<P> The album 's packaging was designed by Shaughn McGrath . The photo on the album cover , taken by the band 's long - time photographer Anton Corbijn , depicts Bono 's son Eli and the Edge 's daughter Sian holding hands . The Edge said that it was difficult to find a cover idea that could represent an album they consider to be thematically both very personal and very universal . They ultimately decided to focus it on something other than the band members and to continue the family theme from the cover of Songs of Innocence , which depicted Mullen with his son , Elvis . Eli and Sian are barefoot in the photo , which was meant to signify `` youthful innocence '' . Contrasting with this , Sian is wearing a US M1 military helmet , which was meant to symbolise the harsh realities of the world they must face . The Edge said that the helmet gave the photo more tension and that it would have been `` a little too sleek '' otherwise . He also liked the connection it created to artwork from the group 's past albums , particularly War . The album art was first shown in May 2017 during the opening concert of the Joshua Tree Tour 2017 , when it was displayed on the stage 's video screen after a performance of `` The Little Things That Give You Away '' . Songs of Experience was pressed on blue - coloured vinyl . </P>
who is on the new u2 album cover
Bono 's son Eli and the Edge 's daughter Sian