WAR RELEASE
The long-awaited new album 'War' is released on Island Records ILPS 9733 on 28th February, and tracks are:
Side One: Sunday Bloody Sunday, Seconds, New Year's Day, Like A Song..., Drowning Man.
Side Two: The Refugee, Two Hearts Beat As One, Red Light, Surrender, "40".
It features Bono on vocals and guitar, Edge on guitars, piano, lap steel guitar, and lead vocal on 'Seconds', Adam on bass and Larry drums and percussion. As previously mentioned it was recorded at Windmill Lane in Dublin, with production by Steve Lillywhite except on 'The Refugee' which was produced by Bill Whelan and mixed by Steve. Also involved are Steve Wickham who contributes electric violin to 'Sunday Bloody Sunday' and 'Drowning Man', trumpet from Kenny Fradley, and backing vocals on 'Surrender' and 'Red Light' by Cheryl Poirier with Adriana Kaegi, Taryn Hagey and Jessica Felton from The Coconuts.

The full U.K. tour line-up now runs: Dundee Caird Hall, 26th Feb, Aberdeen Capitol Theatre 27th, Edinburgh Playhouse 28th, Newcastle City Hall March 1st, Lancaster University 2nd, Liverpool Royal Court Theatre 3rd, Hanley Victoria Halls 4th, Portsmouth Guildhall 6th, Bristol Colston Hall 7th, Exeter University 8th, Poole Arts Centre 9th, Birmingham Odeon 10th, Cardiff St. David's Hall 11th, Brighton Top Rank 13th, London Hammersmith Odeon 14th, Ipswich Gaumont 15th, Sheffield City Hall 17th, Leeds University 18th, Manchester Apollo 19th, Derby Assembly Rooms 20th, London Hammersmith Odeon 21st, London Hammersmith Palais 22nd, Glasgow Tiffany's 24th, Liverpool Royal Court Theatre 25th, Newcastle City Hall 26th. Birmingham Odeon 27th, Nottingham Playhouse 28th, London Haimersmith Palais 29th. A very extensive schedule, which includes return visits to several cities.

'New Year's Day' reached a peak at No.10 in the Gallup charts, and up to No.6 and 7 in some of the other charts. 'Boy' and 'October' are both climbing steadily in the album charts again. The 12" release of 'New Year's Day' includes the long version of the song, as well as the live versions of 'Fire', 'I Threw A Brick Through A Window' and ' A Day Without Me' recorded live in Werchter, Belgium in July 1982.

In the January Hot Press Reader's Poll, U2 took No.1 Best Polling Act, No. 1 Group, No.1 Live Band, No.1 Video with 'A Celebration', No.2 Single with 'A Celebration', No.2 Irish based Band, No.2 Instrumentalist for The Edge, No.3 Love Of The Year and No.5 Songwriter for Bono/U2, and No.2 Male Singer for Bono.

Bono: 'War' is about people, war between people, lovers, war between religions - Catholics and Protestants, war in Politics. War is about struggle, conflict and realisation. So there is a theme running through the songs but it is definitely not a concept album. We really wanted to make every song different, as far away from what people expect from us, I think there are only two songs that people will know as U2.
Bono: 'War' is important to me, to the whole band, but make or break? I don't think so, more of a progressive build up. We have developed the sound, taking it a stage further. It is far more rhythmic with much more depth. 'War' is our heaviest album yet.
Bono: A song called 'Surrender' and another called 'Sunday Bloody Sunday' were two I just had to write after being in New York. There is so much happening over there, so much tension, I had to make a statement.
Bono: This band is hitting out against all the blippety blop aural wallpaper we have rammed down our throats on the radio and TV every day. I am personally bloody sick of every time I switch on the radio of being blasted with this contrived crap.
Bono: The idea on 'War' was to possibly use different producers for each song or group of songs so the approach would vary throughout but in the end it didn't happen and we sorted it out with Steve. We understand each other and it works well for us. He has helped us grow and mature to understand recording techniques and translate our sound and ideas into reality.

WAR BREAKS 0UT IN ENGLAND
by Louise Wates, Sunbury- on-Thames, Middx.

December 82, and the long awaited U2 tour began. This is the tour that so many have waited for... the prelude to their coming album 'War'.

Manchester Apollo - Dec 2nd.
The day started for many, including myself, with the appearance of U2 at the back of the venue at about 4.45. The crowd of about twenty people clustered as Larry, Edge and Adam slipped through the doors leaving a defenceless though competent Bono at the mercy of the gabbling hordes.

After the arguments of who was going to have Bono's hat ended, he began to shake hands, sign record sleeves and generally make himself even more popular. Bono also showed his un-superstar nature by taking names with the intent of putting them on guest lists, answering questions and joking with fans. After about ten minutes, Bono began hustling the frost-bitten fans backstage leaving them behind the practising Larry, Edge and Adam with the words 'It's the survival of the fittest now.'

Once In the warmth, the crowd began to thaw out finding that they could operate the finger used for clicking cameras. Several pictures later, we were again hustled away. this time to the front stalls where we priviledged few listened to the soundchecks (plus bits of 'Sunday Bloody Sunday', 'Surrender' and 'New Year's Day') whilst taking as many photos as we wished, leaning on the stage and chatting to U2 without being threatened by any irate roadies or security staff. All good things come to an end, though, and so we were dismissed so that we should queue with the other members of the audience, the real gig was about to begin.

'The Alarm' were supporting. They were not unreasonable but they were not what the audience wanted. What they did want didn't arrive until nearly nine o'clock. U2, cheered by a packed venue at last came on stage.

A heated hour and a half followed with many tracks from 'Boy' and 'October' and the readily welcomed Sunday Bloody Sunday, 'Surrender', and 'New Year's Day' from the coming album 'War' which The Edge informed me is to be released in February with the single released in early January. Also due a mention were 'A Celebration' and the classic '11 O'Clock Tick Tock' played and greeted with the enthusiasm they produce.

Bono is not superhuman, but he is special. Whether he realises it or not, he has the audience eating out of his hand. When he says 'sing' they sing. When he says 'dance' they dance, when he says 'up', the audience go up. Maybe it's because everyone seems to admire him for the powerful man that he is.

Towards the end, Bono Invited the audience to join in with "We wish you a merry Christmas". Coming from anyone else it may have sounded corny, but when Bono cries out 'I need You' we all know that he really means it. The set was to have ended with 'The Ocean' but so much was the chanting, shouting and point blank refusal to let them go that yet again the band came onto the stage for another performance of 'I Will Follow'.

"What can I say?" asked Bono. He need not feel grateful though, because when the audience sang 'I Will Follow', they meant every word of it.

Leicester De Montfort Hall - Dec 3rd.
Again Bono made it possible for a few people to watch the soundchecks. Whilst the band practised, approximately thirty people sprawled across the venue floor, some listening to the group live for the first time. All members of U2 then spent some time giving autographs and chatting until it was time to leave.

Supporting U2 were 'The Set'. The six piece band kept the now clustering audience well entertained with a good stream of reggae and R&B. During the interval venue began to fill. Even though there were a few empty seats on the balcony the floor was packed out with pushing and jostling fans, all of who gave loud applause and cheers when guess who walked onto the stage.

Many of the well-loved songs from 'Boy' were played but a special moment was when Bono announced, "I'm sick of flags - whatever colour. There's only one flag - the white flag." Pointing to the three adorning the stage he broke into strong voice with 'Electric Co'. It was during this song that he scaled the balcony, and sitting on the edge (no, not The Edge) he greeted the people round him, then whilst holding tightly onto someone's hand, leaning dangerously over the side he carried on with the song. Stepping back onto the balcony he lost his balance and fell on top of me and the girls next to me. Bono is tough though and undeterred he quickly climbed down again and tirelessly carried on with the song.

Sitting on the steps later, dripping wet with sweat and the water that he seems to like throwing over himself, Bono then told the audience of how in America, people seemed to have a cartoon age of an Irishman and that the audience were throwing money onto the stage. That is what made him write 'Sunday Bloody Sunday'. "You'll probably never hear it on the radio", he informed us.

The concert was well played and enhanced in its reception by the crowd. The music was great and there was no sign of the cough that was to impair Bono's voice the next day. The audience hung on Bono's every word, cheering loudly when he said, "As you can see, we use no tapes. We make music from our hearts and souls and instruments - no computers".

But it saddened me to see the roadies pushing and grabbing those who jumped on the stage trying to dance with Bono. "If we had it our way, you'd all be on stage", he explained. 'The Ocean' was the final song after which U2 vacated the stage, leaving the audience shouting for more.

Birmingham Odeon - Dec 4th.
Five o'clock and the two front rows were filled with those who'd been let in for the soundcheck. It was then that Bono joked. "One day we'll be musicians like Duran Duran!" For an hour we watched the soundchecks, feeling anxiety when Bono began spluttering in the smoke effect. "I woke up with a smoker's cough this morning!".

Still, they carried on though, even playing 'Tomorrow'. It was a bit rough, though. what with Bono stopping a couple of times and calling 'Laurence' flashing accusing looks at the poor drummer. Although the gig was a sell-out, the audience seemed to be lukewarm. They soon lost their coldness, though, after U2 had played a while - even though Bono was definitely having trouble with his voice. Cheers and applause rose when he sang 'I can't help myself tonight' to 'Into The Heart'. All through the venue there was the feeling of a love for Bono - the man who does his best and in return loves his audience. Everyone hoped that his voice wouldn't really suffer.

He did last out though, so that even when I left the hall during the second encore (a case of travelitus causing tireditus), I could still hear those heartfelt vocals calling strongly the sound of 'A Celebration', an instrument on their own.

Summary: U2 were great, the audience didn't know how lucky they were to be able to see the group. (Slightly ungrateful lot?) Now back to the hotel for some ZZZZ ... till the Lyceum. Do not disturb. ZZZZZ

London Lyceum Ballroom Dec 5th
Again 'The Alarm' were supporting. This time they seemed to play a lot better and even had many of their own fans in the audience. The next band were a two-piece electronic set-up. Unfortunately they were far from accepted by the waiting crowd who just about applauded (out of sympathy?).

When U2 came on at nine thirty, the pushing of the excited crowd became too much for many people, and the screams of people (mainly girls) could be heard over the cheers. It was only when I'd collapsed on the floor - being five foot isn't much fun at stand up gigs - and I was wondering if I was to be the first person crushed to death at a U2 gig, and whether I was about the break a record, that I felt myself being hoisted up by the boys around me. (Thanks whoever you were) With the help of the boys and Bono who'd been crouching down singing 'Surrender' I managed to climb onto the stage, losing my shoes in the process.

I can't really say much of the group's actions after that as when I was led round to a side entrance by a roadie, I could hardly see anything at all. I could see the audience's reactions and I could see two glasses of water get own onto the audience by you-know-who, but more than that...

London Hammersmith Palais - Dec 6th
"Tonight... tonight will be a night you won't forget, and a night that I won't forget", was Bono's promise.

The last gig of the UK dates, and the Palais is full of people from all over the UK and Europe. A feeling of excited anticipation clings to the very walls and to the empty stage. U2 were cheered by an audience who knew that Bono would keep his promise.

The atmosphere is almost that of a farewell gig. The group put every bit of their hearts into this set and this was returned by a whole-hearted crowd.

'Out of Control', do you feel it?', asks Bono as he prowls up and down the stage like a captive lion. The audience were already excited now and didn't need much coaxing, especially after Bono's appearance with 'The Alarm' singing 'Knocking On Heaven's Door'.

'Twilight' and 'Into The Heart', and Bono was calling "I need you". "We Need U2' was the spoken and unspoken reply. It is only the third song and a bond had been made between audience and group.

A moment of requested silence descends over the Palais, and Bono quietly says, "I received a letter about five minutes before the concert. It's about a boy called Duncan. Duncan didn't write it... it says Duncan's dying, he's in a coma. This is for you Duncan, 'I Fall Down'. A brief silence and Bono's words are applauded. This is just one of the signs that shows how Bono cares, not just for himself but for all mankind.

"I've been frightened about writing a song about my own country, Ireland, and Its problems, this one is called 'Sunday Bloody Sunday' ... it's not a rebellious song." Obviously many people have already heard this song as nearly all of the audience begins to dance... although I haven't seen anyone dancing as much as Bono. How does he manage it?

An hour flew by like five minutes and before I knew it U2 were on stage for '11 O'Clock Tick Tock'. The climax of the gig arrived as fans began to pour onto the stage. Two girls did the can-can with Bono and a boy jumped on the stage and began to kiss the bewildered Edge's feet.

O.K., so we didn't get home till late (again) and we had three exams the next morning but there is only one more thing to say... anyone got spare tickets for Europe and Ireland?....

Dear Geoff,
During their Hammersmith Palais concert, Bono dedicated 'I Fall Down' to a U2 fan called Duncan, who had been seriously injured in a car crash on the M1. Duncan was in hospital for a week, deeply unconscious, when he finally died in the evening of Monday 6th December - when should/would have been at the concert. The reason why I'm telling you this is because Duncan was my very best friend - we went everywhere together and had done so since we were about 7 years old. I would just like the band to know that I was very moved by their gesture for Duncan whom they had never met, but who had followed U2 avidly for three years. It was perhaps the most appropriate message with which Duncan could have left the world - he was only 19 - and 'I Fall Down' was. his favourite U2 song. This is just a letter of my appreciation for a very personal gesture I shall remember for the rest of my life.

Yours sincerely, James Pritchard, Herts.
(I thought you'd be interested as so many people wrote in asking about Duncan - Geoff)

U2 PEN-PALS/SWOPS, AND TRADES SECTION
To contact other friends and fans of U2, send in your name and address and we'll include it here. You can also include U2 items that you're offering to swop if you wish, but please keep the listing fairly brief.

Colm McAuliffe, 12 Ashgrove Drive, Ballyvolans, Cork. Ireland.
Paul Hopkinson, 'Bengreave', Hollin House Lane, Holdworth, Loxley, Sheffield S6 6RG, South Yorks.
Mauro Nardim, 13 High Street, Nemilns, Ayrshire KA16 9EE, Scotland. Would like to swop live tapes.
Jonathan Morley. 81 Hillway, Highgate, London N6 6AB, England.
Mark Falconer, 36 Cameron Square. Inverness IV3 6PY, Scotland.
Miss Ayumi Komori, 5-23-301 Houshian, Moji-ku, Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka 801, JAPAN.
Miss Tanji Whitel, 3 Sunnyside Villas, Albert Road, Georgetown, Jersey, Channel Islands.

SWOP:
Nigel Couchman, 9 Hillside Way. Withdean, Brighton, BN1 5FE I have got the 3-track Out Of Control 12" single and would like to swop it with anyone who has the American I Will Follow/Out Of Control(Live) single. If anyone has any U2 cutting they would like to send me, I would be more than grateful.

U2 VINYL RARITIES by Jon Crook. Huddersfield, West Yorks.
What I've tried to compile here is a list of U2 records not easily available to fans. The majority of these records are for promotional use only and therefore are quite rare. No doubt there are a few I've neglected to mention (such as Irish CBS promo's etc. of which I've no information) but I think this list covers the rarest items.

7"ers
'U2-3' Irish CBS orig. w/ pic sleeve
'Another Day' Irish CBS orig. w/ pic sleeve
'11 O'Clock Tick Tock' Island UK demo w. ps
'A Day Without Me. Island UK 'A' label w. p sleeve.
'I Will Follow' Island UK orig. w. ps
'I Will Follow' Island UK one_sided promo
'I Will Follow' Island US promo (mono/ stereo version)
'I Will Follow' Island US demo.
'I Will Follow' (live) Dutch import w. ps, 'Gloria' on B-side.
'Fire' Island UK double single w. ps
'Fire' Island UK one sided promo w. ps
'Fire' island UK mis-pressed single with 'Cry/Electric Co' on b-side
'Fire' Japanese import with 'A Celebration' on b-side w. ps and lyric insert.
'Gloria' Island one sided promo w. ps
'A Celebration' Island UK one sided promo w. ps.

12" Singles
'U23' Irish CBS orig., some individually numbered
'I Will Follow' Island US promo, with Steve Winwood 'Night Train' on B-side
'Fire' 4-track Dutch import with diff pie sleeve. Other 3 tracks are as for UK double single.
'New Year's Day' + 'Treasure' Island UK one sided test pressing
'Gloria. I Threw A Brick/A Day Without Me'(live in Belgium) Island UK one sided test pressing. Only 12 copies of each of these latter two exist.

Albums
'Boy' Island UK white label promo, 'October' Island UK white label promo, 'War' Island UK white label promo.
'2 Sides Live' The Warner Bros. Music Show No.117 - 55 mins. live at the Paradise Theatre, Boston, Mass. USA, on 6th March 1981. Red and white WBMS sleeve, promo album only. This has fetched £60 at record auctions, however counterfeit pressings have been released, which apart from being illegal, aren't worth anything near that amount. Some of these unauthorised pressings are in colour vinyl - they can be told apart from the real thing as they are in a plain white sleeve and the Bugs Bunny on the label is in b&w, not colour. Because it is a copy there is a fair amount of static between the tracks.
'In Concert' U2/Bryan Adams 'Westwood One* US promo only double album.
'King Biscuit Flower Hour' U2/Devo US promo only 3-sided double album - U2 live for 20 mins.

Please don't ask where you can get hold of these - very occasionally they can crop up in second hand and collector's shops.

U2 - 82 COMPETITION RESULTS
Winners are Neil Thompson of St Neots, Cambs; Matthew Reid, Larbert, Stirlingshire; Stuart Kinsey, Hitchin, Herts; Miss Bowah Man, London; and Orly Klein, Kingsbury, who will each receive the '4 U2 PLAY' Irish singles pack. Some are printed here, others will be in the next issue.

INTO THE HEART - AN INTERPRETATION
By Neil Thompson

All too suddenly I find myself at an uncertain age. I find I have mixed feelings about life's issues. I have to find my own opinions, sometimes I strive for responsibility, sometimes I hide from responsibility. I find myself looking to the future... what will it hold? what will I find?

At other times I find myself looking to the past... remembering. The fond memories, the carefree attitudes, running about in the sun, playing with friends laughing, yes. I always hear the laughing. I remember the innocence of it all before the prejudice, the love of a child to another - pure and innocent, as yet unadulterated by a 'macho' society. I would cry when I realised I had done wrong, but I was always grateful for the forgiving hug of a caring parent, no. I was never ashamed of that... then.

But as I look back I realise that I can never return, except in memories, I have been too influenced and conditioned by the world around me, where genuine love of a friend is mocked at and subsequently hidden from view, where love for parents and feelings of conscience is something to be ashamed of and abused... but why? I shall never be allowed to return, only in memories, when I hear the laughing, there was always the laughing.

OUT OF CONTROL
by Stuart Kinsey. Hitchin, Herts.
How does a U2 fan pick his or her favourite song, they are all so good. The only way I could do it was to pick the one that summed up for me what W are all about, guts!

I first 'discovered' this young Irish quartet at the Nashville in 1980, U2 was a relatively unknown name in England, and the small audience of 50 - 100 people were about to experience the nearest thing to an atom bomb they could over imagine, and survive smiling. Who was this dynamic young singer who grabbed the audience by the scruff of the neck and said "Listen", then took us into the palm of his hand, and left us pleading for more, more. more.

After buying and wearing out my copy of 'Boy', there was one song that reminded me, and always will, of that first ever encounter with U2, the brilliant OUT OF CONTROL. From the very first bass note to the very last chord it was pure energy - like a tornado it lifted me higher and higher until the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. To me this song is U2 and always will be, they give it everything they've got and there's no holding back.

It's far too difficult to put it down to any individual member, for it's the chemistry of BONO, THE EDGE, ADAM and LARRY that makes the whole thing work.

'Out Of Control' is raw and that is why it works, it drives along on the thumping bass line provided by Adam and the infallible drumming by Larry, Edge's guitar smacks you right between the eyes, all of which is held together by Bono's exhilarating vocals.

Then just when you least expect it the whole song breaks into a swirling mans of harmonics and echo, so typical of U2, finishing off in an almost frenzy of emotion. 'Out of Control' is what U2 are best at, and they can only get better, to quote, "They make children - not like this one".

If you have any questions about U2 we can answer them here in this section. If you wish to write to Bono, The Edge, Larry or Adam personally we can pass these on, or write direct to SISTER SISTER, 39 Chestnut Grove, Kingswood, CLONDAIKIN, Co. Dublin, EIRE. (Please note this is a new address)

Dear U2,
I'm writing to you on hearing that 'New Year's Day' entered the charts today. Congratulations, you thoroughly deserve all the success in the world after consistently giving us such brilliant stuff as 'Boy' and 'October'.

I know you won't need me to tell you this, but please stick to your principles, it would be terrible if you diluted down the emotion and grit which is what the U2 sound is all about, and became part of the wallpaper music brigade - it's happened to other bands when they got into the charts.

Anyway, keep up the good work, who knows, U2 at Number one - a blow against posing and all those who think music is about well-produced empty trash and surface gloss.
Love to you all, Izzy.

Compiled and edited by Geoff Parkyn. Published by U2 INFO SERVICE, P.O.Box 48, London N6 5RU, England. Please remember to include return postage for personal replies to any correspondence.

Special thanks to Paul McGuinness, Neil at Island Records. Jane at Island Music.
Cover and 'Boy' photography by Ian Finlay.
Photography by Anton Corbijn, Steve Rapport, Ian Finlay and GP.
As always, thanks to U2 - and you too!