The famous Joshua tree featured on the cover of U2's 1987 album Joshua Tree has been irreparably damaged by a fan, who took a hacksaw to one of the tree's limbs.
The famous tree sits in the Mojave Desert in America, and remains a popular and almost sacred sight and landmark to U2 fans all over the world. Hundreds of fans go on a form of pilgrimage to see the tree every year, and have done for the past two decades - even after it collapsed in 2000.
However, on a recent quest to see the tree, one fan noted that one of the tree's limbs had been vandalised. The fan, screen name 'Hwy 190', took to the forum of U2 fan website atu2 to notify other fans and express their disgust. He wrote: "This past Sunday, I made my proverbial yearly hike out to the Tree with my dog to reminisce only to find that some hack and I do mean hack, decided it was a bright idea to take a hacksaw to one of the Tree’s limbs – evidently to remove an inch thick cross section as a souvenir. Are you kidding me?"
Hwy 190 also provided a picture of the damage, shown below:
Hwy 190 advised other fans: "leave the damn Tree alone, so that future fans can enjoy it. Left alone, the Tree will be there for many, many decades to come."
The issue is still being discussed and outrage is evident in U2 fans everywhere. It is as yet unclear as to who cut the tree, but what is certain is that the iconic Joshua tree is never to look the same again.
U2 recently announced a fifth London show at the O2 Arena in Londo, as well as two nights at Glasgow's SSE Hydro. For tickets and more information, click here.
The tour dates are as follows:
Sun October 25 2015 - London O2 Arena
Mon October 26 2015 - London O2 Arena
Thu October 29 2015 - London O2 Arena
Fri October 30 2015 - London O2 Arena
Mon November 02 2015 - London O2 Arena
Fri November 06 2015 - Glasgow SSE Hydro
Sat November 07 2015 - Glasgow SSE Hydro
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