U2 rake in £85m a year to top band 'rich list'

U2 rake in £85m a year U2 have been named the highest-earning band on the planet over the last year.

The Irish legends, who have been staging their groundbreaking 360 tour, performing under a giant "claw", have been rocking all the way to the bank.

They were estimated to have raked in 84.9m, according to Forbes.com, including ticket and merchandise sales and a steady-selling back catalogue.

Despite their huge success, Bono's bad back has disrupted some of the band's concert plans, including being forced to pull out of playing this year's Glastonbury Festival.

Heavy metal group AC/DC, folk rocker Bruce Springsteen and Material Girl Madonna - whose songs have been featured on the hit sitcom Glee - also scored highly in the round-up, showing experience counts.

Newcomer Lady Gaga, who has also been staging a massive tour recently, was one of the few members of the younger generation of artists to make the top 10.

Top earners are:

1 U2 84.9m

2 AC/DC 74.5m

3 Beyonce Knowles 56.8m

4 Bruce Springsteen 45.7m

5 Britney Spears 41.8m

6 Jay-Z 41.1m

7 Lady Gaga 40.5m )

8 Madonna 37.9m

9 Kenny Chesney 32.6m

=10 Black Eyed Peas 31.3m

=10 Coldplay 31.3m