched in support of the album Achtung Baby, the tour visited arenas and stadiums from 1992 throu...
1992 Mar U2 releases "One" single
"One" is the third single from U2's 1991 album, Achtung Baby, and was released in 1992. While recording Achtung Baby, there was a rift between band members over the direction of the band'...
1992 Jun 6 U2 releases "Even Better Than the Real Thing" single
"Even Better Than the Real Thing" is the second song from U2's 1991 album, Achtung Baby and was released in 1992 as the fourth single from the album. 1. "Even Better Than the Real Thi...
1992 Aug U2 releases "Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses" single
"Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses" is the fifth track on U2's 1991 album, Achtung Baby, and was released in 1992 as the album's fifth and final single. 1. "Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild...
1993 Jun U2 releases "Numb" single
"Numb" is the third track from U2's 1993 album, Zooropa and was released as the album's first single. The song is a repeating, monotonous mantra spoken by The Edge with a drumbeat sampled...
1993 Jul 5 U2 releases eighth studio album, "Zooropa"
Zooropa is the eighth studio album by the Irish rock band U2. Originally intended as an EP, it was recorded between legs of the Zoo TV Tour and released on 5 July 1993 by Island Records a...
1993 Sep U2 releases "Lemon" single
"Lemon" is the fourth song and second single from U2's 1993 album, Zooropa. Inspired by old video footage of Bono's late mother, the lyrics describe an attempt to preserve memory through ...
1993 Nov 22
to 1993 Nov 23
 U2 releases "Stay (Faraway, So Close!)" single
"Stay (Faraway, So Close!)" is the fifth track from U2's 1993 album, Zooropa, and was released as the album's third single on November 22, 1993. It achieved notable success in the UK, whe...
1995 Nov "Passengers" release Original Soundtracks 1
Original Soundtracks 1 (also known as Original Soundtracks) is a 1995 album recorded by U2 and Brian Eno, as a side project, under the pseudonym Passengers. It is a collection of songs wr...
1995 Nov U2 releases "Miss Sarajevo" single
"Miss Sarajevo" is the only single from the 1995 album Original Soundtracks 1 by U2 and Brian Eno, under the pseudonym Passengers. Luciano Pavarotti makes a guest vocal appearance, singin...
1995 Nov 17 GoldenEye released
GoldenEye (1995) is the seventeenth spy film in the James Bond series, and the first to star Pierce Brosnan as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. The film was directed by Martin Campbell...
1997 Feb 3 U2 releases "Discotheque" single
"Discothèque" is the lead single from Irish rock band U2's 1997 album, Pop. A 30-second sample of "Discothèque" was leaked to the internet on October 26, 1996. By December 27, the enti...
1997 Mar 3 U2 releases ninth studio album, "Pop"
Pop is the ninth studio album by Irish rock band U2, released in March 1997. It is notable for combining elements of popular techno, dance, and electronica influences with traditional alt...
1997 Apr 15 U2 releases "Staring at the Sun" single
"Staring at the Sun" is the second single from U2's 1997 album, Pop. It peaked at #3 on the UK singles chart, #1 on the Modern Rock Tracks, and #26 on the Billboard Hot 100. 1. "Stari...
1997 Apr 25
to 1998 Mar 21
 PopMart Tour
The PopMart Tour, often referred to as simply PopMart, was a worldwide concert tour by the Irish rock band U2. Launched in support of the group's 1997 album, Pop, the tour's concerts were...
1997 Jul 14 U2 releases "Last Night on Earth" single
"Last Night on Earth" is the third single from U2's 1997 album, Pop. The song features excerpts from "Trayra Boia," written by Naná Vasconcelos and Denise Milan. 1. "Last Night on Ear...
1997 Oct 20 U2 releases "Please" single
"Please" is the fourth single from U2's 1997 album, Pop. As "Sunday Bloody Sunday", the song is about The Troubles in Northern Ireland. The single cover for this song features the pict...
1997 Dec 8
to 1997 Dec 9
 U2 releases "If God Will Send His Angels" single
"If God Will Send His Angels" is the fifth single from U2's 1997 album, Pop. It was also featured on the City of Angels soundtrack. 1. "If God Will Send His Angels" (single version)...
1997 Dec 8 U2 releases "Mofo" single
"Mofo" is the sixth and final single from U2's 1997 album Pop. Continuing a common theme in U2's lyrics, the song was partially written about Bono's mother, whom he lost at the age of ...
1998 Nov 22 PopMart: Live from Mexico City released
PopMart: Live from Mexico City is a concert video release by rock band U2 from their PopMart Tour. Recorded on December 3, 1997 at Foro Sol on the band's featured stop in Mexico City, Mex...
2000 Aug U2 releases live album "Hasta la Vista Baby!"
Hasta la Vista Baby! is a live album recorded by U2 and released exclusively to members of its fan club in 2000. It features 14 songs from the band's 25-song performance during their PopM...
2000 Oct 9 U2 releases "Beautiful Day" single
"Beautiful Day" is the first song and lead single from U2's 2000 album, All That You Can't Leave Behind. It was a commercial success, helping launch the album to multi-platinum status, an...
2000 Oct 30 U2 releases tenth studio album, "All That You Can't Leave Behind"
All That You Can't Leave Behind is the tenth studio album by the Irish rock band U2, released in 2000 by Island Records in the UK and Interscope Records in the U.S. The album signaled the...
2001 Jan 29 U2 releases "Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of" single
"Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of" is the second single from U2's 2000 album, All That You Can't Leave Behind. The song is characterized by gospel-tinged melodies and saccharine lea...