U2 to hold 25-city tour for The Joshua Tree's 30th anniversary

Rock band U2 is paying tribute to the album that skyrocketed them to fame by honoring "The Joshua Tree" with a 25 date stadium tour this year.

The Joshua Tree which sold 25 million copies worldwide was the band's fifth LP that was released on March 9, 1987, and became the band's first hit in the US and cemented their status as one of the most iconic bands in the entertainment industry.

The Joshua Tree included hits like Where The Streets Have No Name, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, With Or Without You, Bullet The Blue Sky, Running To Stand Still, Red Hill Mining Town, In God's Country, Trip Through Your Wires, One Tree Hill, Exit and Mothers of the Disappeared.

According to The New York Times, the entire song list will be played for every night of the tour. The tour is expected to kick off on May 12 in British Columbia before it crosses over to cities in the US in June including Seattle, California, Texas, Chicago, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Massachussets, New Jersey, and Ohio in June.   

Croke Park, which has a sentimental role for the album, has also been confirmed for July 22, the Irish Times reported. Lead vocalist Bono admitted that he has recently listened to the full album for the first time in three decades and described the material as "quite the opera."

For his part, The Edge said that their planned tour is very timely as the message carried by the songs of the album perfectly reflect what is happening to the world now - which is the same as it was 30 years ago.

"It seems like we have come full circle from when 'The Joshua Tree' songs were originally written, with global upheaval, extreme right-wing politics and some fundamental human rights at risk. To celebrate the album - as the songs seem so relevant and prescient of these times too - we decided to do these shows; it feels right for now," he said.

While the tour locations have yet to be finalized, Australian fans are already asking for the band to consider returning to the Land Down Under. It can be recalled that the last time for the band to perform in Australia was back in December 2010 for the 360 tour.