On This Day, May 12, 2017: U2 kicks off ‘The Joshua Tree’ 30th anniversary tour

The tour had the band playing the 1987 album in order in its entirety, which included the live debut of the track “Red Hill Mining Town.”

The tour hit North America, Europe and South America, and then U2 came back in 2019 to bring the tour to Oceana and Asia.

The 2017 leg grossed $317 million and was the highest grossing tour globally, selling more than 2.71 million tickets from 51 shows.

Released in March 1987, The Joshua Tree was U2’s fifth studio album. It topped the charts in over 20 countries, including the U.S., where it was their first-ever #1. The album produced the #1 singles “With or Without You” and “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For,” as well as the top-15 hit “Where the Streets Have No Name.”

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