Bono and Damien Hirst, are backing a forty-million AIDS charity auction of art previewing today in London before heading for NY. The auction was devised by Bono and Damien Hirst to raise money for AIDS treatment in Africa. It features $8 million of works donated by Damien that include a heart-shaped butterfly picture entitled “All You Need is Love” with a top estimate of $1.5 million.

The fifth studio album recorded by U2 and released on March 9, 1987, is titled “Joshua Tree”. The album was produced and engineered by Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno. Having tremendous success, the album is considered to be their opus, which has often been praised by music critics as the band’s best album and one of the best rock albums of all time. In 2003, the album was ranked number 26 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. In 1988, the Joshua Tree won the Album of the Year.

The band formed in ‘76 when the band members were still teenagers with limited musical proficiency. By the mid-eighties, the group had already become a top international act. The band was noted for its anthemic sound, the lead singer’s impassioned vocals, and a toned rhythm section. The band’s 1987 record, entitled The Joshua Tree, brought them mega-stardom. Their ‘91 release Achtung Baby and the Zoo TV Tour were part of a significant reinvention for U2

Bono and The Edge have made a surprise appearance at a charity gig in London last week, when they played a 4-song set for two hundred and fifty people at Mencap’s Little Noise Sessions at the Union Chapel situated in north London. The musicians opened their set with the composition “Stay,” from 1993’s “Zooropa,” and then performed “Angel of Harlem” and “Desire”. They closed the set with a 1st-time performance of “Wave of Sorrow.” This composition was originally written for their ‘87 album entitled “Joshua Tree.”

The band has denied rumors that they are planning a series of shows next summer. U2 have put a message on their official website, scotching rumors that they are doing a fortnight at the O2 Arena in London, UK. U2 will be releasing a follow up to ‘How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb’ next summer. In a statement, the band members explained that there are no plans for live dates next year. So they warned all their fans against buying tickets for any U2 shows advertised

The band has finally found what they have been looking for: permission for a €150 million revamp of the Clarence Hotel. U2 have been given the green light by Dublin City Council to continue with their plans to turn the landmark property in Temple Bar into “the most spectacular hotel in Europe” according to Bono. However, environmentalists and conservationists have expressed outrage at Bono’s decision, as under planning law, councils should give permission to demolish listed buildings only “in exceptional circumstances”.

Bono has defended the decision by the band to move part of U2’s business from Ireland to the Netherlands in order to reduce the tax bill as well as the amount of taxes of the other band members. Bono said Ireland’s prosperity had been achieved through tax innovation. He believes it would be churlish to criticize the band for being innovative in relation to their tax affairs. Bono added that the band paid taxes not only to the letter of the law but to the spirit of the law too.

Bono has re-recorded his vocal for an old demo of the song ‘Wave of Sorrow’. At the band’s official website, Bono explained that the song was one of the unfinished tracks from the album. According to his words, the song was trying to describe experiences that Bono himself and Ali had, when we they both working together in Ethiopia during the famine. The new version of the composition is out this month.

U218 Singles is a greatest hits-style compilation album by U2 released in Ireland on 17 November 2006, in Australia on 18 November 2006, in the United Kingdom on 20 November 2006. In the United States it was released on 21 November 2006. The album contains 18 songs altogether. 16 of their most famous and successful hits, as well as “The Saints Are Coming” (a collaboration with Green Day) and a new composition entitled “Window in the Skies.” U218 Videos, a DVD featuring videos from throughout the band’s career, was released the same day as the album.

Filmed in December 1997 in Mexico, this show took place soon after the South African leg of the band’s Popmart tour. It may be almost ten years ago, but any fan being at a local concert will watch this with an ever-growing smile on their face. The huge lemon that turns into a mirror ball, Bono in his boxing gown, that huge screen… Oh, yes, it did really happen and no doubt you were there.