U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin, formed in 1976. The group consists of Bono (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), the Edge (lead guitar, keyboards, and backing vocals), Adam Clayton (bass guitar), and Larry Mullen Jr. (drums and percussion). Initially rooted in post-punk, U2's musical style has evolved throughout their career, yet has maintained an anthemic quality built on Bono's expressive vocals and the Edge's effects-based guitar textures. Their lyrics, often embellished with spiritual imagery, focus on personal and sociopolitical themes. Popular for their live performances, the group have staged several ambitious and elaborate tours over their career. The band formed as teenagers while attending Mount Temple Comprehensive School, when they had limited musical proficiency.
Introduction
U2
U2 | Introduction
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U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin, formed in 1976. The group consists of Bono (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), the Edge (lead guitar, keyboards, and backing vocals), Adam Clayton (bass guitar), and Larry Mullen Jr. (drums and percussion). Initially rooted in post-punk, U2's musical style has evolved throughout their career, yet has maintained an anthemic quality built on Bono's expressive vocals and the Edge's effects-based guitar textures. Their lyrics, often embellished with spiritual imagery, focus on personal and sociopolitical themes. Popular for their live performances, the group have staged several ambitious and elaborate tours over their career. The band formed as teenagers while attending Mount Temple Comprehensive School, when they had limited musical proficiency.
U2 | Introduction
On 25 September 1976, Bono, David Evans ("The Edge"), his brother Dik and Adam Clayton responded to an advertisement on a bulletin board at Mount Temple posted by fellow student Larry Mullen Jr. to form a rock band. The band had occasional jam sessions in which they did covers of other bands. Tired of long guitar solos and hard rock, Bono wanted to play The Rolling Stones and Beach Boys songs. The band could not play covers very well, so they started writing their own songs. The band went by the name "Feedback" for a few months, before changing to "The Hype" later on.
Bono | U2
In 1976, Larry Mullen Jr., then a 14-year-old student at Mount Temple Comprehensive School in Dublin, Ireland, posted a note on the school's notice board in search of musicians for a new band. Six people responded and met at his house on 25 September. Set up in the kitchen, Mullen was on drums, with: Paul Hewson ("Bono") on lead vocals; David Evans ("the Edge") and his older brother Dik Evans on guitar; Adam Clayton, a friend of the Evans brothers, on bass guitar; and initially Ivan McCormick and Peter Martin, two other friends of Mullen. Mullen later described it as "'The Larry Mullen Band' for about ten minutes, then Bono walked in and blew any chance I had of being in charge." Martin, who had brought his guitar and amplifier to the first practice but could not play, did not remain with the group, and McCormick was dropped after a few weeks.
U2 | Formation and early years (1976–1980)
U2 is an Irish rock band. U2 or U-2 may also refer to:
U2 (disambiguation) | Introduction
Dik Evans, who was older and by this time at college, was becoming the odd man out. The rest of the band was leaning towards the idea of a four-piece ensemble. In March 1978, the group changed their name to "U2". Steve Averill, a punk rock musician (with the Radiators) and family friend of Clayton's, had suggested six potential names from which the band chose "U2" for its ambiguity and open-ended interpretations, and because it was the name that they disliked the least. That same month, U2, as a four-piece, won a talent contest in Limerick sponsored by Harp Lager and the "Evening Press".
U2 | Formation and early years (1976–1980)
The prize consisted of £500 and studio time to record a demo which would be heard by record label CBS Ireland. The win was an important milestone and affirmation for the fledgling band. Within a few days, Dik Evans was officially phased out of the band with a farewell concert at the Presbyterian Church Hall in Howth. During the show, which featured the group playing cover songs as the Hype, Dik ceremonially walked offstage. The remaining four band members returned later in the concert to play original material as U2. Dik joined another band, the Virgin Prunes, which comprised mutual friends of U2's; the Prunes were their default opening act early on, and the two groups often shared members for live performances to cover for occasional absences.
U2 | Formation and early years (1976–1980)
The band that would eventually be named U2 formed in Dublin on 25 September 1976. Dik and his brother Dave were two of six people to respond to a note that Larry Mullen Jr. posted on the notice board at Mount Temple Comprehensive School in search of musicians for a new band. The group set up in Mullen's kitchen, with the Evans brothers on guitar—at the first meeting, the duo shared a single home-made instrument between them. They soon whittled down the lineup to a five-piece and settled on the name "Feedback" because it was one of the few technical terms they knew.
Dik Evans | Career
While the Evans brothers were at Mount Temple Comprehensive School in Dublin in 1976, they went along to a meeting in response to an advert posted by another pupil, Larry Mullen Jr., on the school's noticeboard seeking musicians to form a new band with him. Among the several other pupils who also responded to the note were Paul "Bono" Hewson and Adam Clayton. The band went through a number of reformations before becoming known as U2 in March 1978 (Richard Evans having left before this to join another band, leaving his younger brother as the lead guitarist). Early in the band's career, Evans was given the nickname "the Edge" by members of the Lypton Village surrealist street gang to which Bono belonged.
The Edge | U2
The remaining five members settled on the name "Feedback" for the group because it was one of the few technical terms they knew. Most of their initial material consisted of cover songs, which they admitted was not their forte. Some of the earliest influences on the band were emerging punk rock acts, such as the Jam, the Clash, Buzzcocks, and Sex Pistols. The popularity of punk rock convinced the group that musical proficiency was not a prerequisite to success. In April 1977, Feedback played their first gig for a paying audience at St. Fintan's High School. Shortly thereafter, the band changed their name to "The Hype".
U2 | Formation and early years (1976–1980)
In September 1976, Mullen put an advert onto the school's bulletin board seeking other musicians to form a band; Clayton showed up for the first meeting and practice, so did the Edge with his older brother Richard Evans ("Dik"), Bono, and Ivan McCormick and Peter Martin who were two of Mullen's friends. McCormick and Martin left the band soon after its inception. While the band was a five-piece (consisting of Bono, the Edge, Mullen, Dik Evans, and Clayton) it was known as "Feedback". The name was subsequently changed to "The Hype", but changed to "U2" soon after Dik Evans left.
Adam Clayton | U2
The rest of the band was leaning towards the idea of a four-piece ensemble. In March 1978, the group changed their name to "U2". That same month, U2, as a four-piece without Dik, won a talent contest in Limerick sponsored by Harp Lager and the "Evening Press". The win was an important milestone and affirmation for the fledgling band. Within a few days, Dik was officially phased out of the band with a farewell concert at the Presbyterian Church Hall in Howth. During the show, which featured the group playing cover songs as the Hype, Dik ceremonially walked offstage. The remaining four band members returned later in the concert to play original material as U2.
Dik Evans | Career
The book is divided into a prologue and twelve chapters. The prologue is structured in four sections, one on each member of the band, containing their views on what being in U2 means to the musicians. Bono talks about his personality, The Edge gives a review on electric guitars, Adam Clayton explains how he'd always wanted to be a rock star, and Larry Mullen Jr. expresses the fact that he had never been comfortable with celebrity or fame. Each one of the members also shares ideas about the others. The first chapter, 1960–75: Stories for Boys, follows their childhood stories with memories and photographs taken from their personal collections.
U2 by U2 | Summary
After Dik Evans left the group to join another local band, the Virgin Prunes, the remaining four officially changed the name from "The Hype" to "U2". Initially Bono sang, played guitar and wrote the band's songs. He said of his early guitar playing in a 1982 interview, "When we started out I was the guitar player, along with the Edge—except I couldn't play guitar. I still can't. I was such a lousy guitar player that one day they broke it to me that maybe I should sing instead. I had tried before, but I had no voice at all. I remember the day I found I could sing.
Bono | U2
This is a comprehensive list of major music awards received by U2, an Irish rock band that formed in 1976, and whose members are Bono, the Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr. U2 have been one of the most popular acts in the world since the mid-1980s. The band has sold more than 170 million albums worldwide and has won 22 Grammy Awards, more than any other band. U2 formed in 1976 when the members were teenagers with limited musical proficiency. By the mid-1980s, however, the band had become a top international act, noted for its anthemic sound, Bono's impassioned vocals, and The Edge's textural guitar playing.
List of awards and nominations received by U2 | Introduction
This is a timeline of the history of rock band U2:
Timeline of U2 | Introduction
The band consisted of childhood friends of U2's Bono. Lypton Village was a "youthful gang" created by Bono (né Paul Hewson), Friday (né Fionan Hanvey) and Guggi (né Derek Rowen) in the early 1970s. Known for their outrageous and controversial stage performances, led by theatrical singer/songwriter Friday, the band began playing small shows in Dublin, gaining them a cult audience. Friday and fellow vocalist Guggi, along with third vocalist Dave-iD Busaras, guitarist Dik Evans (brother of U2's The Edge), bassist Strongman (Trevor Rowen, brother of Guggi) and drummer Pod (Anthony Murphy), completed the original lineup. Pod left the group and was replaced by Haa-Lacka Binttii (né Daniel Figgis).
Virgin Prunes | History
The band later changed their name to "The Hype", and again to "U2" for a 1978 talent contest in Limerick, Ireland, that they entered and won as a four-piece. Days after the competition, the band's reduction to a four-piece lineup became permanent after they parted ways with Dik. Mullen left school in 1978, having taken his Intermediate Certificate exams. The school offered him the chance to complete his Leaving Certificate exams. He and his sister Cecilia worked for an American company in Dublin, involved in oil exploration off the coast of Ireland. Mullen worked there for a year in the purchasing department, with the prospect of becoming a computer programmer in their geology section.
Larry Mullen Jr. | U2
U2 by U2 is an autobiography written by the members of Irish rock band U2, first published in 2005, edited by Neil McCormick. It portrays the story of U2 in their own words and pictures.
U2 by U2 | Introduction
After Bonnie's death, his daughter Monica took over for him, but Mullen gave up the lessons and started playing by himself. His mother died in a car accident in 1976. Before founding U2, Mullen joined a Dublin marching band called the Artane Boys Band at the suggestion of his father. Mullen said that the band focused more on learning to read sheet music, whereas he wanted to spend more time playing the drums. He was asked by the band to cut his shoulder-length hair, and despite acquiescing and cutting a few inches off, he was asked to shorten it further.
Larry Mullen Jr. | Early life
Paul David Hewson (born 10 May 1960), known by his stage name Bono (), is an Irish singer, songwriter, philanthropist, activist, venture capitalist, businessman, and actor. He is best known as the lead vocalist and primary lyricist of rock band U2. Born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, he attended Mount Temple Comprehensive School where he met his future wife, Alison Stewart, as well as schoolmates with whom he formed U2 in 1976. Bono soon established himself as a passionate frontman for the band through his expressive vocal style and grandiose gestures and songwriting. His lyrics are known for their social and political themes, and for their religious imagery inspired by his Christian beliefs.
Bono | Introduction
These guys are either the American U2 or close enough for government work.
If You Didn't Laugh, You'd Cry | Introduction
Mullen's father suggested that he place a notice on the Mount Temple bulletin board, saying something to the effect of "drummer seeks musicians to form band." U2 was founded on 25 September 1976 in Mullen's kitchen in Artane. Attending the first meeting were Mullen, Paul "Bono" Hewson, David "The Edge" Evans and his brother Dik, Adam Clayton, and Mullen's friends Ivan McCormick and Peter Martin. Mullen later described it as "'The Larry Mullen Band' for about ten minutes, then Bono walked in and blew any chance I had of being in charge." McCormick and Martin soon left, and the group settled on the name "Feedback" because it was one of the few technical terms they knew.
Larry Mullen Jr. | U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. The band formed in 1976 and released their debut EP "Three" in 1979 exclusively in Ireland. Following the release of their single "Another Day" in 1980, U2 signed a recording contract with Island Records, and released their first album, "Boy", later that year. The band has since released 14 studio albums, the most recent being "Songs of Experience" in 2017. To date, U2 has released 436 songs.
List of songs recorded by U2 | Introduction
"I Threw a Brick Through a Window" was one of the band's first songs to highlight drummer Larry Mullen, Jr., while "Gloria" highlights bassist Adam Clayton as it features three styles of playing in one song (using a pick for the most part, playing with fingers during the slide guitar by The Edge, then a "slap & pop" solo towards the end). "Is That All?" borrows the riff from "Cry", an older song the band has used as an introduction to "The Electric Co." live.
October (U2 album) | Composition
At a recent exhibition of early group photos, McGuinness remembered the role Bill Graham played by introducing him to the band. Despite being widely known as the man who "discovered" U2, it was a title he disavowed. He wrote enthusiastically about the band, giving them their first exposure. Both guitarist The Edge and Bono have explained Graham's role in the band's development.
Bill Graham (author) | Introduction
U2 Additional performers Technical
Boy (album) | Personnel
The following albums are only officially available as part of this set:
The Complete U2 | Digital box set-exclusive albums
McCormick, edited the book with the band to compile hundreds of un-published photographs.
U2 by U2 | Content
Hayden oversaw the session but was not an experienced producer. The session was largely unsuccessful, as the band were "extremely nervous" about their first recording session. Bassist Adam Clayton said, "It was horrible, because nobody told us anything." The group were accustomed to playing together in a room or on stage, and they found it difficult to communicate with each other while spread out in the studio and separated by baffles. Hayden said that the intent of the session was to record eight to ten songs to allow the label to better judge the band's repertoire, rather than spend the entire time refining a few tracks.
Three (U2 EP) | Initial involvement of Jackie Hayden
U2 Additional performers Technical
A Man and a Woman (song) | Personnel
Performers Managerial Technical and Production Visuals and Imagery
One (U2 song) | Credits and personnel
The 1980s saw the rise to stardom of the most successful Irish rock band, U2. Since the release of their album "Boy" in 1980, U2 has grown to become one of the biggest rock bands in the world. In fact, "Rolling Stone" claims this band to be "the biggest band in the world." Band members Bono (Paul Hewson), The Edge (David Evans), Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr have brought international attention to this unique genre. Within four years of starting the band, they were signed onto Island Records. Their 1987 album, "Joshua Tree" sent them over the top. Now, in the third decade of their career, they continue to achieve enormous commercial and critical success.
Rock music in Ireland | 1980s
The time required to complete "Pop" cut into the band's rehearsal time for the tour, which affected the quality of initial shows.
Pop (U2 album) | Introduction
The same day, U2 played a show at the 2,000-seat National Stadium in Dublin as part of an Irish tour. Despite their gamble of booking a concert in such a large venue, the move paid off. Bill Stewart, an A&R representative for Island Records, was in attendance and offered to sign them to the label. The following month, the band signed a four-year, four-album contract with Island, which included a £50,000 advance and £50,000 in tour support.
U2 | Formation and early years (1976–1980)
Adapted from the liner notes. U2 Additional musicians Production
All That You Can't Leave Behind | Personnel
Clayton later changed school to the non-boarding Mount Temple Comprehensive School in Dublin, where he met future U2 bandmates Paul Hewson ("Bono") and Larry Mullen Jr., who were also pupils there, and was reunited with his childhood friend David Evans.
Adam Clayton | Early life
The Edge is a member of the Irish rock band U2. The Edge may also refer to:
The Edge (disambiguation) | Introduction
D. Considine stating: "Generally, the album's musical strengths are largely the product of well-honed arrangements and carefully balanced dynamics. Even as the Edge spins increasingly sophisticated guitar lines, he maintains the minimalist bluntness that sparked "Boy". And while bassist Adam Clayton and drummer Larry Mullen Jr. have swung to more dance-oriented rhythms, their songs hurtle along with the sort of brusque purposefulness more frequently associated with punk." Considine added: "the songs here stand up against anything on the Clash's "London Calling" in terms of sheer impact, and the fact that U2 can sweep the listener up in the same sort of enthusiastic romanticism that fuels the band's grand gestures is an impressive feat.
War (U2 album) | Reception
They remained in contact with Hayden, who continued to attend their concerts and include them in his reports to CBS UK.
Three (U2 EP) | Initial involvement of Jackie Hayden
United Nations is a hardcore punk supergroup whose roots go back to at least 2005. Due to the nature of the band, it is unclear who exactly is a member of United Nations at any given time. Early promotional images of the band depicted four people wearing Ronald Reagan masks, and all original contributors were contractually obligated to remain anonymous. The only member not under contract at the time was Geoff Rickly of the band Thursday.
United Nations (band) | Introduction
One of Kasem's milder comments, after trying to deliver a run-down of U2's line-up, was "These guys are from England and who gives a shit?" All four members of U2 are actually from the Republic of Ireland, although Adam Clayton and The Edge were born in England. U2's label Island Records quickly sued Negativland, claiming that placing the word "U2" on the cover violated trademark law, as did the song itself. Island Records also claimed that the single was an attempt to deliberately confuse U2 fans, then awaiting the impending release of "Achtung Baby".
U2 (EP) | History
The band was originally named Appertain Display. The band took its current name from the first article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was featured by U2 on their Vertigo Tour. The declaration states that ""All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.""
Article One (band) | Name
October is the second studio album by Irish rock band U2. It was released on 12 October 1981 by Island Records, and was produced by Steve Lillywhite. The album was lyrically inspired by the memberships of Bono, the Edge, and Larry Mullen Jr. in a Christian group called the "Shalom Fellowship", and consequently it contains spiritual and religious themes. Their involvement with Shalom Fellowship led them to question the relationship between the Christian faith and the "rock and roll" lifestyle, and threatened to break up the band. After completing the third leg of the Boy Tour in February 1981, U2 began to write new material for "October", entering the recording studio in July 1981.
October (U2 album) | Introduction
The group was formed by Leslie Dowdall, Jack Dublin, Vinnie Kilduff, Ivan O'Shea, Martin Clancy, Paul Byrne and Steve Wickham in the early 1980s. Although the group's focus was an early Roxy Music-style rock, it combined this aspiration with modern-styled folk and traditional Irish music in the form of uillean pipes and acoustic guitars, laced together with raw vocals and electronic violin. In 1984, the band were the first to sign to U2's Mother label and released their first single "Coming Thru". Shortly afterwards Island Records signed the band. A number of singles were released and a debut album recorded.
In Tua Nua | Biography
As a member of U2, Mullen has received 22 Grammy Awards and has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2016, "Rolling Stone" ranked Mullen the 96th-greatest drummer of all time.
Larry Mullen Jr. | Introduction
Bono and the Edge believed the lack of progress was the fault of the band, while Clayton and Mullen Jr. believed the problem was the quality of the songs. Mullen said he "thought this might be the end" of the band. Ultimately, a breakthrough in the sessions was achieved. While jamming on a song called "Sick Puppy"—an early version of "Mysterious Ways"—the band tried different chord progressions for the bridge. The jam stopped and the Edge tried playing them alone on an acoustic guitar, as "everyone was trying to decide if they were any good." At the suggestion of producer Daniel Lanois, the Edge played two separate sections sequentially.
One (U2 song) | Writing and recording
"The Guardian", which gave a rating of one out of five stars, claimed that U2 appeared to be "four conceited billionaires who are further up themselves than ever".
U2 3D | Critical response
U2 Additional performers Technical
The Joshua Tree | Personnel
U2 first came to the attention of Jackie Hayden, a representative for the CBS Records label, through their participation in a music talent contest as part of Limerick Civic Week on St. Patrick's Day in March 1978. Hayden was on the judging panel that selected U2 as the winning act, and their prize consisted of £500 and a chance to audition for the label. Watching U2 perform, Hayden "liked them instantly", as he was drawn to lead singer Bono's "supremely confident stage presence" and the "workmanlike fashion" in which the other band members played. A few weeks later in April, the group were booked for a recording session at Keystone Studios in Dublin to fulfill CBS's commitment to the Limerick Civic Week Committee.
Three (U2 EP) | Initial involvement of Jackie Hayden
He is part of Iran U-20 during 2011 & 2012.
Mohammadreza Ghodratipour | U20
After the commercial and critical success of their 1987 album "The Joshua Tree", U2 produced a motion picture and companion album titled "Rattle and Hum" that was subject to a critical backlash. The band's exploration of American music for the project was variously labelled as "pretentious" and "misguided and bombastic". The group's high exposure and their reputation for being overly serious led to accusations of grandiosity and self-righteousness. In addition to the criticism they faced, U2 dealt with internal creative dissatisfaction; lead vocalist Bono believed they were musically unprepared for their success, and drummer Larry Mullen, Jr. said, "We were the biggest, but we weren't the best".
From the Sky Down | Background
Due to the nature of the band, it is unclear who exactly is a member of United Nations at any given time. Early promotional images of the band depicted four people wearing Ronald Reagan masks, and all contributors were contractually obligated to remain anonymous. The only member not under contract was Geoff Rickly of the band Thursday, for press and media purposes. However, Jonah Bayer and Lukas Previn later became publicly announced members of United Nations as well. Many sources claim that Daryl Palumbo, Ben Koller, and also members of various bands signed to Eyeball Records contributed to United Nations.
United Nations (band) | Members
U2 Additional musicians Technical
October (U2 album) | Personnel
Dominic Byrne was part of an award-winning comedy folk band Folk Face with Comedy Dave also from "The Chris Moyles Show". Dominic Byrne famously played lead guitar with The Stereophonics alongside Chris Moyles on the drums. Both have vowed to play alongside every band, ever, but that actually means U2 in Dominic’s mind. In 2018, Dominic formed a group with Toby Tarrant called $inna-G££.
Dominic Byrne | Bands
Adapted from the liner notes. U2 Additional musicians
Zooropa | Personnel
Mount Temple was the school where the rock band U2 was formed. In September 1976, 14-year-old drummer Larry Mullen, Jr. posted a notice on the school's noticeboard, looking for fellow musicians. All four members of U2 are former pupils of the school.
Mount Temple Comprehensive School | Popular culture
Clayton stood in as the nearest thing that the band had to a manager in its early life, handing over the duties to Paul McGuinness in May 1978. In 1981, around the time of U2's second, spiritually charged album, "October", a rift was created in the band between Clayton and McGuinness, and the three other band members. Bono, The Edge, and Mullen had joined a Christian group, and were questioning the compatibility of rock music with their spirituality. However, Clayton, with his more ambiguous religious views, was less concerned, and so was more of an outsider. In 1995, after the Zoo TV Tour and "Zooropa" album, Clayton headed to New York with bandmate Mullen to receive formal training in the bass; until then Clayton had been entirely self-taught.
Adam Clayton | U2
Richard G. "Dik" (also "Dick") Evans (born 1957) is an English-born Irish musician best known as a founder of the band Virgin Prunes and an early member of U2. Dik and his brother, David "the Edge" Evans, U2's guitarist, were among the group's co-founders.
Dik Evans | Introduction
Throughout the 1990s, U2 experimented with alternative rock and electronic dance music, culminating with their 1997 album "Pop" and the accompanying PopMart Tour. Guitarist the Edge said that with "Pop", the band had "taken the deconstruction of the rock 'n' roll band format to its absolute 'nth degree." However, following the poor reception to the album and tour, the band wished to return to song arrangements that consisted almost entirely of guitar, bass, and drums, and to quickly regroup in the studio after the tour.
All That You Can't Leave Behind | Background
He concluded: "Obviously rock doesn't expire just because groups run out of ways to change it... U2, I guess, will continue to 'move' in live performance, but they will only move on the lightest surface. Their music does 'soar'... But then 'God' knows, there are other religions". Jon Pareles of "Rolling Stone" praised the Edge for his powerful guitar playing, "drenched in echo and glory", but said Bono's vocals were negatively impacted by him taking himself too seriously and that his lyrics were silly and clichéd. Pareles acknowledged the band's attempts to vary their sound, but said "none of the strategies works as well yet as their basic power-trio dynamics".
October (U2 album) | Critical reception
Adapted from the liner notes. U2 Additional performers
You're the Best Thing About Me | Personnel
"With or Without You" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the third track on their fifth studio album, "The Joshua Tree" (1987), and was released as the album's lead single on 16 March 1987. The song was the group's most successful single at the time, becoming their first number-one hit in both the United States and Canada by topping the "Billboard" Hot 100 for three weeks and the "RPM" national singles chart for one week, with a further three weeks at number two. "With or Without You" features sustained guitar parts played by guitarist the Edge with a prototype of the Infinite Guitar, along with vocals by lead singer Bono and a bassline by bassist Adam Clayton.
With or Without You | Introduction
However, he did not think the band understood that, as they were only able to complete one song, "Inside Out", by Clayton's recollection. The session was supposed to last late into the night but ended abruptly at 11 p.m. after the father of drummer Larry Mullen Jr. arrived and demanded he take his 15-year-old son home, believing that school the following morning took priority. Hayden was unimpressed by the recordings from the session but liked the band's material and work ethic. The group asked him if he was interested in managing them, but he declined. Several weeks later, Bono and bassist Adam Clayton visited Hayden at his office to discuss a recording contract, with Clayton acting as U2's "de facto" manager at the time.
Three (U2 EP) | Initial involvement of Jackie Hayden
The song was completed within the last few hours of the recording sessions for "War". After working all night on the album in Windmill Lane Studios, the band found themselves at 6 AM feeling that they were still one song short. Another band, Minor Detail, were scheduled to start their recording session at 8 AM and had arrived early, and U2 bassist Adam Clayton had already gone home. In a moment of inspiration, the remaining members—Bono, the Edge, and Larry Mullen Jr.—decided to revive an abandoned song that the Edge described as having "a great bass hook but a slightly unwieldy arrangement with lots of strange sections and time changes" that they had been unable to translate into a "coherent song".
40 (song) | Recording
Throughout their career U2 have kept their base firmly planted in their home town, Dublin. The band, especially frontman Bono, are also well known for their social conscience and their involvement in various international causes. Along with the 1980s came Donegal group Clannad who were, at the time, innovators in bridging the gap between pop rock music and traditional Irish music. Following the disbandment of The Undertones in 1983, lead vocalist Feargal Sharkey pursued a solo career while the other band members formed That Petrol Emotion along with an American vocalist, Steve Mack. In 1986 The Saw Doctors from Tuam in County Galway formed however the band would have to wait until the nineties and noughties for major success.
Rock music in Ireland | 1980s
"One" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the third track from their 1991 album "Achtung Baby", and it was released as the record's third single in February 1992. During the album's recording sessions at Hansa Studios in Berlin, conflict arose between the band members over the direction of U2's sound and the quality of their material. Tensions almost prompted the band to break up until they achieved a breakthrough with the improvisation of "One"; the song was written after the band members were inspired by a chord progression that guitarist the Edge was playing in the studio.
One (U2 song) | Introduction
He has worked on several solo projects throughout his career, such as his work with fellow band member Larry Mullen Jr. on the 1996 version of the "". As a member of U2, Clayton has received 22 Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005.
Adam Clayton | Introduction
The song's riff and techno dance rhythm are then introduced. The break in the song's rhythm section features guitar sounds utilizing a "Big Cheese", an effects pedal made by Lovetone. Writer John D. Luerssen noted that the song is "often cited as U2's first experiment with electronica," calling it "a continuation of the experimentation the band had done on "Zooropa"." "Do You Feel Loved", which was considered for a single release, runs at a slower pace and features electronic elements. Bono said of the song: "It's quite a question, but there's no question mark on it," as the band took the question mark off the title of the song for fearing it would be perceived as "too heavy."
Pop (U2 album) | Composition
U2 Additional performers Technical
Love Is Blindness | Personnel
They added their own instrumentals in a jam session, while lead singer Bono developed vocals at the microphone. Lanois said that the song came together very quickly and was a good example of the producers' creative process with U2: "I think we work best like that: Eno and I provide the sonics for the band, they come in and respond to the invitation." Bassist Adam Clayton said that like many of the group's songs, the jam recording was subsequently edited into a song arrangement that they learned to play. During the guitar-heavy sections of the song, guitarist the Edge used a Japanese effects unit by Sobatt; he described it as: "so extreme.
New York (U2 song) | Writing and recording
And you feel that he wants to be in a band because he likes what they do... but that's all," explained U2's lead singer Bono in 2003. "And it's almost like performing and having to deal with all of that is a bit of a compromise for him, so just fuck off. And I like that energy a little bit, and that gives them their aggression." Buck has produced many bands, including Uncle Tupelo, Dreams So Real, Drivin N Cryin, The Fleshtones, Charlie Pickett, and The Feelies. Buck also has made contributions on many other musicians' albums, including The Replacements, Billy Bragg, The Decemberists, Robyn Hitchcock, and several Eels albums.
Peter Buck | Music
During the album recording, these were the band members:
Riisu | Band members
"October" reflects the spiritual turmoil of the band at the time it was written, during which three of the band's members were wrestling with whether being members of a rock band was consistent with their Christian beliefs. Lead singer Bono has said of "October": U2 guitarist the Edge plays piano on the track despite having stopped playing piano as a teenager. Author John D. Luerssen describes the piano part as "one of U2's most enduring and meditative keyboard-steered melodies" and considers its somber mood as a reflection of the Edge's recent experience on tour playing in Europe under grey skies.
October (song) | Lyrics and music
In 1981 Kilduff was asked by U2 to play uilleann pipes and bodhrán on their album "October" and to guest with them at their concert in Slane Castle that year. In 1983 Kilduff rejoined U2 for their promotional tour of the album "War". In 2009 the U2 song "Tomorrow" with Kilduff playing the uilleann pipes was featured in It Might Get Loud, the Davis Guggenheim documentary on the electric guitar from the point of view of Jimmy Page, The Edge and Jack White.
Vinnie Kilduff | U2
"U2 by U2" was inspired by "The Beatles Anthology", a book released in October 2000 as part of The Beatles Anthology film project. The book took over two years to complete and features more than 1,500 photographs taken from U2's personal archives, depicting the evolution from their early days in Dublin in 1978, to achieving rock superstar status. More than 150 hours of interviews were conducted by journalist Neil McCormick with singer Bono, guitarist The Edge, bassist Adam Clayton, drummer Larry Mullen Jr., and manager Paul McGuinness.
U2 by U2 | Background
U2 is a withdrawn EP by the experimental music and sound collage band Negativland, released in 1991. The EP and the band gained notoriety when lawyers representing Island Records, the record label of the band U2, sued over misleading artwork and the use of unauthorized sampling.
U2 (EP) | Introduction
Mullen said of the release: "There's a thin line between interesting music and self-indulgence. We crossed it on the Passengers record." It was commercially unnoticed by U2 standards and it received generally mixed reviews. The single "Miss Sarajevo" (featuring Luciano Pavarotti) was among Bono's favourite U2 songs. U2 began work on their next studio album, "Pop", in mid-1995, holding recording sessions with Nellee Hooper, Flood, and Howie B. The band mixed the contrasting influences of each producer into their music, in particular Howie B's experiences with electronica and dance music. Mullen was sidelined due to back surgery in November, prompting the other band members to take different approaches to songwriting, such as programming drum loops and playing to samples provided by Howie B.
U2 | Passengers, "Pop", and PopMart (1994–1998)
Before becoming involved with U2, he worked as a film assistant director on productions such as John Boorman's "Zardoz". For a time, he also managed folk-rock group Spud.
Paul McGuinness | Early years
The nickname is commonly believed to be derived from the angular shape of Evans' head. However, the origin of the name is disputed and other theories include a description of his guitar playing and his preference for not becoming fully involved and therefore remaining on the edge of things. U2 began its public performance life in small venues in Dublin in 1977, occasionally playing at other venues elsewhere in Ireland. In December 1979, they performed their first concerts outside Ireland, in London, and in 1980 began extensive touring across the British Isles, developing a following. Their debut album "Boy" was released in 1980.
The Edge | U2
However, Mullen repeatedly lost his timing during this section, causing his bandmates to re-enter the song improperly. De Whalley insisted that the band record take after take until they got it right, as he thought it was the group's best song and needed to be coherent on record. This caused friction in the studio, particularly with Mullen. Bono was in disbelief that there was any issue with the rhythm section, telling de Whalley: "But Larry has lessons from one of the best drummers in Dublin! How can he be out of time?" Eventually, they completed a usable take of "Out of Control".
Three (U2 EP) | Recording
The band cites the Who, the Clash, Television, Ramones, the Beatles, Joy Division, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Elvis Presley, Patti Smith, and Kraftwerk as influences. In addition, Van Morrison has been cited by Bono as an influence, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame mentioned his influence on U2. U2 have also worked with and/or had influential relationships with artists including Johnny Cash, Green Day, Leonard Cohen, Bruce Springsteen, B.B. King, Lou Reed, Bob Dylan, and Luciano Pavarotti. Bono said that David Bowie helped him discover the works of Bertolt Brecht, William Burroughs, Springsteen, and Brian Eno.
U2 | Influences
Eno attempted to convince the other band members to wait for Mullen, but as the Edge explains, "The thinking was that we were going to further experiment with the notion of what a band was all about and find new ways to write songs, accepting the influence, and aesthetics of dance music... we thought, 'Let's just start with Howie mixing drum beats and see where that gets us.'" Mullen was back in the studio three weeks after his surgery, but his back prevented him from fully dedicating himself to recording. As he described, "I needed a little more time to recover.
Pop (U2 album) | Recording and production
"The Joshua Tree" was critically acclaimed; Robert Hilburn of the "Los Angeles Times" said the album "confirms on record what this band has been slowly asserting for three years now on stage: U2 is what the Rolling Stones ceased being years ago—the greatest rock and roll band in the world". The record went to number one in over 20 countries, including the UK where it received a platinum certification in 48 hours and sold 235,000 copies in its first week, making it the fastest seller in British chart history. In the US, it spent nine consecutive weeks at number one.
U2 | "The Joshua Tree" and "Rattle and Hum" (1986–1990)
Following an argument with his girlfriend, and a period of doubt in his own song-writing abilities, the Edge – "feeling depressed... channeled [his] fear and frustration and self-loathing into a piece of music." Early versions of the song opened with the line, "Don't talk to me about the rights of the IRA, UDA". After Bono had reworked the lyrics, the band recorded the song. The opening drum pattern soon developed into the song's hook. A local violinist, Steve Wickham, approached the Edge one morning at a bus stop and asked if U2 had any need for a violin on their next album.
War (U2 album) | Recording
Guitarist The Edge explained that some of the sounds in the introduction that resemble keyboards were actually created by him on guitar. Of the song's introduction, bassist Adam Clayton says, "When people put on the record, we wanted their first reaction to be either 'this record is broken' or 'this can't be the new U2 record, there's been a mistake.' So there is quite a dramatic extended intro where you just don't know what you are listening to." Author Albin Zak, in his book "The Poetics of Rock", says of the introduction, "Before any words are sung, the sounds alone alert the listener that the band has moved into new expressive territory."
Zoo Station (song) | Composition
McGuinness first met U2 at a Dublin gig on 25 May 1978 where they were supporting the Gamblers and became their manager, having been introduced to the band by Bill Graham, a journalist with "Hot Press" magazine. He founded Principle Management Limited on 29 Mar 1984. McGuinness and Bill Whelan set up a music publishing company called McGuinness/Whelan Publishing in the late 1980s. Whelan later composed the music for Riverdance.
Paul McGuinness | U2
U2 feared that following the overt rock of their 1983 album "War" and the War Tour, they were in danger of becoming another "shrill", "sloganeering arena-rock band". Following a show at Dublin's Phoenix Park Racecourse in August 1983, one of the final dates of the War Tour, lead vocalist Bono spoke in metaphors about the band breaking up and reforming with a different direction. In the 10th issue of "U2 Magazine", released in February 1984, Bono hinted at radical changes on the next album saying that he could not "sleep at night with the thought of it all" and that they were "undertaking a real departure".
The Unforgettable Fire | Background
"Please" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the eleventh track on their 1997 album, "Pop", and was released as its fourth single on 20 October 1997. As with "Sunday Bloody Sunday", the song is about The Troubles in Northern Ireland. The single cover for this song features the pictures of four Northern Irish politicians – Gerry Adams, David Trimble, Ian Paisley, and John Hume (clockwise from top left). Two months before the release of the single, live versions of "Please" and three other songs from the PopMart Tour were released on the "" in September 1997.
Please (U2 song) | Introduction
After U2's 1987 album "The Joshua Tree" and the supporting Joshua Tree Tour brought them critical acclaim and commercial success, their 1988 album and film "Rattle and Hum" precipitated a critical backlash. Although the record sold 14 million copies and performed well on music charts, critics were dismissive of it and the film, labelling the band's exploration of early American music as "pretentious" and "misguided and bombastic". U2's high exposure and their reputation for being overly serious led to accusations of grandiosity and self-righteousness. Despite their commercial popularity, the group were dissatisfied creatively; lead vocalist Bono believed they were musically unprepared for their success, while drummer Larry Mullen, Jr.
Achtung Baby | Background
Mike Diesel is also a touring member of the band Age of Days, and Neil Uppal was a founding member of the band Dear Jane, I....
Breached | Current members
Their debut album "Hi-Lo" was released in May 2000. The Walls heard rumour of a second Slane Castle date for U2 in 2001 (as the first concert had sold out in hours). They sent four copies of their album to the band. Bono loved it and offered The Walls a support slot. That day the band played to their biggest crowd to date, around 80,000 people. "To the Bright and Shining Sun" was their next single. That June they supported Red Hot Chili Peppers. They spent the next year gigging while building their own studio in Dublin. In February 2004, original member Carl Harms decided to leave the band to make his own record.
The Walls | 1998–2004; "Hi-Lo"
Main Band Members Other Band Members/Reoccurring Members Past Band Members
Jimmy Sturr | Band members
Blige on her album "The Breakthrough".
One (U2 song) | Introduction
This was done so Bono could record a guide vocal part that his bandmates could hear in their headphones that would not spill into their respective backing tracks. De Whalley said, "you wouldn't have known they were guide vocals by the way Bono went for them – giving it the full monty, arms flailing, legs pumping, willing his mates on the other side of the big plate glass window to pull out all the stops". Although de Whalley had sat in on recording sessions before, he said that he was "no producer" and lacked the necessary technical and diplomatic skills.
Three (U2 EP) | Recording
All of the members are alumni of the computer science programme at the University of Copenhagen. Theo Engell-Nielsen serves as the keyboardist. Jesper Holm Olsen is a guitarist in the band. The other members are Martin Koch, Uffe Friis Lichtenberg, Søren Trautner Madsen, and André Glasius Tischer.
Press Play On Tape | Members
The discography of the Irish rock band U2 consists of 14 studio albums, one live album, three compilation albums, 67 singles, and nine extended plays (EPs). The band formed at Mount Temple Comprehensive School in 1976 as teenagers. In 1979, the group issued their first release, the EP "U2-3", which sold well in Ireland. The following year, the group signed to Island Records and released their debut album, "Boy". It reached number 52 in the UK and number 63 in the US. They followed it up with the release of "October" (1981) and "War" (1983). "War" was a commercial success, becoming the band's first number-one album in the UK while reaching number 12 in the US.
U2 discography | Introduction
Adding to this period of self-doubt, Bono's, the Edge's, and Mullen's involvement in a Charismatic Christian group in Dublin called the "Shalom Fellowship" led them to question the relationship between their religious faith and the lifestyle of a rock band. Bono and the Edge considered quitting U2 due to their perceived spiritual conflicts before deciding to leave Shalom instead. "October" was released in October 1981 and contained overtly spiritual themes. The album received mixed reviews and limited radio play, and although it debuted at number 11 in the UK, it sold poorly elsewhere. The single "Gloria" was U2's first song to have its music video played on MTV, generating excitement for the band during the October Tour of 1981–1982 in markets where the television channel was available.
U2 | "Boy" and "October" (1980–1982)
Current Former members Former touring musicians
Downset. | Band members
The album included the hit singles "With or Without You", "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For", and "Where the Streets Have No Name", the first two of which became the group's only number-one hits in the US. U2 became the fourth rock band to be featured on the cover of "Time" magazine, which called them "Rock's Hottest Ticket". The album and its songs received four Grammy Award nominations, winning for Album of the Year and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. Many publications, including "Rolling Stone", have cited it as one of rock's greatest.
U2 | "The Joshua Tree" and "Rattle and Hum" (1986–1990)
Stung by the criticism of "Rattle and Hum", the band sought to transform themselves musically. Seeking inspiration from German reunification, they began work on their seventh studio album, "Achtung Baby", at Berlin's Hansa Studios in October 1990 with producers Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno. The sessions were fraught with conflict, as the band argued over their musical direction and the quality of their material. While Clayton and Mullen preferred a sound similar to U2's previous work, Bono and the Edge were inspired by European industrial music and electronic dance music and advocated a change. Weeks of tension and slow progress nearly prompted the group to break up until they made a breakthrough with the improvised writing of the song "One".
U2 | "Achtung Baby", Zoo TV, and "Zooropa" (1990–1993)