Tribute album planned for U2’s Achtung Baby

British magazine Q has commissioned a unique project to mark the 20th anniversary of one of the most important albums of U2’s career, 1991’s Achtung Baby.

U2 frontman Bono made the announcement at a press conference at the Toronto International Film Festival where the band’s documentary From the Sky Down was making its debut. Directed by Davis Guggenheim, he had previously collaborated with The Edge for the documentary It Might Get Loud in 2008.

From the Sky Down documents the album’s difficult recording period, the band members’ relationships, and U2’s creative process. Archival footage and stills from the recording sessions appear in the film, along with unreleased scenes from Rattle and Hum.

The album Achtung Baby will be reissued in five formats on October 31. Rarities and B-sides will be included with most formats. Premium editions will contain six CDs and four DVDs of bonus material; among these extras are the group’s 1994 concert film Zoo TV: Live from Sydney, the new documentary, unreleased and rare tracks, remixes, and more.

Jack White (Love is Blindness), Depeche Mode (So Cruel), Patti Smith (Until the End of the World) and Damien Rice (One) are among the artists covering songs on the album.

“It’s strange,” noted Bono, “because when I hear the album, when U2 do it, all I hear is what’s wrong with it. But when I heard all these artists doing it, I thought, ‘It’s really good’."

The album will be distributed free with the October 25 issue of Q magazine .