Band furious as album stolen during photoshoot

THE Irish supergroup U2 were last night facing the prospect of their forthcoming album being given to the world free by a thief who stole a copy while the band was in the south of France for a photoshoot.

The album - said to be titled Vertigo - was due for release in November this year and some two years’ work had gone into writing the songs.

The lead singer, Bono, was reported to be furious at the theft. French police have been called in and have reportedly questioned about 20 make-up artists, photographers and others involved in the photoshoot to no avail.

The band’s guitarist, who is known as The Edge, said: "A large slice of two years’ work lifted via a piece of round plastic.

"It doesn’t seem credible but that’s what’s just happened to us... and it was my CD."

The new album could end up on the internet where fans would be able to download it for free, costing the band and the record company millions in lost revenue.

Lucian Grainge, the chairman and chief executive of Universal Music Group UK, said: "This matter is of great concern to us.

"As the missing CD is our property, we’re very keen to find it as soon as possible and the French police are being extremely helpful in this regard."

The band had only recently completed much of the recording of the highly anticipated new album in Dublin. It will be the first new studio album from U2 since All That You Can’t Leave Behind.

Within hours of news of the theft, one internet joker, nicknamed 2atom-emporium, was allegedly offering the CD for sale through the auction site ebay.

"Brand new U2 album (very hot) quick sale," the advert said.