U2 on the Horizon

photo from the Sun

Members of the Irish rock band U2 may not know exactly what songs will be on their next album "No Line on the Horizon", which is due out March 1 and 2 - March 2 in North America and March 1 everywhere else - but they do know how they will make it available to fans.

U2 plans to offer their fans five different configurations from which to choose the new album.

The first is the traditional CD. 

There will also be a two disc vinyl release. 

The digi-pack is the CD in a simple cardboard container, a 36 page book, a poster, and a download edition of an Anton Corbijn film which includes music by the rockers.

The next version is the magazine edition which is the CD inside a 60 magazine styled book and a downloadable version of the Anton Corbijn film.

The last and most expensive version of "No Line on the Horizon" is a box set which includes the CD, a 60 page hardcover book, two posters, and a DVD copy of the Anton Corbijn film.

Since they first came on the musical scene in the early eighties the 18 time Grammy winning rockers have released some 15 albums, three of which are compilations.  Twelve of those albums have been awarded multi platinum status with "The Joshua Tree" reaching Diamond status which means 10 million copies sold in the United States alone.  The music of U2 was also featured in the movie "Blown Away" where one scene shows Tommy Lee Jones' character in an open air market when a woman offers him a cassette tape of a new group from Ireland - U2.  Jones responds by saying he will give the lads a listen.

Along with making music lead singer Bono is heavily involved in humanitarian issues.  He has been knighted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, but since Ireland is not a part of the English Commonwealth Bono cannot carry the title of "Sir".