# In 1985, U2 considered dismissing an “awful” demo. Now, it is the eighth best-selling song of the entire 1980s

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/in-1985-u2-considered-dismissing-an-awful-demo-now-it-is-the-eighth-best-selling-song-of-the-entire-1980s/
- Published: 2026-10-24T15:30:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-24T16:26:21+00:00
- Original publisher: Far Out
- Original article: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/in-1985-u2-considered-dismissing-an-awful-demo/
- Topics: Entertainment, Music

## Key points

- U2 nearly dropped ‘With or Without You’.
- The Edge’s Infinite Guitar helped unlock its sound.
- The song became a major hit from The Joshua Tree.

## Summary

U2 nearly abandoned ‘With or Without You’ after early versions left the band and producers dissatisfied. The song was revived through experimentation with a sustained-guitar sound, went on to become a major hit and helped establish the success of 1987’s The Joshua Tree.

Bono wrote the song around an inescapable relationship and later described its lyrics as “pure torment”, reflecting a conflict between artistic commitment and domestic life. The Edge’s Infinite Guitar provided the sustained notes the track needed; Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois and, later, Steve Lillywhite helped shape its sound. The article’s headline calls it the eighth best-selling song of the 1980s, though the supplied text ends before giving supporting sales figures.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.