U2 paid tribute to the victims of the 1972 Sunday Bloody massacre by releasing an emotional rendition of the crime-inspired song, "Sunday Bloody Sunday."
Fifty tears since the Bloody Sunday massacre claimed the lives of 14 people in the Northern Ireland city of Derry, U2 unleashed its musical power and created a rendition of their hit 1983 song that was inspired by the incident.
On Instagram, Bono and Edge stood in front of the camera and performed an acoustic version of the Irish rock band's "Sunday Bloody Sunday."
"30 January 2022 - With love, Bono & Edge," the caption said. The video also flashed several archival footages while the duo performed the song.
As of press time, the clip already garnered nearly 250,000 views and thousands of likes from fans. Their followers also shared heartfelt comments on the page, remembering the massacre with U2.
One said, "Being able to sing this song and still triggering emotions is a gift.."
"Thanks from Derry guys. 50 years today in case anyone was wondering," another added.
U2's "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and Story Behind Tragic Massacre
U2 first dropped the war song in 1983, years after "one of the darkest incidents of the Northern Ireland Troubles" happened.
In January 1972, 26 people were shot when the British soldiers opened fire on a protest march in Derry. Fourteen people of which eventually succumbed despite the protesters being unarmed. Some were reportedly shot while trying to help the wounded, and they also sustained injuries due to rubber bullets, batons, and shrapnel.
The event prompted two investigations by the British government - the Widgery tribunal and Saville Inquiry. In 2010, Saville released the report, saying that the killings were unjustifiable and unjustified.
During the same year, Bono penned an op-ed expressing his sadness over the tragedy.
"It was a day that caused the conflict between the two communities in Northern Ireland - Catholic nationalist and Protestant unionist - to spiral into another dimension: every Irish person conscious on that day has a mental picture of Edward Daly, later the bishop of Derry, holding a blood-stained handkerchief aloft as he valiantly tended to the wounded and the dying," he said.
The event led the band to record their 1983 LP "War," and Bono has been publicly saying how the song would always be remembered by rock fans.
