Through sheer force of personality, powerful music and fearlessness, U2 became one of the most popular rock & roll bands in the world. Of six potential names suggested in their early days, “U2” was chosen for its ambiguity and open-ended interpretations and because it was the name that they disliked the least!
The unconventional guitar style of the Edge (David Howell Evans) combined the hard pounding rhythm section of drummer Larry Mullen Jr. and Adam Clayton on bass and provided perfect arena-size support for Bono’s vocals, lyrics, big gestures and grandiose statements about politics and religion.
During the 1980’s the band toured constantly and issued a string of top-selling albums. U2 has released 13 studio discs and one live album. Wikipedia lists more accomplishments: The band’s eight No. 1 singles on the US Modern Rock charts places them fifth all-time. The band were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in early 2005. U2 have sold more than 170 million records.
Throughout their career, as a band and as individuals, U2 have campaigned for human rights and philanthropic causes, including Amnesty International, Jubilee 2000, the ONE/DATA campaigns, Product Red, War Child, and Music Rising. The Edge co-founded Music Rising, a charity to support musicians affected by Hurricane Katrina.
U2 have won 22 Grammy Awards, more than any other band and in 2005, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility. Rolling Stone ranked U2 at number 22 on its list of the “100 Greatest Artists of All Time.”
The current Joshua Tree Tour 2017 celebrates the 30th anniversary of The Joshua Tree album with concerts in cities this year across two legs: North America from May to July, and Europe from July to August. The band intends to play The Joshua Tree in its entirety on each date of the tour, including the first live performances of the song “Red Hill Mining Town.”
The Irish band’s fourteenth studio album, Songs of Experience, was released December 1st, 2017. Songs of Surrender was released in March, 2023. Largely the effort of the Edge and lead vocalist Bono, the album comprises re-recorded and reinterpreted versions of 40 songs from the group’s back catalogue, many in stripped-down and acoustic arrangements
It coincides with Bono’s book.
Sacramento’s K-ZAP 93.3 FM and streaming on K-ZAP.org Catch the K-ZAP stream at K-ZAP.ORG/LISTEN/ or play the video version below.
Discography
Boy (1980)
October (1981)
War (1983)
Under A Blood Red Sky (live)(1983)
The Unforgettable Fire (1984)
The Joshua Tree (1987)
Rattle And Hum (1988)
Achtung Baby (1991)
Zooropa (1993)
Pop (1997)
All That You Can’t Leave Behind (2000)
How to Dismantle An Atomic Bomb (2004)
No Line On The Horizon (2009)
Songs Of Innocence (2014)
Songs Of Experience (2017
Songs of Surrender(2023)
Sacramento’s K-ZAP 93.3 FM plays U2. All part of 50 years of Rock, Blues and More, 24-7 on our station’s stream at K-ZAP.ORG/LISTEN/
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