U2 celebrates 50th anniversary with surprise Dublin concerts

U2 celebrated their 50th anniversary with a series of surprise performances in Dublin, returning to the roots of their formation. The band, consisting of Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr., performed a special set at Mount Temple Comprehensive School, the institution where Mullen originally posted a notice seeking musicians in 1976.

The schoolyard concert featured career-spanning hits such as ‘I Will Follow’, ‘With or Without You’, and ‘Beautiful Day’. The band also performed the live debut of ‘Silencio’, a track from their upcoming studio album, ‘Carnaval De Luz’, which is scheduled for release on November 13. During a performance of ‘One’, the group was joined by approximately 30 young musicians from the Music Generation program.

In addition to the school performance, the band held an impromptu concert on the balcony of Bewley’s Café on Grafton Street, drawing thousands of fans. The celebrations also served as a tribute to the late Dolly Parton, who contributed a duet with Bono to the new album. Bono described the homecoming experience as feeling like ‘winning the world cup’.

The band’s 50-year history is noted for the rare achievement of maintaining the same four original members throughout their entire career.