Greg Kot

U2's marketing juggernaut will enter its touring phase this spring, with concerts scheduled May 7 and 9 at the United Center.

The Irish band launches its North American tour March 28 in San Diego and will visit 13 cities before venturing across Europe in June. The band has sold 8.5 million copies of its latest album, "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb," with the aid of a ubiquitous television commercial.

Tickets at $49.50, $95 and $165 (plus service fees) for the Chicago shows go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday at the United Center box office, all Ticketmaster outlets or at 312-559-1212. Subscribers to U2's official Web site, U2.com, can reserve tickets before the sale date.