AUGUST 1ST: Jack Healey of Amnesty International / "LoveTown" plans / MTV is launched / Mother Records / "The Joshua Tree" sessions / 'Party Girl'-Kirsty McColl / "ZooTV" have increased several-fold / two "POPMart" shows!

"Amnesty International" - august 1985. U2 are contacted by Jack Healey, director of Amnesty International's American Division. He asks band manager Paul McGuinness for one week of shows from the band in 1986, to coincide with Amnesty's 25th Anniversary. McGuinness assures Healey of U2's commitment, and Healey uses U2's involvement to gather other stars for the 1986 "Conspiracy of Hope" tour.

"LoveTown" tour - august 1989. U2 rehearse extensively for the upcoming "LoveTown" tour in Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. Rene Castro is invited to design and produce backdrops for the new stage--he eventually decides on using the symbols of a snake, guitar, the American Flag and a hawkmoon. B.B. King is asked to support U2 on the tour, and he accepts the offer to expose his music to a new generation of fans.

"MTV cable channel is launched" - august 1, 1981. The MTV cable channel is launched. The Buggles' "Video Killed the Radio Star" is the first music video shown.

"Mother Records" - august 1, 1984. Mother Records is established by the band as an outlet for new Irish talent.

"The Joshua Tree" sessions - august 1, 1986. Recording sessions for "The Joshua Tree" begin in Dublin.

"The Joshua Tree" tour - august 1, 1987. U2 perform in Edinburgh, Scotland at Murrayfield Stadium. "Party Girl" is especially festive this evening--Steve Lillywhite's wife Kirsty McColl brings the champagne to the stage. "I don't even like champagne, but I like Kirsty McColl!" Bono shouts and starts chasing her around the stage. Support is "Run Rig", "Love & Money", "The Mission", and "The Pogues".

"ZOOTV" tour - august 1-6 1992. After a few weeks of relaxation in France and Ireland, the tour returns to the United States. However, the size of the show, and the magnitude of the spectacle of ZooTV have increased several-fold. The centrally placed mixing booth has now been moved to the left of the stage, in order to give the audience a better view. The stage is now 248 X 80 feet in size, and six additional Trabants are added to the original seven. Two of the cars are mounted on cranes and can "fly" throughout the stadium. Four huge video-screens are added, ensuring the even the people at the back of the stadium will get a view of the show. Over 1200 tons of equipment are being used(including a million watt sound system), 180 regular road crew and 200+ local crew are now required to set up the stage. Even with close to 400 people working on the set-up, it still takes 40+ hours to set up the stage. The week is spent in Hershey, Pennsylvannia at Hershey Park Stadium setting up the stage and rehearsing for the opening of "ZooTV: The Outside Broadcast". The rehearsals see the addition of songs that did not make it into the Arena version of ZooTV, "Sunday Bloody Sunday", "New Year's Day", "So Cruel", and "Acrobat"--the only song off of "Achtung Baby" not yet performed live. A song, never released, called "Miracle Man" is also performed at one of the soundchecks. Rumours that the rehearsals will result in a try-out concert are proven true when Bono lets it slip that fans will be able to see what the band has been up to by the end of the week. On August 5, 1992, tickets go on sale for a show on August 7, 1992. The ticket stubs say "Outside Rehearsal" and are priced cheaply at $15US. All proceeds from the show go to charity.

"Landsdowne Road" - august 1, 1997. Ireland's Supreme Court gives the go-ahead for two U2 PopMart concerts scheduled for August 30 and 31 at Landsdowne Road stadium in Dublin. Earlier in the week, the country's High Court had, under pressure from locals fearing excessive noise and general mayhem, overstepped its jurisdiction and banned the two gigs.