U2 drops surprise album at Apple unveiling

Surprise! U2 just put out a new album, and the renowned rock band is giving it away for free to iTunes users.

U2 made the unexpected announcement Tuesday at Apple's unveiling event in Cupertino, California. All customers with iTunes accounts could download the 11-song Songs of Innocencefor free Tuesday afternoon.

• Apple Watch, iPhone 6 models, Apple Pay unveiled
• Size matters: Apple launch generates massive buzzonline

There was much speculation over whether the band would release an album earlier this year when news leaked about the band potentially postponing the highly anticipated new LP's release to 2015.

The Irish band played at Apple's event and CEO Tim Cook announced the new album would be given to the company's 500 million iTunes users. A news release says the album will be released to everyone else Oct. 14.

Surprise albums are unusual and free albums even more so, but there are recent examples of both.

Beyonc dropped her self-titled LP as a surprise on iTunes in December and it became one of the top-selling albums of 2014. Others, like Kid Cudi and Wolfmother, released surprise albums this year to little notice. Tom Petty gave away his new album with the Heartbreakers for free with purchase of a concert ticket.

• Beyonc stuns fans with surprise album release
• Michael Cera drops new surprise album
• Justin Bieber pulls a Beyonc, hints online at surprise album

A news release says Songs of Innocenceis an exploration of U2's influences from the 1970s and '80s with themes of "home and family, relationships and discovery." The album is produced by Danger Mouse with Paul Epworth, Ryan Tedder, Declan Gaffney and Flood.