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U2 still hot with Cloggies

U2’s The Joshua tree is number 1 in Dutch broadcaster Veronica’s Album Top 1000. The band retained last year’s number 1 spot way ahead of the numbers 2 and 3 in the chart, Dire Straits’ Brothers in Arms and the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts ClubBand. Chosen by the station’s listeners, the chart will be broadcast between May 7 and 18.

Fifteen of U2’s albums made it to the list, seven of which are in the top 100. The Unforgettable Fire ended up in 13th place, while All That You Can’t Leave Behind sits at 24. U2’s acclaimed master piece Achtung Baby slipped from last year’s 21st place to a sad 41. Poor misunderstood ‘Pop’ got stuck at 351. The lowest charting U2 album is ’18 singles’, a new entry at number 848.

Motorcycle Mania

Adam Clayton made a special appearance on RTE’s New Year’s Eve show to help retired broadcaster Gay Byrne donate the Harley Davidson motorcycle given to him by U2 in 1999 to charity.

The motorcycle will be auctioned on the internet at www.gaybyrneharleyauction.com to benefit the Crumlin Hospital for Sick Children. All bidders must pledge a nonrefundable EUR500 toward the fundraiser before being allowed to bid. The winning bidder will receive a letter from Byrne and a photograph of Byrne, Bono, and Larry Mullen Jr. with the Harley.

On the New Year’s Eve show, Byrne and Clayton chatted about Clayton’s recent trip to Nepal and what’s in store for U2 in 2003.

“We’re doing another record, and we’ll be doing another tour,” Clayton said.

Video of Clayton’s appearance on the show is located at the auction site.