Propaganda Volume 3 Physical Copies

Original Story by Aaron J. Sams (2026-03-05)

When the “Days of Ash” EP was released on February 18, it was accompanied by a digital version of a new issue of Propaganda Magazine. The initial announcements shared that a limited print run of the magazine was also planned. But details were few and far between about what was happening. Some press releases had shared they would be available through independent record stores. The details have now been announced, on March 5, via U2.com.

The new issue of the magazine in paper form will be published and available in independent record shops. They will be available starting today in some shops, but U2.com mention that one should call in advance to ensure copies have arrived in store. A full list of stores where these will be available is published at U2.com. These stores are limited to Europe, UK and USA. There are 146 stores in total on the list which will carry the magazine. Some stores are being asked to sell these to in-person customers only and to not make them available online.

The digital version of the magazine continues to be available online and contains the same content that will be present in the physical copies. A number of these have been put aside for subscribers, and we are told that shipping notifications for these started to go out yesterday. And indeed, some of these will reach subscribers in countries where the copies are not available in-store.

This isn’t the only issue of Propaganda to be made available outside of subscription. Issue 15, released in November 1991, was not only sent to subscribers, but was available to purchase in music and book shops outside of a subscription. It is the same issue that was reprinted in 2011 and packaged in the Uber box set of Achtung Baby.

This year marks a significant milestone, Propaganda was first published 40 years ago, and U2 have revived the magazine as a 52-page accompaniment to the “Days of Ash” EP. This anniversary issue features the stories behind the new songs, interviews with band members, and includes the credits for the EP, and details about the individuals who inspired the songs on the EP. This physical copy is the first published issue of Propaganda since the end of Volume 2 in 2002.

The first issue of Propaganda arrived in January 1986. 30 issues were published between 1986 and 2000, making up volume one of the magazine’s run. (Which includes one double issue 28/29, and one issue that was split into two 8a and 8b.) In 2000, the band and their design team went away to dream it all up again, and launched Propaganda volume two in September 2000. That new run was in a smaller format, and only lasted three issues. During its run, Propaganda was the official U2 fan club magazine, with a magazine that aimed for four issues a year but often delivered far less. The magazine featured interviews with the band, and crew, and offered an inside look at the band through articles covering recording sessions and tour diaries. These issues are cherished by fans and are highly collectible these days.

In 2003, Ian Gittins published The Best of Propaganda: 20 Years of the Official U2 Magazine which featured a foreword by Paul McGuinness, and design work by Steven Averill, who had been instrumental in the design of the original magazine. The book featured reprints of a lot of the more popular Propaganda features over the years, as well as a look at the World Service Magazine that ran for 16 issues before Propaganda arrived.

Over the years Propaganda also provided two special CD releases. In 1995 the band launched Melon a CD of remixes through the magazine. In 2000, they followed that up with Hasta La Vista Baby a CD of live tracks from their PopMart show in Mexico City.

We’re enjoying the revival of Propaganda and hope this won’t be the only issue in Volume 3.

More information on Propaganda is available throughout U2Songs.com:

< Next News Entry | Previous News Entry >

u2songs.com was formerly known as u2wanderer.org. Follow us on Twitter | Facebook