U2 play to nine people at the Hope and Anchor, Islington

U2 try to crack London, but London isn't listening (or getting their name right) yet...

The band arrive in England, where Bono tells the Record Mirror that he hopes to 'take everything and break everything. I want people in London to see and hear the band. I want to replace the bands in the charts now, because I think we're better.'

On December 4th, after being billed as 'The U2s', they play to all nine paying punters at the Hope and Anchor in Islington. Edge breaks a string halfway through the set, and the band leave the stage without returning - despite the fact that there's record industry types here to see them..

The next night, at the Rock Garden in Covent Garden, goes better - though again the band are misnamed and this time called 'V2'. Paul McGuinness cracks open some champagne to celebrate the fact that their audience has broken double figures.