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"Mothers of the Disappeared" is a song by the rock band U2, the closing track on their album The Joshua Tree, released on 9 March 1987. The song was inspired by lead singer Bono's experiences in Nicaragua and El Salvador in July 1986, following U2's involvement on Amnesty International's A Conspiracy of Hope tour. He learned of the Madres de Plaza de Mayo, a group of women whose children had been abducted with the consent of Argentine and Chilean dictatorships. Thematically the song has been interpreted as an examination of failures and contradictions in US foreign policy and as a criticism of the Reagan Administration, which backed two South American regimes that seized power during coups and which provided financial support for the military regime in El Salvador. The song was favourably received by critics, and has been performed live on several tours, starting with the 1987 Joshua Tree Tour. It was played at four concerts on the 1998 PopMart Tour in South America; during two of these, the Madres joined the band onstage (pictured). (Full article...)