U2 to donate ticket money to charity

U2 said today they would give away millions of pounds from the profits of their upcoming world tour to charity.

The Irish rockers said they will donate £8.3 million ($11.9 million) to a leading Aids organisation from all of the revenue from VIP auction ticket sales at up to 100 worldwide concerts.

The band will embark on the tour on June 30 when it kicks off in Barcelona, Spain before they head to the U.S. in September.

Up to 600 stage-front tickets per gig are set to be sold off, with minimum starting bids of between £88 and ££940 ($126-$1,347)

The money will be given to Global Fund, which helps fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in Africa.

The band's spokeswoman said: "All of U2's income raised from the auction of Red Zone tickets will be donated to charity."