Tour To Kick off March, Tickets January

(U2.com) -- U2 will begin a ten month world tour on March 1st in the US, manager Paul McGuinness has told U2.Com.

The band are set to play 115 shows beginning in Florida in the Spring, reaching Europe in June, heading back to North America in the Autumn before finishing up in Japan and Australia in November and December.

In an interview with U2.Com, Paul McGuinness revealed that two different productions were underway for the tour as it would open indoors in the US and then play outdoors through the summer in Europe. ‘Willie Williams and Mark Fisher are already at work on designing the shows.’

Some dates and venues are still being finalized - no official announcement will be made until the New Year.

McGuinness said he had had no doubt that ‘How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb’ was going to be one of the bands most popular records – not only is ‘Vertigo’ a worldwide hit but the advance orders for the new album outstripped those of ‘All That You Can’t Leave Behind’, which went on to sell more than 10m copies to date.

Still, on the day of the US release, there was no harm in judging first hand if the initial industry signs would be borne out by popular interest .

‘When we were on the truck making the video in New York, - which was a bit scary at times, with so many fans following us - it was the day of the American release, and you could tell as we passed the retailers that people were buying the record.’

At the end of filming, after the free concert under Brooklyn Bridge, McGuinness had a celebratory cocktail with Doug Morris, Chairman & CEO of Universal Music Group and Jimmy Iovine who heads up Interscope.

‘We thought we’d see how the album was going,’ he said. ‘So we popped down to Sam Goody’s music store by Radio City and when we went in, there was only one copy left – so I bought it!

‘They told us they’d been re-ordering it all day.’

Next the threesome walked down to Times Square to the Virgin store. ‘The racks were being filled and emptied as we watched – they were even selling imported vinyl copies.’

But all of this was no great surprise to the man who has been managing U2 for more than a quarter of a century – they do know how to kick off an album release in style. The free gig was a great idea he said, and the collaboration with iTunes on ‘Vertigo’ had reminded the public in no uncertain terms that U2 were back. That said - they take nothing for granted.

‘Every time a new record comes out, I say that we have to break the band again.’

As for the 2005 tour, he predicts it will be as exciting as ever – some of the new songs are just begging for live performance. While the exact tour itinerary should be announced in the New Year, with tickets on sale later in January, members of U2.Com will get a window of opportunity ahead of everyone else to buy tickets of their choice at every venue.