1987 The Joshua Tree

In the days before computers the only way to get news about what was happening in the music world was via various publications, the best being the fan club magazine Propaganda, or the music programmes on TV. So the time between Live Aid and the release of The Joshua Tree little news on U2 came my way. Also, at this time I knew no one else who was a fan, so I didn't hear anything through other people either.

I bought The Joshua Tree vinyl album (no CDs then either!) when it was released in March and couldn't wait to get home to play it. When I did I was stunned. It was a different U2 from the previous albums, very different. The songs were big and bold yet very melodic, the lyrics full of imagery, Edge's guitar and Bono's voice sounding as never before. I hate to use the word, but it was very anthemic . It was the kind of music that crossed borders, that put big issues, which few other musicians looked at, such as faith, love and war, into stunning lyrics and beautiful, soaring music.

The Joshua Tree was music like no other at the time, it was head and shoulders above the rest, a breath of fresh air amongst the electro-pop prevalent then. It was also the only album I've EVER played (including others by U2) where I loved every single song! I could hardly believe it, I loved it then and I love it now, it has really stood the test of time.

The Joshua Tree Tour followed hot on the heels of the album, but I didn't get to any of the shows though I would have loved to have gone. But I could not afford it, and I really regret not having seen any gigs from that tour, but you can't do everything you want to do in this life can you?

This is when U2 became BIG and they were on the cover of magazines all over the world. The album and tour broke records, U2 had well and truly arrived and were here to stay.