In The New Hot Press: U2 are triumphant cover stars ahead of Irish gigs

They're a band famed for their groundbreaking tours as much as they are for their music. By continually using the most up-to-date technology and insisting that their shows be all-encompassing experience, in a very real sense U2 helped change the face how musicians and artists have come to consider live performances.

In this special issue, ahead of U2's return to Ireland in October and November, we take an in-depth look at every single one of their major tours. Going all the way from the late '70s to the present day, we speak to the promoters, filmmakers, stage designers, and all-manner of background figures who helped make 'The U2 Live Show' the revolutionary thing that it became. Accompanying this, we also have exclusive pictures from throughout their 40+ years as a live band and reveal never-before-heard stories about what was involved in pulling off some of their monumental live shows.

As well as that, he take an in-depth look at the city that made the band. U2’s relationship with Dublin has endured and taken on extra significance through their rise to global success. Famously formed at Mount Temple school in 1976, the band’s hometown is the thread that connects early releases Boy, October and War with most recent albums Songs Of Innocence and Songs of Experience. On their latest tour, U2 put their long career in sharp focus. In doing so, they reveal glimmers of their own version of Dublin. In our new issue, we take to the streets and see the places that are personal markers for Bono, The Edge, Larry and Adam.

In the Hot Press interview this issue, Jason O'Toole sits down with Frank McDonald. As the Environment Editor of The Irish Times, Frank was the scourge of bad planners, corrupt politicians and get-rich-quick developers. But there's another side to this prominent journalist and writer. He was gay at a time when Ireland was brutally conservative, homosexuality was a crime and AIDS first reared its ugly head. In this extensive, exclusive interview, he shares his full story.

Elsewhere in our music section, Stuart Clark sits down with The Cranberries' Noel Hagan. As their groundbreaking Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We? album gets a box-set re-release, he talks about the band's formative years, and the pain of losing Dolores O'Riordan. We also meet with Lisa O'Neill, ahead of the release of her new album Heard A Long Gone Song; catch up with Echo and the Bunnyman’s Ian McCullouch; talk to Pale Waves about how they became one indie-pops most revered bands; and we have a revealing interview with Gordon MacHarg, the artist friend of Joe Strummer, who has compiled essential archival material from Joe's solo career.

In our film section, Roe McDermott meets with film director Ross Whitaker, ahead of the release of the highly-anticipated Katie documentary, which follows the life and career of Katie Taylor.

In our frontline section, Stuart Clark examines the impact of Canada’s legalisation of marijuana, and how an Irish company is working hard to de-stigmatise a global industry that could be worth billions to our country’s economy.

We also have an extensive tech feature in this issue, where we preview some of the top gadgets in the market, some of new inventions that you truly won’t believe, and the games festivals which are bringing Ireland’s gaming community together.

As well as all that, we also have interviews with the likes of Irish writer Paul Charles, Irish designer Sara O’Neill, and lots of others, as well as all the usual previews, reviews and news that you'd expect from Hot Press, including coverage of the newest releases from Gavin James, David Bowie, Thom Yorke and more!

The new Hot Press, starring U2, is available in stores on October 25 – or you can order it here: