Formed in 1976, U2 has consistently remained among the most popular acts in the world since the mid 1980s. The band has sold approximately 50.5 million albums in the U.S., according to the RIAA,Top Selling Artists (Cumulative Sales) Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 15, 2006. and upwards of 140 million worldwide,Bono: The Missionary Paul Vallely. Retrieved October 15, 2006. has had six #1 albums in the US and nine #1 albums in the UK and are one of the most successful bands of the rock era. The band has won 22 Grammy awards,GRAMMY Winners List grammy.com. Retrieved October 15, 2006. more than any other recording artist.
The band was formed in Dublin, Ireland on Saturday, 25 September 1976 . Larry Mullen, Jr., then fourteen, posted a notice on his secondary school bulletin board (Mount Temple Comprehensive School) seeking musicians for a new band. The response that followed that note resulted in seven boys attending the initial practice in Larry's kitchen. Known for about a day as "The Larry Mullen Band," the group featured Mullen on drums, Adam Clayton on bass guitar, Paul Hewson (Bono) on vocals, Dave Evans (The Edge) and his brother Dik Evans on guitar, as well as Mullen's friends Ivan McCormick and Peter Martin. Chatterton, Mark. U2 The Complete Encyclopedia (2001). pg. 130. Firefly Publishing Soon after, the group settled on the name Feedback because of the amplifier noise phenomenon they favored. Martin only came to the first practice, and McCormick was out of the core group within a few weeks.
After 18 months of rehearsals, Feedback changed its name to The Hype. The band performed with their new name at a talent show in Limerick, Ireland on 17 March 1978. One of the judges for the show happened to be CBS Records' Jackie Hayden. The band won the contest, earning a £500 prize. Hayden was impressed enough with the band that he gave them studio time to record their first demo. Jackie Hayden would later work for Irish Magazine Hot Press.
Dik Evans announced his departure in March 1978. The Hype performed a farewell show for Dik at the Community Centre in Howth. Dik walked offstage halfway through the set, later joining the Virgin Prunes, a fellow Dublin band. The remaining four members finished their performance as U2.Parra, Pimm Jal de la U2 Live: A Concert Documentary, pg. 6, 2003, Omnibus Press, ISBN 0711991987 In May, Paul McGuinness, who had been introduced to the band by Hot Press journalist Bill Graham, became U2's manager.
The origin of the name U2 is not clear. Although it is also the name of a famous 1960s spyplane, the Dublin punk rock guru Steve Averill (better known as Steve Rapid of The Radiators From Space) claimed that it was chosen by the band from a list of ten names created by him and Adam Clayton. In an interview with Larry King, Bono is quoted as saying "I don't actually like the name U2," and "I honestly never thought of it as 'you too'."Larry King Interview Transcript CNN.com. Retrieved October 15, 2006.
Influenced by Television and Joy Division, U2's early sound had a sense of exhilaration that resulted from The Edge's "radiant chords" and Bono's "ardent vocals", according to one author.Reynolds, Simon. Rip It Up and Start Again: Postpunk 1978-1984. Penguin, 2005. p. 368 U2's first release (an Ireland only EP), was in September 1979, entitled Three. Produced as a 12 inch and subsequently a 7 inch, the first 1,000 12 inch copies were individually hand numbered, and went on to top the Irish charts. In December 1979, U2 performed in London, their first shows outside Ireland, but failed to get much attention from audiences or critics. In February 1980, their second single "Another Day" was released on the CBS label but again only for the Irish market.
Boy and October (1980-1982)
Island Records signed the band in March 1980. U2 released its first international single "11 O'Clock Tick Tock" in May 1980 and released its first album, Boy the following October. It was met with critical praiseBoy Hot Press review U2.com. Retrieved October 15, 2006.Boy New Music Express review U2.com. Retrieved October 15, 2006.Boy Billboard review U2.com. Retrieved October 15, 2006.Boy The Washington Post review U2.com. Retrieved October 15, 2006. and is considered by some as one of the better debuts in rock history. Despite Bono’s unfocused, seemingly improvised lyrics, Boy had a specific theme – an examination of the hopes and frustrations of adolescence,Boy Rolling Stone Review Rollingstone.com. Retrieved October 16, 2006 touching on fear over sex, identity confusion, death and uncontrollable mood swings.The Meaning of U2 Lyrics (U2MoL). Retrieved November 3, 2006. The album gave the band their first hit single, "I Will Follow," which remains a fan favorite to this day. Boy's release was followed by U2's first tour beyond Ireland and the United Kingdom. Despite their unpolished nature, these early live performances nevertheless helped demonstrate U2's potential, as critics noted that Bono was a very "charismatic" and "passionate" showman. One critic was even reminded of a young Rod Stewart.Boy Tour review Steve Morse. Retrieved October 15, 2006. U2 made their first appearance on US television on the Tomorrow show, on 4 June, 1981, performing "I Will Follow" and "Twilight".Parra, Pimm Jal de la U2 Live: A Concert Documentary, pg. 24, 2003, Omnibus Press, ISBN 0711991987
The band's second album, October, was released in 1981. The album contained spiritual lyrics with Bono, The Edge and Larry being committed Christians and making little effort to hide that fact. The three band members had joined a religious group in Dublin called "Shalom," which led all three to question the relationship between the Christian faith and the rock and roll lifestyle. Flanagan, Bill U2 at the End of the World, pg. 46-48, 1995, Delacorte Press, ISBN 0385311540 While the Bible has remained a major source of inspiration for Bono’s lyric writing, October is U2's only overtly religious album and is generally held to be among their less successful work. allmusic October Review allmusic.com. Retrieved October 17, 2006.
Since 1982, Anton Corbijn has been the principal photographer for U2, having a major influence on their public image. Since their first encounter in February 1982 in New Orleans, they have had a longstanding friendship, mutual inspiration, and shared interest of rock history.
War (1983)
In 1983, U2 returned with apparently a newfound sense of direction and the release of their third album, War. The album included the song "Sunday Bloody Sunday," which dealt with the troubles in Northern Ireland, including the IRA, using religious imagery and what many considered as forceful and almost rebellious lyrics. The ability to use a range of powerful images, taking a song initially about sectarian anger, and turn it into a call for Christians to unite and claim victory over death and evil, proved to many that the band was capable of deep and meaningful songwriting.Rolling Stone War review JD Considine. Retrieved October 15, 2006. When some Irish-Americans tried to misrepresent the song as a rallying call for the Provisional IRA Bono responded with what became one of his most recognizable phrases, notably the performance on the live EP Under a Blood Red Sky - "this song is not a rebel song. This song is Sunday Bloody Sunday."U2. Under a Blood Red Sky. RCA/Columbia Video. Videotape, 1983. Furthermore, as captured in the concert film Rattle and Hum,[1] during the performance of the song on 8 November, 1987 in the USA, the day after the IRA bombing in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, in which 11 people were killed during a Remembrance Day service (see Remembrance Day Bombing), Bono denounced the violence in Ireland and the Irish-American expatriates who supported it. Unlike the style and emotions conveyed by other musicians in the early 1980s, many saw in Bono anger and passion that were palpable, especially as demonstrated by his blunt assertion "Fuck the 'revolution'!"U2. Rattle and Hum. Paramount Pictures. Videotape, 1988.
The album's first single, "New Year's Day", was U2's first international hit, reaching the #10 position on the UK charts and nearly cracking the Top 50 on the US charts.Songfacts: New Year's Day by U2 Songfacts.com. Retrieved October 31, 2006.MTV put the "New Year's Day" video, directed by Meiert Avis, into heavy rotation, which immediately launched U2 to the mass American audience. For the first time, the band began performing to sold-out concerts in mainland Europe and the U.S. on their subsequent War Tour. The image of Bono waving a white flag during performances of "Sunday Bloody Sunday" became a familiar sight. U2 recorded the Under a Blood Red SkyEP on this tour and a live video was also released, both of which received radio and MTV play and helped expand the band's audience.Net Music Countdown:U2. netmusiccountdown.com. Retrieved November 6, 2006.
The Unforgettable Fire and Live Aid (1984-1985)
The band released their fourth album, The Unforgettable Fire, in 1984 with Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois receiving producing credits. The album took the name and was partly inspired by an exhibition of paintings and drawings by survivors of the atomic bombs at Hiroshima and Nagasaki.U2 Limited (2006). U2 by U2. London: HarperCollinsPublishers, 151. ISBN0-00-719668-7. It had a significant experimental aspect with the band striving to achieve a more atmospheric sound. Critics and fans alike found Bono's lyrics to be more subtle and poetic, while the Edge's guitar became more effects-driven and his sound more symphonic, and the rhythm section demonstrated its versatility.Hot Press The Unforgettable Fire review Liam Mackey. Retrieved October 15, 2006.CMJ Music Report The Unforgettable Fire review U2.com. Retrieved October 15, 2006. Some critics, such as Rolling Stone's Kurt Loder, however, found that The Unforgettable Fire ironically lacked the "fire" of U2's previous albumsRolling Stone The Unforgettable Fire review Kurt Loder. Retrieved October 15, 2006. Although listeners would, for the most part hear a new sound from U2, their material, although less overtly so, remained political. "Pride (In the Name of Love)", a song about civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., was the first single, cracking the UK Top 5 and the US Top 40.Songfacts: Pride (In the Name of Love) by U2 songfacts.com. Retrieved October 31, 2006. Arguably the centerpiece of the album, the six-minute long "Bad" was to become a live favorite, but was never released as a single.
U2's performance at Live Aid was a turning point in their career.
The associated Unforgettable Fire Tour saw U2 playing indoor arenas for the first time. U2 also participated in the Live Aid concert at Wembley Stadium for Ethiopian famine relief in July 1985, which was seen by more than a billion people worldwide.Live Aid: A Look Back At A Concert That Actually Changed The World MTV.com. Retrieved October 31, 2006 U2 were not expected to be one of the main draws for the event, but the band provided the show with one of its most memorable moments, a relentless 13-minute version of "Bad" in which Bono hurdled off the stage to dance with a fan. The other band members were upset with Bono for spending the time they had planned for playing "Pride (In the Name of Love)," and Bono was convinced he had squandered a chance for promoting the band to a greater audience. Larry Mullen Jr. admitted that the rest of the band had considered leaving the stage as he was performing. The Live Aid version of "Bad" has however become one of U2's most renowned performances, and was an indication of the personal connection that Bono could make with audiences.Parra, Pimm Jal de la U2 Live: A Concert Documentary, pg. 72-73, 2003, Omnibus Press, ISBN 0711991987
In 1985, Rolling Stone magazine called U2 the "Band of the 80's," saying that "for a growing number of rock-and-roll fans, U2 have become the band that matters most, maybe even the only band that matters."http://80music.about.com/od/artistsqu/p/u2profile.htm The band headlined 1986's A Conspiracy of Hope Tour for Amnesty International. This 6-show tour across the U.S. performed to sold-out arenas and stadiums, and helped Amnesty International triple its membership in the process.U2 and the Conspiracy of Hope Tour atu2.com. Retrieved October 31, 2006. In May 1986, U2 headlined Self Aid, a benefit concert held in Dublin to highlight the chronic unemployment problem in Ireland at the time. The 14 hour concert was the largest that had ever been staged in Ireland and it was broadcast live in its entirety on Irish Television. U2's performance included spirited cover versions of 'C'mon Everybody' and 'Maggie's Farm'. Other acts who performed at the event included Van Morrison, The Boomtown Rats and Christy Moore.Parra, Pimm Jal de la U2 Live: A Concert Documentary, pg. 74, 2003, Omnibus Press, ISBN 0711991987
After an 18-month break from touring, U2 went on the Lovetown Tour (with special guest B.B. King), which visited Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. The tour avoided the US and most of Europe. Perhaps feeling that U2 was somewhat stagnating, Bono announced during a December 30, 1989 concert in Dublin that it was time "to go away and just dream it all up again", prompting much speculation from both public and media that U2 would split up after the tour ended.Parra, Pimm Jal de la U2 Live: A Concert Documentary, pg. 135, 2003, Omnibus Press, ISBN 0711991987
Achtung Baby, Zoo TV, Zooropa and "Passengers" (1990–1995)
The band began work on Achtung Baby in East Berlin with Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois producing. The initial sessions did not go well, with conflict within the band over the direction of the album. Bono and Edge were listening to European dance music while Adam and Larry had the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" mentality. U2 were at a stand still. Weeks went by with no progress. Then one day, Edge came up with a guitar riff that turned out to be the song, "One". In November 1991, U2 released the often experimental and distorted Achtung Baby in which the band had used influences from dance music. It was also a more inward and personal record (Edge going through a divorce), and as a result, darker than the band's previous work. Bono refers to U2's new sound as "4 men chopping down the Joshua Tree". Commercially and critically it was one of the band's most successful albums, and like The Joshua Tree, is often cited as one of rock's greatest.The RS 500 Greatest Albums of All-Time Rollingstone.com. Retrieved October 15, 2006. It played a crucial part in the band's early 1990s reinvention.
The Zoo TV stage
The band's Zoo TV Tour, which spanned 1992 and 1993 was a multimedia event, showcasing a bewildering but extravagant array hundreds of video screens, upside-down flying Trabant cars, mock transmission towers, satellite TV links, subliminal text messages, and over-the-top stage characters "The Fly", "Mirror-Ball Man" and "(Mister) MacPhisto". U2 used the show to mock the excesses of rock and roll by appearing to embrace these very excesses. Live prank phone calls to President Bush caused controversy, as did satellite uplinks to war-torn Sarajevo.Parra, Pimm Jal de la U2 Live: A Concert Documentary, pg. 153/166, 2003, Omnibus Press, ISBN 0711991987
Recorded in 1993 during a break in the ZooTV tour, the Zooropa album followed many of the themes from Achtung Baby album and Zoo TV tour. Initially intended as an EP, Zooropa expanded into a full-fledged LP and was released in July of 1993. It was a further greater departure from the style of their earlier recordings, incorporating techno style and other electronic effects. Most of the songs were played at least once in the 1993 leg of the tour through Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Japan, with several songs becoming fixtures in the set.
After some time off—and a few side projects (the Batman Forever and Mission: Impossible soundtracks)—the band released an experimental album in 1995 called Original Soundtracks No. 1. Brian Eno, producer of a number of previous U2 albums, this time contributed as a full partner including writing. For this reason, and due to its highly experimental nature, they chose to release it under the moniker "Passengers" rather than "U2" to distinguish it from their conventional albums. Commercially, it was a relatively unnoticed album by U2 standards, although the single "Miss Sarajevo", which Bono cites as one his favourite U2 songs, U2 Limited (2006). U2 by U2. London: HarperCollinsPublishers, 261-262. ISBN0-00-719668-7. and which features Luciano Pavarotti, became a minor hit in many countries.
Pop and Popmart (1996–1999)
With the recording of their 1997 album Pop, U2 was once again experimenting, this time utilizing tape loops, programming, and sampling giving much of the album a techno/disco feel. However, the diversity of material on the album is as broad as any other U2 release, with the experimental aspects alongside the more traditional anthemic and ballad. Released in March 1997, the album debuted at #1 in 35 countries, and earned U2 mainly positive reviews.(U2 have) relaxed sufficiently to allow a certain funk into their music...NME Retrieved October 31, 2006U2 have not reinvented themselves so much as rediscovered themselves...Sunday Times (UK) Retrieved October 31, 2006 Rolling Stone even went so far as claiming U2 had "defied the odds and made some of the greatest music of their lives." However, American audiences and fans felt that the music industry had exceeded the limits of tolerance in promoting Pop, and the album was seen as something of a disappointment by the public. Frontman Bono later admitted that the band was hurried into completing the album before the impending tour and that the album "didn't communicate the way it was intended to".U2 Set to Re-Record Pop contactmusic.com. Retrieved October 31, 2006. This possibly explains the re-recording and re-mixing of a number of Pop tracks for single releases and U2's second greatest hits album.
With the subsequent Popmart Tour, U2 continued the Zoo TV theme of decadence. The tour commenced in April 1997; the set included a 100-foot tall golden yellow arch, a large 150 foot long video screen
and a 40 foot tall mirrorball lemon. One of the stops was in Sarajevo, where they were the first major group to perform after the war.Rock On The Net: U2 rockonthenet.com. Retrieved October 31, 2006. The Popmart Tour was the second-highest grossing tour of 1997 (behind the Rolling Stones' Bridges to Babylon Tour) with revenues of just under $80 million. However, it cost more than $100 million to produce.The Rock Radio: U2 biography therockradio.com. Retrieved October 31, 2006. Although the extravagance of the tour was visually and technically impressive, in the early stages, Popmart was occasionally marred with less-than-par performances. The problem stemmed from the band booking their tour before the album was finished. Originally set to be released in November 1996, Pop was not in stores until March 1997. As a result, the band had to spend time recording that had originally been allocated for tour rehearsals.Parra, Pimm Jal de la U2 Live: A Concert Documentary, pg. 193-202, 2003, Omnibus Press, ISBN 0711991987 Both the Popmart Tour and the Zoo TV Tour were intended to send a sarcastic message to all those accusing U2 of commercialism. The shows were also intended to be shining a mirror back onto the world, taking all the subtle advertising and messages we are exposed to every day and blowing them up. However, many misinterpreted the band's new image and thought they had "lost it."
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