U2 are the biggest band in the world and this diary is the single most comprehensive resource that details all of the relevant day-to-day events that have shaped U2 into the band it is today. It presents the complete history of the band from 1950s Dublin to the present day. It provides the important stories behind the 'who, what, when and where' including stories and insights about key moments in U2s development that have never been told before.Through interviews and far-reaching research, author Matt McGee will shed light on stories including the band's 1978 victory in a St Patrick Day's talent content which led to their first studio session with CBS and Bono's visit to Central America in 1986, which led directly to several songs on The Joshua Tree. It also includes details of the birth of Zoo TV on the island of Tenerife, U2's struggle to finish the Pop album and its impact on Universal Music and Bono's behind-the-scenes manoeuvres to gain support for his ONE Campaign in the early 2000s. It contains input from fans who have contributed their memories and personal photographs of the band.