In the fall of 1976, drummer Larry Mullen put a note on the bulletin board at Mount Temple Comprehensive School in Dublin, looking for people to join a group. Four friends joined Paul Hewson (aka Bono Vox), Dave Evans (aka The Edge), Dik Evans, Adam Clayton. Dik soon left to join the Virgin Prunes, while the other four are "Comments" before changing to 'The Hype' and then settling on U2.
Group first break came in 1978, winning? 00 in a talent contest on St. Patrick's Day (March 17th) in Limerick. Bono later recalled that he had rejected many technically better bands because of what he called a "spark" that there was a great atmosphere on stage. One of the judges that week was Jackie Heyden of CBS Records, who was impressed and arranged their demonstration session first. It was a great success - the group's inexperience and lack of study time combine to hinder their efforts - but it was a start.
Their reputation for intense and electrifying shows meant that U2 soon became a track dedicated fans. One was Bill Graham, a journalist with the role of music "Hot Press", which was an early supporter of the band and introduced them to his manager, Paul McGuinness. A three-year contract with CBS Ireland soon followed, and with it the release of their first album in September 1979 - a three-song EP titled "Sub-23", which includes out of control, boy / girl, and stories children. A second single followed, before the band signed a worldwide deal with Island Records in March 1980.
After having obtained a recording contract of any importance, the rest of 1980 was spent touring extensively. Despite this, the group also found time to record their first album, 'Boy', which received critical acclaim when it was released in October. A year later came 'October' a much smoother record that reflects the spiritual beliefs and Christian de Bono, Edge and Larry, and builds on the success of 'Boy'.
U2 really hit the big time with "War" LP, released in March 1983. Encouraged by the success of the day the only "New Year, the record charts in the UK at number one, and established the group as a traditional act. Other hits followed throughout the U.S. and Europe, where the songs for the album to live under a blood red sky Mini 'were recorded. This album marked the end of an era, as was the last record before Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois were engaged to work on discs vinyl in the future.
The next album to be released, "The Unforgettable Fire ', marked a clear shift towards a more complex style, moving away from the" hymns "of war. Despite some initial difficulties integrating the latest songs in the band's live set, the material was well received in the subsequent European and American tours. Mini LP "Wide Awake in America" consisted of two new tracks and two live recordings from the European tour. It was at that time, in April 1985 that "Rolling Stone" dubbed U2 "The Band of the Eighties."
It was U2 played Live Aid concert at Wembley Stadium in London, where they gave a memorable performance as "Bad" invaded the song for about 12 minutes! Bono is considered leaving the band when he feared that his antics during that show (dancing with girls from the audience while the band play on any) had ruined the set for the rest of the band - Pride had dropped from the unit because of lack of time. Only when a friend told him he was one of the highlights of the day he came around. The following year, U2 has played with itself, a benefit for the unemployed in Ireland, and joined the conspiracy of Hope tour for Amnesty International.
U2's 7th LP was 'Joshua Tree', another Eno / Lanois collaboration which was published in March 1987. This was their most successful album to date, becoming the biggest selling album ever in the UK it was released, and reached number one in 22 countries. It is equipped with a sell-out tour included over 100 shows, and sealed his reputation as the "Time" magazine, titled "Rock the hottest ticket." During the tour, director Phil Joanou was chosen to bring the film to capture the concerts, and also to describe the perception of the band in America. Filmed primarily in Denver, Colorado, and Tempe, Arizona, this movie ('Rattle and Hum) and the self-titled LP was released in October 1988. Take this LP, a desire, "gave U2 their first UK mumber one. Other songs on the album, like" When Love Comes to Town 'featured blues legend BB King, U2, and joined the tour to City of Love focused on Australia, New Zealand and Japan.
At the end of 1980, U2 a good series of four concerts in Dublin's Point Depot, which culminated in the New Year's Eve show that was sent around the world. Bono announced that night that it was "time to go away and dream all over again." This has led some to believe that U2 were considering splitting, but these fears have proved unfounded, with the release of "Achtung Baby" in November 1991. Much more electronically processed record than previous versions, marked a new beginning of U2's career. ZooTV subsequent tour was a huge imagination, which uses a giant video screens to create a spectacle of great impact, and at the end of each concert, Bono attempted to call VIPs such as Bill Clinton, Pavarotti, or Princess Diana.
On a break from the tour, U2 recorded "Zoooropa" which was published in July 1993. Less commercial success than previous versions, it was called U2's most experimental work to date. It should be 4 years before their next album was released, but they continued to work on projects abroad, such as the soundtrack to Batman Forever, which gave the 'single Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me , Kill Me Larry and Adam worked on 'Mission Impossible' soundtrack, while Bono and Edge worked on 'Goldeneye'. U2 also donated songs to good causes such as "Red, Hot and Blue" AIDS fundraising and 'A Very Special Christmas. "
