47 Years Ago This Month, A Dublin Band Released 1,000 Copies, Then Became One Of the Greatest Rock Bands Of All Time

In 1979, a little-known Dublin band called U2 released its first commercial record, U2-3, an Ireland-only three-track release that introduced the world to a group that would eventually become one of the most acclaimed rock acts in history.

Issued through CBS Ireland, the record featured “Out of Control,” “Stories for Boys” and “Boy/Girl,” with the songs recorded at Dublin’s Windmill Lane Studios. U2’s official archive identifies the release as the band’s first single and notes that only 1,000 copies of the original 12-inch pressing were produced, each individually numbered.

From 1,000 Copies to a Greatest-of-All-Time Ranking

rock junior/YouTube.

The modest scale of U2-3 makes the band’s eventual transformation even more remarkable. The release became U2’s first chart success in Ireland, with the 7-inch edition reaching No. 19 on the Irish Singles Chart. Its three-song format is also significant because it captured the young band before its international breakthrough and before the 1980 arrival of Boy, the debut album that would establish U2 beyond Ireland.

Decades later, U2’s standing had expanded far beyond anything suggested by that tiny first pressing. Rolling Stone ranked U2 No. 22 on its list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time, placing the Irish group alongside foundational figures including The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, The Rolling Stones and Jimi Hendrix.

The magazine also ranked Bono, The Edge and Larry Mullen Jr. among the greatest singers, guitarists and drummers respectively.

Rock Hall Recognition Cemented the Legacy

That critical stature has been matched by institutional recognition. U2 entered the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2005, with Bruce Springsteen delivering the induction.

The Recording Academy lists U2 with 22 Grammy wins from 46 nominations, including Album of the Year victories for The Joshua Tree and How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb.

So, when U2-3 emerged from Dublin in 1979, it was in retrospect, the opening document of a career that would place U2 firmly among the most celebrated artists in popular music history.

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Author: Philip Uwaoma

IShowSpeed Fans Can Chase $1 Million By Barking At Dr. Squatch Displays

IShowSpeed and Dr. Squatch are teaming up for a $1 million giveaway, and fans have nine weeks to get their piece of the pie. The snag? The challenges are about as dumb as you’d expect from an IShowSpeed campaign.

The new SPEEDRUN: Million Dollar Mission runs August 31 through October 31 in the U.S., Canada, the UK, and Australia. The nine-week campaign will include 25 different challenges, and Walmart will have over 4,000 locations and select retail partners as hubs for fans to participate.

And yes, one of the challenges does involve barking at a Dr. Squatch display in a store.

Fans Can Bark, Run and Chase Cash

There are a couple of ways to get a piece of the $1 million prize pool. The most straightforward is weekly challenges inspired by IShowSpeed. Fans might have to race a random stranger in a footrace, do a strange task in public, or, of course, walk into a store and bark at a Dr. Squatch display.

To be eligible to participate, people need to film themselves doing the challenge and upload the video on TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube. They’ll also have to tag Dr. Squatch and use.

If barking at soap displays in public isn’t really your thing, there’s another option. Dr. Squatch is hiding special briefcases filled with gold bars of soap in select cities in the four participating countries. The hidden prizes will be worth as much as $50,000 in cash, and clues will be released throughout the campaign.

Also on the table is $250,000 from 25 winning scratchers, each worth $10,000. The scratchers are being distributed through specially marked IShowSpeed Loot Box Bundles on TikTok Shop, but fans can also request one for free via the campaign website without buying anything.

It all culminates in a last hunt with another $250,000 purse. Dr Squatch has yet to reveal the details of the final challenge, but after nine weeks of footraces, hidden briefcases, and people barking at soap, it’s probably safe to expect something suitably chaotic.

For IShowSpeed fans, it’s definitely a different type of giveaway. Instead of just making the $1 million a sweepstakes and crossing your fingers for the best, the campaign turns it into a huge scavenger hunt and social media challenge. And if you’re willing to make a fool of yourself in a Walmart for a chance to win some serious cash, well, that’s apparently part of the package.

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Author: Siddharth Munjal

Ozzy Osbourne’s Family Made an Unusual Decision After His Death

More than a year after Ozzy Osbourne’s death, his daughter Kelly Osbourne is sharing an intimate new detail about how the family said goodbye to the rock icon.

In a recent interview with Hello!, Kelly revealed that the Osbournes chose not to send the Black Sabbath frontman to a morgue immediately after his death in July 2025. Instead, they brought him home.

“We didn’t put my dad in any sort of morgue,” Kelly said. “He came straight home and we got to spend a few days with him and mourn with him and make sure that everything was the way we wanted it to be.’

Ozzy died at age 76, just weeks after his final performance at Black Sabbath’s Back to the Beginning concert in his hometown of Birmingham, England.

The private goodbye was followed by an outpouring of support from fans around the world, something Kelly said helped the family through the earliest days of their grief.

“It saved us,” she said, explaining that the family read the notes and acknowledged the flowers and gifts sent in Ozzy’s memory.

Kelly also admitted that losing her father fundamentally changed her.

“I’ll never be the person I was before my father died,” she said. “A part of me died, too.”

For decades, Ozzy built his reputation as one of rock’s wildest and most unpredictable figures. But Kelly’s recollection offers a very different glimpse of the Prince of Darkness; one centered not on the stage persona that made him famous, but on the family that wanted a few more days with him before saying goodbye.

RELATED: 35 Years Ago Today: The ‘Greatest American Rock Album’ Debuted on The Radio

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Author: Lauren Anderson

The Fit-Focused T-Shirt Brand With Over 700,000 Repeat Customers Is Giving You an Extra 20% Off Everything

Men’s Journal aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission. Prices are accurate and items in stock at time of publishing.

Ten years ago, a plain T-shirt was something you grabbed from a multipack at Target and never really thought about beyond that. Brands like Everlane, True Classic, and Bylt helped change that, turning a five-dollar basic into a product that prioritizes fit and fabric, and now, it’s a category guys actually shop for by name. One that’ll come up a lot in conversion is Fresh Clean Threads. The brand, which helped ignite this market back in 2015 amid the subscription box boom, has been building on its reputation for quality shirts ever since. This month, the brand is also giving new customers an extra 20% off anything on the site with code MENSJOURNAL20 to use at checkout.

If you’ve never tried one, this is a great way to introduce yourself to the brand that nearly 700,000 customers visit again to buy more. It’s an incredible retention rate that most direct-to-consumer brands rarely see, and nearly all of that loyalty traces back to one product: the T-shirt.

What Makes Fresh Clean Threads’ T-Shirts Different?

Fresh Clean Threads offers 18 sizes across three lengths (so short guys and tall guys aren’t buying the same average cut), builds its hem 2 inches longer than the industry standard so shirts don’t ride up, and runs its StratuSoft fabric through shrink testing that the brand says is 40% stricter than typical apparel benchmarks.

I’d recommend that first-timers start with the classic crew neck tee to see why FCT is so reliable, and the hoodie is another great option if you want more coverage heading into fall. But as far as shirting is concerned, these three immediately stick out as easy replacements in your dresser drawers. And if you’re a new customer, remember to use code MENSJOURNAL20 at checkout to get these prices.

Best Sellers Crew 6-Pack Tees, $84 (was $138) at Fresh Clean Threads

Courtesy of Fresh Clean Threads

This pack gives you six of the brand’s classic crewneck tees, covering a full workweek without needing a laundry run. You get plenty of classic and neutral colors like black and navy, along with the exclusive Mercury Green, and they’re made with the brand’s StratuSoft fabric (a 60/40 cotton-poly blend).

What Shoppers Are Saying: “Love this green color, and it fits into my fall color selection.” “The shirts fit great, feel soft and comfortable, and have a nice fitted look without being too tight.”

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Black Crew Neck Tee, $18 (was $23) at Fresh Clean Threads

The Black Crew Neck Tee.

Courtesy of Fresh Clean Threads

This is the shirt Fresh Clean Threads built its whole company around, and it still shows in the details. The side-seam construction and StratuSoft fabric keep the shape clean whether it’s worn solo or tucked in, and reviewers consistently point out that the fit works across a wide range of body types without looking baggy or super tight. 

What Shoppers Are Saying: “I finally found a T-shirt that is tall enough in body length.” “The most comfortable T-shirt I’ve ever worn.”

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Heather Grey Long Sleeve Henley, $22 (was $28) at Fresh Clean Threads

The Heather Grey Long Sleeve Henley.

Courtesy of Fresh Clean Threads

The three-button placket and ribbed cuffs give this henley some more structure than a standard crewneck, using the same StratuSoft fabric. It’s cut slightly longer through the body than the brand’s tees as well, so it layers cleanly under a jacket and works well on its own on cooler days. Reviewers with taller builds specifically call out how much they appreciate the tall sizing here. 

What Shoppers Are Saying: “I love the fit and the very soft material.” 

Also Check Out:

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Author: Cameron Cardwell

WWE Royal Rumble 2027 May Have A Date, And AEW Fans Will Notice

WWE’s 2027 Royal Rumble has been penciled in for February 6, according to a new backstage report, potentially putting WWE and AEW’s biggest events on the same weekend.

WWE has already confirmed that the Royal Rumble will head to Phoenix, Arizona, in 2027, but the company has yet to officially announce when the event will take place. That could change soon, as the latest word from wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer suggests WWE is currently planning to hold the event on February 6, 2027.

The date came up while Meltzer was discussing AEW’s recently announced Dynasty pay-per-view, which is scheduled for February 7 in Liverpool, England. During Wrestling Observer Radio, Meltzer said that the Royal Rumble is “scheduled for February 6,” putting the two major wrestling events just one day apart.

For WWE fans, the timing would be pretty unusual. WWE and AEW rarely put major shows directly next to each other, although the two companies have occasionally found themselves competing for attention on the same weekend.

AJ Styles vs. Gunther at the 2026 WWE Royal Rumble.

(Photo by Joe Maher/WWE via Getty Images)

The Royal Rumble Is Where the Road to WrestleMania Begins

The February 6 date isn’t official just yet, so WWE could still move the event later in the month. Still, the timing makes sense given WWE’s recent scheduling pattern, with the Royal Rumble taking place in early February in two of the last three years.

More importantly, the Rumble is traditionally where the road to WrestleMania really begins to take shape. The winners of the men’s and women’s Royal Rumble matches typically earn championship opportunities at WWE’s biggest event of the year, while the match itself often sets up some of the biggest WrestleMania storylines.

And in 2027, that means the road will eventually lead to WrestleMania 43, which is scheduled for April 10 and 11 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. With only about two months between the Rumble and WrestleMania, February’s event could be especially important for determining who walks into Las Vegas as a champion, challenger, or surprise contender.

There has also been speculation that WWE could eventually turn the Royal Rumble into a two-night event, following the format it has used for WrestleMania and SummerSlam. For now, though, the expectation is that the 2027 Rumble will remain a one-night show.

If February 6 holds, WWE fans could be looking at a pretty wild weekend: Royal Rumble on Saturday, AEW Dynasty on Sunday, and the first major pieces of WrestleMania 43 falling into place.

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Author: Siddharth Munjal

Walmart Is Selling a Fire Pit Table for 49% Off, and It’s ‘an Awesome Addition’ to a Patio

Men’s Journal aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission. Prices are accurate and items in stock at time of publishing.

You’d normally expect a fire pit to go on sale at the end of winter, when stores need to clear out space for warm-weather accouterments and don’t want to hold on to long underwear or patio heaters through spring, summer, and fall. That’s why Walmart’s huge discount on a fire pit table is so interesting, offering the chance to save nearly half on a powerful, stylish outdoor heating solution that’s sure to get tons of use in the coming months.

The Philergo 43-Inch Propane Fire Pit Table is on sale for $180 at Walmart, 49% off its normal $350 price tag. It’s more versatile than a regular fire pit, and propane is both cleaner and easier than wood-burning models. If you’d like to spend more time in your backyard after the weather cools, it’s an excellent way to stay warm and toast s’mores all fall and winter long.

Slide off the included tabletop to reveal a central fire pit complete with a stainless steel burner and lava rocks. It’s easy to light and adjust the flame using the external knob, and a 20L65 tank of propane slides neatly underneath for a sleek, polished look. This fire pit can put out up to 60,000 BTU of heat, with a flame that’s warm and smoke-free to boot. It’s made of durable, powder-coated steel that’s rust- and weather-resistant. It measures 43 inches wide, 20 inches deep, and 24 inches high, and it comes with adjustable feet and pads that allow you to safely level this fire pit table after placement.

Related: Shoppers Say Walmart’s 8-Piece Patio Set ‘Will Stand Up to the Test of Wind and Rain’ — and It’s 73% Off

One shopper called this table an “awesome addition to my new patio” and said that “assembly was quick and stress-free.” Another added that this fire pit is “really good and works well even in Detroit winters” — no small feat to say the least.

Other customers also sang the praises of this unit, calling it “honestly perfect for the price” and noting that it “puts out a lot of heat” and is plenty “easy to start.”

Deals We’re Loving

Is the Philergo 43-Inch Propane Fire Pit Table a great outdoor coffee table or a great outdoor fire pit? The answer is yes, of course, and its inherent 2-in-1 value feels even greater now with this price tag of just $180. Do your future, frigid self a favor and pick one up with this crazy discount.

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Author: Cameron LeBlanc