February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
The last time they played at the venue, it was in support of their 1987 breakthrough album, “The Joshua Tree.” Yes, those were the days when a sweaty, shirtless Bono would prance about the stage in a leather vest (providing employment for dry cleaners the world over) and women (myself included) considered that incredibly sexy. The Edge was no fashion slouch either, channeling his inner angry hobo with torn jeans, craggy facial hair and a hat that would make Billy Jack weep with envy.
But enough with the trip down memory lane. The big news is this week is that U2 has put the finishing touches on their new album, which will hit stores in September. There’s no title yet, but the word out of Dublin is that the band is really excited about the new material.
The tour will kick off — probably in the U.S. — at the beginning of the year. And they’re close to signing on as the headliners of Britain’s Glastonbury Festival 2005, which takes place next summer.
In more U2 news, the group was voted the best band of the last decade in an online poll conducted by FHM magazine. Interestingly, they didn’t get top honors in the best album category. That went to the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Californication,” which was followed by Oasis’ “[What’s the Story] Morning Glory” and “The Marshall Mathers LP.” U2 came in fourth with “All That You Can’t Leave Behind.”