A few tidbits about U2, in case you wanted to know some trivia.

1. U2 has been actively involved in human rights and social justice campaigns over the years, including Amnesty International and the ONE Campaign.

2. U2 has won 22 Grammys over the course of the group’s decades-long career.

3. The band comes from Ireland orginally.

Front man of the U2 rock band Bono pressed French leader Nicolas Sarkozy to increase aid to developing nations, the aid advocacy group DATA said. The organization, co-founded by Bono has urged France to raise development assistance to 0.7 percent of gross national income by 2012 as agreed earlier. In 2006, French aid stood at 0.31 percent of gross national income.

A t-shirt that was designed by Bono for Hard Rock International, will raise funds to benefit cotton farmers and garment workers in Africa. The design features a fish soaring through the moon and stars. With Bono’s signature.

U2 is going to present its first digital 3D, multi-camera, real-time production at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival. U2 3D reflects the band’s longstanding embrace of technology and its belief that U2 3D has the potential to revolutionize digital 3D technology.

U2’s latest album titled U218 Singles was released on 17 November 2006. The album contains singles recorded all the way from 1982 to 2006. To be exact, the album contains eighteen songs altogether—sixteen of their most well-known and successful singles, as well as “The Saints Are Coming” (in collaboration with Green Day) and a new song, “Window in the Skies.” By its 8th week of release, the album had sold 2,803,000 copies around the world, and on December 9, 2006 debuted on the Billboard 200album chart with sales of 134,000 copies.

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”.