History of PopMart Tour in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: June 17, 2025

The PopMart Tour was a worldwide concert tour by U2 in 1997 and 1998, supporting their album "Pop." Known for its elaborate and ironic production, the tour featured a massive LED screen, a golden arch, and a mirror-ball lemon. The band adopted a self-mocking image, using costumes and stage design to satirize consumerism and pop culture, a departure from their more earnest performances in the 1980s, echoing similar themes explored in their previous Zoo TV Tour.

1989: Size Comparison to Lovetown Tour Backdrop

In 1989, the size of the screen designed for the PopMart tour was approximately the same size as the backdrop used during the band's Lovetown Tour.

October 1995: U2 Re-enters Dublin Recording Studio

In October 1995, U2 re-entered their Dublin recording studio and started to work on their ninth studio album, which was set to be finished by mid-1996 and released later that year prior to the Christmas and holiday season. Around the same time, in late 1995, stage designer Willie Williams began developing concepts for the band's next tour.

1995: "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me" Performance

In 1995, U2's single "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me", from the Batman Forever soundtrack, was performed during the PopMart Tour, usually followed by "Mysterious Ways" and "One".

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1995: Development of PopMart Tour Stage Design

In 1995, stage designer Willie Williams and stage architect Mark Fisher began developing the PopMart Tour, aiming for a design distinct from the previous Zoo TV Tour. Fisher researched LED screens, ultimately proposing a massive, low-resolution screen that U2 invested US$7 million in to develop.

1996: Pop Album Planned for Release During the Holiday Season

During 1996, U2 originally planned to release their album Pop during the holiday season, but the recording sessions went longer than expected, leading to a delay in the album's release and impacting rehearsal time for the PopMart Tour.

1996: Ninth studio album planned for release

In 1996, U2 planned to finish their ninth studio album by mid-year and release it later that year prior to the Christmas and holiday season. Around the same time, in late 1995, stage designer Willie Williams began developing concepts for the band's next tour.

1996: U2 begins scheduling tour dates in early 1996

In early 1996, while still in the recording studio, U2, along with band manager Paul McGuinness, began scheduling tour dates for the PopMart Tour. McGuinness decided that the entire tour should take place in large stadiums, and a deal was eventually made with Toronto-based concert promoter Michael Cohl for $100 million.

January 1997: "Discothèque" Released as First Single

In January 1997, "Discothèque" was released as the first single from U2's album Pop.

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February 1997: U2 Announces PopMart Tour at Kmart

On February 12, 1997, U2 announced the PopMart Tour at a news conference held at a Kmart store in New York City, performing "Holy Joe". The tour was to begin in Whitney, Nevada, on April 25, with stadium shows in North America and Europe, followed by shows in Africa, Asia, Australia, and South America in 1998. Tickets were priced at an average of $50 worldwide.

March 1997: Pop Album Ready for Release

In March 1997, U2's album Pop was ready for release, but the band felt they needed more time to fully complete it. Booking the tour before finishing the album was described by Bono as the worst decision U2 ever made, as it forced them to rush the album's completion.

March 1997: Album Release Date Postponed

In March 1997, U2's album release was pushed back to this date to allow for completion of the album, which resulted in a loss of valuable rehearsal time for the PopMart Tour.

March 1997: Delayed Album Release and Rehearsal Time

In March 1997, the release of U2's album Pop was delayed due to extended recording sessions, cutting into rehearsal time for the PopMart Tour. Despite being the second-highest-grossing tour of 1997, it faced technical issues and mixed reviews, grossing US$173.6 million with 3.98 million tickets sold, and was documented in the concert film PopMart: Live from Mexico City.

April 1997: "Staring at the Sun" Released as Second Single

In April 1997, "Staring at the Sun" was released as the second single from U2's album Pop, coinciding with the beginning of the PopMart Tour.

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April 1997: PopMart Tour Expected to Begin

In April 1997, concert promoter Michael Cohl expected the PopMart Tour to commence, projecting 5 to 6 million attendees across 100 concerts, with an anticipated gross of $260 million.

April 1997: U2: A Year in Pop Airs on ABC

On April 26, 1997, ABC aired U2: A Year in Pop, a one-hour prime-time special narrated by Dennis Hopper, featuring footage from the Pop recording sessions and the opening PopMart show. The documentary received poor ratings, ranking low among programs aired that week.

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September 1997: Record-Breaking Concert in Italy

On September 20, 1997, U2 performed in Reggio Emilia, Italy, for over 150,000 people, setting a new world record for the most attendees at a concert for a single performer.

December 1997: Filming of Mexico City Concerts

In December 1997, the two PopMart Tour concerts in Mexico City were filmed for various future video and audio releases.

1997: U2 Performs in Sarajevo After the War

In 1997, U2 became the first major band to perform in Sarajevo after the end of the war, with 45,000 people in attendance. Brian Eno joined the band on stage for the first live performance of "Miss Sarajevo," accompanied by a phonograph playing Luciano Pavarotti's vocals.

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1997: PopMart Tour Concerts in Stadiums and Parks

In 1997, U2's PopMart Tour featured concerts performed in stadiums and parks worldwide to support their album Pop. The tour's elaborate stage design included a large LED screen, a golden arch, and a mirror-ball lemon, with the band adopting an ironic and self-mocking image reminiscent of the Zoo TV Tour, using costumes and stage design to satirize consumerism and pop culture.

April 1998: U2 Guest Stars on The Simpsons

In April 1998, one month after the PopMart Tour ended, U2 appeared as guest stars on the 200th episode of The Simpsons, "Trash of the Titans." The episode featured U2 performing a PopMart concert in Springfield Stadium where Homer Simpson disrupted the show during a performance of "Pride (In the Name of Love)."

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November 1998: Release of PopMart: Live from Mexico City

In November 1998, PolyGram and Island Records released the video PopMart: Live from Mexico City on VHS and Video CD. The video combined footage from the two concerts, and featured all 25 songs performed at both shows.

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1998: PopMart Tour Concerts in Stadiums and Parks

In 1998, U2's PopMart Tour continued with concerts performed in stadiums and parks worldwide to support their album Pop. The tour's elaborate stage design included a large LED screen, a golden arch, and a mirror-ball lemon, with the band adopting an ironic and self-mocking image reminiscent of the Zoo TV Tour, using costumes and stage design to satirize consumerism and pop culture.

1998: PopMart Tour to Visit Africa, Asia, Australia, and South America

In 1998, the PopMart Tour was scheduled to visit an additional 12 cities throughout Africa, Asia, Australia, and South America after the initial North American and European legs of the tour.

2000: Release of Hasta la Vista Baby! and "Beautiful Day" Singles

In 2000, the album Hasta la Vista Baby! was released exclusively to members of U2's fan club, which featured 14 of the 25 songs from Mexico City on one CD. Released around the same time were the various "Beautiful Day" singles, which featured the live versions of "Discothèque", "If You Wear That Velvet Dress", and "Last Night on Earth,"

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