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U2
Biography 
U2 is an Irish rock band which formed in 1976 in Dublin, Ireland. Since the band’s formation, they have consisted of Bono (real name Paul Hewson) (vocals, guitar, harmonica), The Edge (real name David Evans) (guitar, keyboards, backing vocals), Adam Clayton (bass) and Larry Mullen, Jr. (drums, percussion). The band is the biggest selling alternative rock act of all time, having sold 140 million albums worldwide as of 2008. They have won 22 Grammys and were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2005. As of 2009, they have released 12 albums and 58 singles.

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), Ivan McCormick and Peter Martin. 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 strangely 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 or mess with someone in the crowd at every concert. He was kept as a member. The extra guitarists would soon leave the band and the group would go through the names “Feedback ” and “The Hype” before finally settling on U2.

The 70s & 80s: 1978 was a jumping point year for the band, finally finding their sound / voice. U2 won a talent contest in 1978: £500 and funds to make a record. Paul McGuinness became the band’s manager and U2 released an EP called Three and the single Another Day, the following year. U2 went on to release their first album, Boy and then more critically acclaimed albums incl.: October, War, Under A Blood Red Sky, and The Unforgettable Fire (featuring the song PlayMLK dedicated to Martin Luther King Jr). Seen by many as a political band with more charisma than others, they were called “a different kind” of band. After a short break U2 returned with The Joshua Tree & the USA music inspired Rattle And Hum (also a movie of the same name, based on the tour).

The 90s: Promising ”to dream it all up again”, they added industrial and dance styles to their music. Trying to drop a goody two shoes image, they went to Berlin (Germany), supposedly to develop new self-expressions. From there they started to make fun of themselves and had a good time of it in albums like Achtung Baby (meaning ”watch out, baby”, artwork feat. make-up artist Nassim Khalifa) & Zooropa. Bono took on many stage personae such as “The Fly”, “Mirrorball Man” and “Mr. MacPhisto” for the gigantic ZOO TV Tour. 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 Hutchence 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 TV. Some say they’ve returned to a more band-centric sound with albums like All That You Can’t Leave Behind which features a song, Kite, dedicated to Bono’s father who passed away shortly after the album’s conception and 2004’s How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb.

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. Other obvious candidates include “You too” and “You two”, etc. 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… U2

www.u2.com


Ireland - U2 Set1

Xmas 13

Limited-edition double-live CD and deluxe book. 22 tracks chosen by U2 fans. The soundtrack of U2360°.

Subscribe to U2.com and download 12 tracks. smarturl.it/u22

Music

'These city lights, they shine as silver and gold /  Dug from the night, your eyes as black as coal....'

Preview clips

The Unforgettable Fire

The Unforgettable Fire (Remastered 2009)

'From the firefly / A red orange glow / See the face of fear / Runnin' scared in the valley below....'

The Joshua Tree

Bullet The Blue Sky (Remastered 2007)

'The seam is split / The coal-face cracked / The lines are long / There's no going back....'

Red Hill Mining Town (Remastered 2007)

Bono was in South Africa this week to join those paying tribute to Nelson Mandela at Tuesday's memorial service.

'In Ireland,' he says, 'A wake is never without humour but it's fair to say we lean heavily on the melancholy… one thing I love about Africa is they accompany the departed with dancing, lots of it, and music full of joy.'

On Thursday, 'Ordinary Love', the song the band wrote for 'Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom', was nominated for a Golden Globe Award and today the band wanted to share Paul Epworth's new version.

'We think Paul Epworth's mix is a very soulful, uplifting one and we hope our audience will agree,' says Bono. 'Nelson Mandela's life and times meant more to me than I can ever tell you, I would need a hundred songs to do that… but this complicated little love song to Winnie and South Africa is the one that landed on our lap.

'I want to thank the Hollywood Foreign Press for believing in us and the film. This is truly a great honour.'

Ordinary Love (Paul Epworth Version)

Angie

Midnight Rambler

Honky Tonk Women

Jumping Jack Flash

She's So Cold

New album, More Light. Out Now. Buy Here >> http://primalscre.am/MlD4h3

Available exclusively on the Record Store Day vinyl

Buy Album

I Want You (Record Store Day Exclusive)

New album, More Light. Out Now. Buy Here >>http://primalscre.am/MlD4h3

Available exclusively on the Record Store Day vinyl

City Slang (Record Store Day Exclusive)

Michael Kamen's Concerto for Eric Clapton.  The 2nd and 3rd movements, connected on the same track

2 & 3 - Michael Kamen Concerto For Electric Guitar And Orchestra 2nd & 3rd Movement

1 - Michael Kamen Concerto For Electric Guitar And Orchestra 1st Movement

Limited-edition double-live CD and deluxe book. 22 tracks chosen by U2 fans. The soundtrack of U2360°.

Subscribe to U2.com and download 12 tracks today. smarturl.it/u22

Out Of Control

With Or Without You

Beautiful Day

One Tree Hill

Until The End Of The World

Magnificent

Mysterious Ways

The Fly

Even Better Than the Real Thing

Zooropa achieves a new language for Bono to use - a language that's more his own, that he feels more comfortable with... And musically... it's a record deep with mystery for me.' Adam, speaking in 1994. 

Tune in to  Zooropa from Zooropa, twenty year old July 2013.

Zooropa

'Just the bang and the clatter/As an angel runs to ground...'

Out Of Control

U 2