U2 was established in 1976 and showcases Bono (Paul David Hewson) on vocals, The Edge (David Howell Evans) on lead guitar, keyboards, and backing vocals, Adam Clayton on bass guitar, and Larry Mullen, Jr. on drums and backing vocals. The band gained fame in the mid-1980s and remains immensely popular today. They have sold approximately 50.5 million albums in the United States alone and around 170 million worldwide.
Six of U2's albums reached the #1 spot in the U.S., and the band holds the record for the most Grammy Awards won by any living or past recording artists, with 22 accolades to their name. In April 2004, Rolling Stone magazine listed U2 among the 50 greatest rock & roll artists of all time, and the following year, the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility. Arguably one of the most successful bands of all time, U2 continues to dominate music charts and fill stadiums and arenas worldwide.
U2 was originally formed in Dublin, Ireland, in the autumn of 1976. Mullen, Jr., posted a notice on his secondary school's bulletin board seeking musicians to start a new band. Seven boys attended the band's first-ever practice, but only Mullen, Jr., Clayton, Evans, and Hewson remained by the time the band performed at a talent show in Limerick, Ireland, on March 17, 1978. They won the top prize at the show and impressed Jackie Hayden, one of the judges and also a CBS Records employee, who provided the band with studio time to record their first demo. Before releasing their debut single, the band went through several names, starting with The Larry Mullen Band, then changed it to Feedback, and later to The Hype, before finally settling on U2. Under the CBS label, U2 released their first two singles in the Irish market, but neither gained much attention from audiences and critics.
In March of 1980, U2 signed with Island Records and released their first international single, "11 O'Clock Tick Tock," along with their debut album, "Boy." The album included their first hit single, "I Will Follow." Both the album and the band's first tour outside of Ireland and the U.K. received positive reviews from music critics and fans. In the following year, U2 released "October," an album with strong spiritual and Christian overtones. In 1983, U2 released their third album, "War," which featured their first international hit single, "New Year's Day." The song gained popularity and MTV's heavy rotation of its music video introduced U2 to mainstream America, leading to sold-out concerts in Europe and the U.S. becoming the norm.
In 1984, U2 released "The Unforgettable Fire," which included the hit single, "Pride (In the Name of Love)." The album showcased a new atmospheric, effects-driven, and symphonic sound. The single, a tribute to civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., made it to the U.S. Top 40 and U.K. Top 5. The album also featured "Bad," a song that became a fan favorite, especially during live concerts. In 1987, the band released "The Joshua Tree," which debuted at #1 on UK charts and U.S. charts. The album included hit singles like "Where the Streets Have No Name," "With or Without You," and "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For," and earned the coveted Grammy Award for Album of the Year. To date, the album has sold an estimated 25 million copies. In 1988, U2 released a double album entitled "Rattle and Hum," featuring tracks performed with Bob Dylan and B.B. King. While fans enjoyed it, the album received lukewarm reviews from music critics. The band then announced a break from touring.
In 1991, U2 returned to the music scene with the release of "Achtung Baby," which included the smash hit single, "One." The album received widespread acclaim from both fans and critics, selling over 17 million copies to date. In 1993, U2 released "Zooropa," an album that infused techno elements and electronic effects with their traditional alternative guitar rock sound. The album expanded the band's reach and sustained their popularity into the '90s and beyond, featuring tracks like "Zooropa," "Stay (Faraway, So Close!)," and "The Wanderer," featuring country and rock legend, Johnny Cash.
In 1997, the band released "Pop," an album that debuted at #1 in 28 countries. The album mixed popular '90s techno with traditional U.S. alternative guitar rock. Critics had mixed opinions, and while it was a commercial success initially, it had relatively lower lifetime sales in U2's catalog. On September 20, 2007, U2 set a new European attendance record at the time, thanks to the 150,000 Italians who attended their concert at Campovolo in Reggio Emilia. In 1999, U2 released "All That You Can't Leave Behind," featuring several hit singles such as "Beautiful Day," "Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out of," and "Elevation." In 2001, the band headlined the halftime show of Super Bowl XXXVI in New Orleans, Louisiana.
In November 2004, U2 released "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb," debuting at #1 in 32 countries. The album featured hit singles like "Vertigo" and "Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own" and sold an estimated 840,000 copies in the U.S. in its first week, setting a record for the band. U2 also made a significant impact at the 2005-2006 Grammy Awards, winning five Grammys, including Album of the Year and Song of the Year.
U2 is renowned for their active involvement in human rights causes, particularly in Africa. They have been encouraging fans and the general public to participate in the ONE campaign, addressing the cause during their concerts. Frontman Bono was named TIME magazine's Person of the Year in December 2005 for his humanitarian efforts. Their latest album, "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb," led to a hugely successful worldwide tour. Recent singles include "One" with Mary J. Blige, "All Because of You," "City of Blinding Lights," and "Vertigo." U2 has hinted at a new album set to be released in late 2006 or 2007.
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