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..........................THE FORMATION OF THE BAND.......................... The band was formed in Dublin on Saturday, September 25, 1976. Larry Mullen, Jr., then fourteen, posted a notice on his secondary school bulletin board (Mount Temple Comprehensive School) seeking musicians for a new band. The response that followed that note resulted in seven boys attending the initial practice in Larry's kitchen. Known for about a day as "The Larry Mullen Band," the group featured Mullen on drums, Adam Clayton on bass guitar, Paul Hewson (Bono) on vocals, Dave Evans (The Edge) on guitar, his brother Dik Evans on guitar, and Mullen's friends Ivan McCormick and Peter Martin. Soon after, the group settled on the name Feedback. Martin only came to the first practice, and McCormick was out of the core group within a few weeks, being dismissed by Adam Clayton with the excuse that he was too young to play at the bars in which U2 would be booked.After 18 months of rehearsals, Feedback changed their name to The Hype. The band performed with their new name at a talent show in Limerick, Ireland on 17 March 1978. One of the judges for the show happened to be CBS Records' Jackie Hayden; they won the contest, earning a £500 prize. Hayden was impressed enough with the band that he gave them studio time to record their first demo.
U2's first release, the Three EPThe origin of the name U2 is not clear. Although it is also the name of a famous 1960's spyplane, the Dublin punk rock guru Steve Averill (better known as Steve Rapid of The Radiators From Space) claimed that it was chosen by the band from a list of ten names created by him and Adam Clayton. In an interview with Larry King, Bono is quoted as saying "I don't actually like the name U2," and "I honestly never thought of it as 'you too'." Others feel that U2 derived its name from the Irish Unemployment formDik Evans announced his departure in March 1978. The Hype performed a farewell show for Dik at the Community Centre in Howth. Dik walked offstage halfway through the set and later joined the Virgin Prunes, a fellow Dublin band. The remaining four members finished their performance as U2. In May, Paul McGuinness became U2's manager.U2 released their first single (in Ireland only) in September of 1979, entitled U2-3, as a 12 inch and subsequently a 7 inch. The first 1,000 12 inch copies were individually hand numbered and it went on to top the Irish charts. In December 1979, U2 performed in London, their first shows outside Ireland, but failed to get much attention from audiences or critics. In February 1980, their second single "Another Day" was released on the CBS label but again only for the Irish market.--------------------------------------------
Since their inception, U2 have developed and maintained a distinctly recognisable sound, with emphasis on melodic instrumentals and expressive, larger-than-life vocals. This approach is rooted partly in the early influence of record producer Steve Lillywhite at a time when the band was not known for its musical proficiency. The Edge has consistently used a rhythmic echo and a signature delay to craft his guitar work, coupled with an Irish-influenced drone played against his syncopated melodies, that ultimately yields a well-defined ambient and atmospheric sound. Bono has nurtured his falsetto operatic voice and has exhibited a notable lyrical bent towards social, political, and personal subject matter while maintaining a grandiose scale in his songwriting. In addition, the Edge has described U2 as a fundamentally live band.
U2 performing in their hometown of Dublin, Ireland in 2005Despite these broad consistencies, with each album U2 have introduced new elements into their musical repertoire. U2's early sound was influenced by bands such as Television and Joy Division, and have been described as containing a "sense of exhilaration" that resulted from The Edge's "radiant chords" and Bono's "ardent vocals". Beginning from their post-punk roots and minimalistic and uncomplicated instrumentals heard on Boy as well as their second album October, their sound evolved through War into one more versatile and aggressive, with aspects of rock anthem, funk, and dance rhythms. The two albums were labelled "muscular and assertive" by Rolling Stone,[36] influenced in large part by Lillywhite's producing. The Unforgettable Fire, which began with the Edge playing more keyboards than guitars, as well as follow-up The Joshua Tree had Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois at the production helm, and with their influence, both albums achieved a "diverse texture".[36] The songs from The Joshua Tree and Rattle and Hum placed more emphasis on Lanois-inspired rhythm as they mixed in distinct and varied styles of America-derived gospel and blues that stemmed from the band's burgeoning fascination with America's people and places. In the 1990s, U2 reinvented themselves, as they began using synthesizers, distortion, and electronic beats derived from alternative music, dance music and even hip-hop, in both Achtung Baby and Pop. The 2000s had U2 returning to more of a stripped-down sound with less use of synthesizers and effects, and a more traditional rhythm.---- Lyrics and themes ----
Social and political commentary, often embellished with Christian religious and spiritual imagery, are a major aspect of U2's lyrical content. Songs like "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and "Mothers of the Disappeared" are based on real-life events and they find their emotional impact from the compelling reality of those situations. Furthermore, Bono's personal conflicts and turmoil related to family are showcased in songs like "Mofo", "Tomorrow" and "Kite". An emotional yearning or pleading is another frequent conveyance, in tracks such as "Yahweh" and "Please". More generally, the investigation of loss and anguish coupled with hopefulness and resiliency, central in The Joshua Tree,[36] has motivated much of U2's songwriting and music. Some of this lyrical ideation has been amplified by Bono's personal experiences during his youth in Ireland, as well as his campaigning and activism later in his life. U2 has used tours such as the Zoo TV to caricature social trends such as media overload.---- Influences ----
The band cites The Doors, The Who, The Clash, The Ramones, The Beatles as their main influences. Artists such as Joy Division/New Order and Siouxsie & the Banshees also inspired the band. Other musicians and bands such as Coldplay, The Killers, and Angels and Airwaves have in turn been influenced by the work of U2. Cover versions of U2 songs have been made by performers such as Mary J. Blige, Johnny Cash, The Chimes, Joe Cocker, Pearl Jam, James Blunt, Pet Shop Boys, Radiohead, Keane, The Bravery, and The Smashing Pumpkins. U2 has also enjoyed reciprocal influential relationships with artists including Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello, R.E.M., and Anton Corbijn. ...
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