The album sleeve was based on U2's request to depict the record's ‘imagery, and cinematic location’ in the desert. In December 1986, they travelled on a bus around the Mojave Desert. Shot by Anton Corbijn at Zabriskie Point in the California desert, the front shows the band posing seriously with all but Bono facing the camera.

The effect of having the band be on the far edge of a wide photograph is a homage to Sergio Leone and other Spaghetti Western directors.

The album's provisional titles were ‘The Desert Songs’ and ‘The Two Americas’.

After the first day's shooting, Corbijn told the band about Joshua trees (Yucca brevifolia), hardy and twisted plants in the deserts of the American Southwest, and he suggested their use on the sleeve. Bono was pleased to discover the religious significance of the plant. Early settlers named the plant after the Old Testament prophet Joshua, as the tree's stretching branches reminded them of Joshua raising his hands in prayer.

While driving on Route 190 near Darwin, they spotted a lone-standing tree in the desert. Bono declared that the album should be titled 'The Joshua Tree'.

With the agreement about the tree, Corbijn was looking for a single tree as he thought it would result in better photographs than if he shot the band amongst a group of trees

Finally found, they stopped the bus and photographed with the lone plant for about 20 minutes, something the Edge called 'fairly spontaneous'.

Despite shooting in the desert, the group dealt with cold weather during parts of the trip.

Bono explained:
'It was freezing and we had to take our coats off so it would at least look like a desert. That's one of the reasons we look so grim.'

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artist

U are an Irish rock band from Dublin, formed in 1976. The group consists of Bono (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), the Edge (lead guitar, keyboards, and backing vocals), Adam Clayton (bass guitar), and Larry Mullen Jr.(drums and percussion).

Rooted in post-punk, U2's musical style has evolved throughout their career, yet has maintained an anthemic quality built on Bono's expressive vocals and the Edge's chiming, effects-based guitar sounds. Their lyrics, often embellished with spiritual imagery, focus on personal and sociopolitical themes. Popular for their live performances, the group have staged several ambitious and elaborate tours.

The group's fifth album, The Joshua Tree (1987), made them international superstars.

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