U2

From Ireland, U2 is also known for making potent social and political statements – death for most Rock bands.

U2 got together in the mid-’70s when drummer Larry Mullen posted a notice at his school looking for band members.

At the same time, Paul Hewson was writing songs. Being in a band sounded like a good idea. Brothers, Dave and Dik Evans, also joined as did Adam Clayton.

After winning a talent contest, the band got a chance to record a demo and by early ’80 they were signed to Island Records.

U2 went on to record “Joshua Tree.” Released in ’87, the album had “With Or Without You,” “Where The Street Have No Name” and “Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.” It defined U2 as a challenging and creative force.

In the ’90s, U2 experimented with the albums “Achtung Baby” (Industrial), “Zooropa” (Alt. Rock/EDM) and “Pop” (Techno).

U2 logged several successful mega-tours that often were the year’s top draw.

Meanwhile, Bono became increasingly known for his involvement in notable causes like the elimination of crippling third world debt.

It was not uncommon to see Bono meeting with presidents, politicians and religious leaders in an effort to mitigate suffering around the world. He launched a product line in ’06, RED (with participation from Converse, The GAP and Apple, among others), to fight AIDS in Africa.

U2 were selected as the replacement for Janet Jackson after several executives from the National Football League (NFL) attended an October ’01 U2 concert in New York City and were emotionally impacted by the band’s tribute to the attack victims, whose names were projected across the ceiling of Madison Square Garden.

After being inducted into the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame by Bruce Springsteen in’05, U2 began work on their twelfth album with legendary producer Rick Rubin. But those tracks were shelved and the band started fresh with their veteran production team of Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno.

Meanwhile, U2 signed 12 year, reportedly $100 million agreement, with concert promoter Live Nation, who also gained control of U2’s merchandising, sponsorships and website.

The average U2 album sold 3-4 million copies but “No Line On The Horizon” did just over one-million. Bono’s theory was the group didn’t “pull off the pop songs.” Of course, most bands would kill to sell a million albums but they’re not U2. Even when album sales dropped, there was always the road. According to Billboard, U2 remained a top concert draw between 2000-2009. They made $822 million with 288 shows – all of which sold out.

U2 spent a large part of ’09 on their 360-worldwide stadium tour. The huge stage, nicknamed “The Claw,” allowed the group to play in the round. There was also a cylinder-shaped video screen. “The crowd will be all around us,” said The Edge prior to the tour. “That energy will just make the performances fly.”

Bono and The Edge had guided U2 avoiding a major misstep. So they were probably overdue to take a hit. The Broadway musical “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark,” featuring music by the pair was a train wreck. The show, with its aerial acrobatics, became the most expensive production ($65 million) in Broadway history. Though it had an impressive opening week, it failed to break even.

Produced by Danger Mouse, U2’s “Songs Of Innocence,” the band’s first album in over five years, didn’t generate much interest after initially being available as a free download on iTunes, When the physical version of the album dropped it sold just over 100,000 copies.

U2 bounced back with their fourteenth album, the ’17 set “Songs Of Experience.” The album debuted at #1 in the U.S. making U2 the first group to top the country’s chart in four consecutive decades.

Bono wrote the lyrics as a series of letters to people and places closest to his heart.

“Songs Of Surrender” featured re-recorded and reinterpreted versions of 40 songs from the group’s back catalogue, many with stripped-down acoustic arrangements. The album was a companion to Bono’s memoir, Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story.”

In ’24, U2 played a 40-show residency at the Las Vegas Sphere, a $2 billion venue.

A few months later, Bono was one of 19 recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the U.S.’s highest civilian honor, from President Joe Biden.

’26 saw the surprise six-song U2 EP, “Days Of Ash,”. The songs address ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) raids in the U.S., the Iranian uprisings, the war in Ukraine, and Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

” “They are songs of defiance and dismay, of lamentation,” offered Bono.

The EP led with “American Obituary,” which was dedicated to Renee Good. She was killed by ICE officers in Minneapolis during a protest earlier this year.

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