U2 Returns to Dublin School for Surprise Performance
The Irish rock band played a seven-song set at Mount Temple Comprehensive School, where they formed 50 years ago.
Irish rock band U2 returned to their alma mater, Mount Temple Comprehensive School in Dublin, on Friday for a surprise performance commemorating the 50th anniversary of their formation.
The band performed a seven-song set in the schoolyard for hundreds of students and others within earshot, including a construction crew in a nearby building.
U2 began their musical journey at the school when 14-year-old Larry Mullen posted a note on a message board seeking musicians. The original lineup included Paul Hewson (Bono), David Evans (The Edge), and Adam Clayton. The group, initially known as Feedback, would later adopt the name U2 and release their debut album, "Boy," in 1980.
The 30-minute performance featured songs such as "I Will Follow," the band's first played publicly, and an encore of "With or Without You." A group of 32 students accompanied the band on stringed instruments for the song "One."
The event was part of a promotional effort for their new album, "Carnaval De Luz." The album includes a duet with Dolly Parton.
During the performance, Bono reflected on the band's beginnings at the school, calling it the place where they learned "the humblest and hardest lesson" of recognizing their need for education. He thanked the school and the wider community for their support over the past five decades.