U2

U2 - a Dublin, Ireland, rock band - released their first studio album, Boy, in 1980. Of another ten albums, six have reached the top of the USA charts. How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, their latest, has sold over 12 million copies worldwide & won the Grammys' Album Of The Year.

Personnel: Bono - vocals /main writer/ rhythm guitar / harmonica,
The Edge - lead guitar / co-writer/ keyboards / backing vocals,
Larry Mullen - drums / percussion,
Adam Clayton - bass.

The 80s: 1978 was a jumping point year for the band finally finding their sound and Voice. When signed, U2 started with the album Boy, and then went on to more critically acclaimed albums including War , The Unforgettable Fire(featuring the song MLK dedicated to Martin Luther King Jr), Octoberand Under a Blood Red Sky. U2 was seen by many as a political band with more "charisma" than any other, they were called "a different kind" of band. After a short break u2 returned with the infamous album Joshua Tree and American music inspired Rattle and Hum which also gave spark to a movie (by the same name) based on the tour.

The 90s: After promising "to dream it up all over again", they combined their classic rock style with industrial & dance music on new albums. Trying to get rid of the goody two shoes image the Band said they went to Berlin Germany to develop a new expression of who they were. From there they started to make fun of themselves and had a good time of it in albums like Zooropaand Achtung Baby(translated it means watch out baby). Bono took on many stage personae such as "the fly", "mirrorball man", and "Mr MacPhisto" for the gigantic ZOO tv Tour. (artwork feat. make-up artist Nassim Khalifa) Later they continued to make fun of Pop culture and all its extremes with the album Pop and consequent PopMart tour which was announced to be launched at a Kmart store and included a giant golden arch across the stage.

The 00s: At the end of the 90's into 00's U2 became less Image and more reality. With the death of Bono's good friend Michael the lead singer of INXS, Bono wrote more songs from the heart surrounding ideas like life and death, children, hope, and the real world past all the pop culture and t.v. Some say they've returned to a more band-centric sound with albums like All That You Can't Leave Behind & 2004's How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb which features a song dedicated to Bonos father who passed away shortly before the album ("tough").

Foundation: The band originally formed in 1976 when Larry Mullen posted a bulletin in his school asking for musicians to form a rock band. The band then consisted of the four current members plus three additional guitarists, including The Edge's brother Dick Evans (later a member of Virgin Prunes). According to legend, Bono originally auditioned as a guitarist but couldn't play. He auditioned as lead vocals, but really couldn't sing. He was, however, incredibly enthusiastic about the band, extremely charismatic, a great writer, and was stragely able to reach the audience when the band played, something he is known for still today. Bono will reach out into the crowd and dance with or mess with someone in the crowd at every concert. He was kept as a member. The extra guitarists would soon leave the band & the group would go through the names Feedback & The Hype before finally settling on U2. By '79 they had their first single, U2-3, & in 1980 released Boy, their first album.

The Name: There are many theories as to the origin of the name U2. For example, U2 was an intelligence airplane that was in use by the United States during the Cold War. Nonetheless the official line on the name's origins remains unknown. The band has been quoted as saying that they did think of the U2 spy plane, but remain hushed about other reasons..