Rock superstars U2 have met some of their most devoted fans at the launch of their official biography.

Fans began queuing at 6pm on Thursday and camped in the rain overnight for a chance to bag one of the last 100 tickets to the band’s book signing.

The biography, U2byU2, tells the story of the group in their own words.

Frontman Bono said he had not enjoyed reminiscing about U2’s 30-year career.

"I hate it. It’s like pulling teeth," he admitted.

"I’m much more interested in the future than the past. But this year we thought it was time to take a deep breath, accept we’ve done some interesting stuff, wrap it up in a bow and put it out there, then we can get on with the next phase."

The Irish band - Bono, Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen and The Edge - arrived for the signing at Waterstone’s in Piccadilly, central London, to deafening cheers from fans.

They have spent the past two years working on the book, which is compiled from more than 150 hours of interviews and contains previously unpublished photographs from the group’s own collection.

It follows U2’s rise from Dublin schoolboys to one of the world’s biggest stadium-filling acts.

Asked what keeps the band working so hard, Bono replied: "A fear of turning into your worst nightmare. In the Seventies, when we grew up, we saw bands lose it, saw it all go to their heads, with them thinking it was enough to just turn up and play. With our band we think we have to justify our existence."

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