By Jonathan Finafrock, Downingtown, PA

U2 releases the Joshua Tree in 1987. U2’s performance of ‘Bad’ during Live Aid two years earlier had skyrocketed them towards super-stardom. They began the Joshua Tree Tour to coincide with the release of the album. They were performing “Where the Streets Have No Name” and the crowd(s) began singing along. Edge later remarked that he couldn’t believe the words were being sung in unison, because the album was only released three days earlier. I saw U2 live for the first time in May of 87 from the 10th Row at the Hartford Civic Center in Hartford, CT. The lights went out, the crowd roared, and the clanging bell-like guitar chimes of “Where the Streets..” began a slow ascent from the corner of the stage. Then, just as the chords seemed to reach their crescendo, the house lights came on and Bono ran onto the stage singing / screaming “I want to run, I want to hide…” It was a religious experience and I get goose bumps to this day thinking about it !!