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{{Otheruses4|the Irish rock band|other uses|U2 (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| Name = U2
| Img = 2005-11-21_U2_%40_MSG_by_ZG.JPG<!-- Only freely-licensed images may be used here. Please see WP:FU before adding an image. -->
| Img_capt = U2 performing at [[Madison Square Garden]] in November 2005
| Img_size =
| Background = group_or_band
| Alias =
| Origin = <!-- Do NOT put the Irish flag (or any flag) here per WP:FLAG and consensus reached on U2:Talk. thanks. -->[[Dublin]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]
| Genre = <!-- Before changing the genres, please discuss it on the talk page -->[[Rock music|Rock]]<br>[[Post-punk|Post-Punk]]<br>[[Alternative rock|Alternative Rock]]<br>
| Years_active = [[1976]]–present
| Label = [[Island Records|Island]], [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]], [[Interscope]]<br>[[Mercury Records|Mercury]]
| Associated_acts =
| URL = [http://www.u2.com www.u2.com]
| Current_members = [[Bono]]<br>[[The Edge]]<br>[[Adam Clayton]]<br>[[Larry Mullen Jr.]]
| Past_members =
}}
<!-- This article uses UK English. U2 should always be referenced as a plural noun. No matter what your opinion, please consider whether anything is gained from continually swapping between "U2 is" and "U2 are".-->
'''U2''' are a [[rock music|rock]] [[rock band|band]] from [[Dublin]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]. The band consists of [[Bono]] ([[singer|vocals]] and [[rhythm guitar|guitar]]), [[The Edge]] ([[lead guitar|guitar]], [[Keyboard instrument|keyboards]] and [[Backing vocalist|vocals]]), [[Adam Clayton]] ([[bass guitar]]), and [[Larry Mullen Jr.]] ([[drum kit|drums]] and [[Percussion instrument|percussion]]). U2 have consistently been one of the most popular acts in the world since the mid-[[1980s#Music|1980s]]. The band has sold upwards of 170 million [[album]]s worldwide,<ref>Vallely, Paul. "[http://news.independent.co.uk/people/profiles/article364606.ece Bono: The Missionary]". The Independent, May 2006. Retrieved [[October 15]] [[2006]].</ref> and they have won 22 [[Grammy Award]]s, more than any other rock artist.<ref>[http://www.grammy.com/GRAMMY_Awards/Winners/Results.aspx?title=&winner=u2&year=0&genreID=0&hp=1 GRAMMY Winners List] grammy.com. Retrieved [[October 15]] [[2006]].</ref> They also are tied (with [[Green Day]] for the second most #1 [[Modern Rock]] singles, with 8.
U2 formed in [[1976 in music|1976]] as teenagers with limited musical proficiency. By the mid-1980s, however, the band had become a top international act, noted for its anthemic sound, Bono's impassioned vocals, and The Edge's textural guitar playing. Their success as a live act was greater than as a record selling act until the success of their [[1987 in music|1987]] album, ''[[The Joshua Tree]]'', brought them mega-stardom.<ref>{{cite video | people =[[Paul McGuiness]] | title =Classic Albums: ''The Joshua Tree'' | medium =Television documentary | publisher =Rajon Vision | date =1998 }}</ref> Their [[1991 in music|1991]] album ''[[Achtung Baby]]'', and the accompanying [[Zoo TV Tour]], were part of a significant reinvention for the band; it was a response to their own sense of musical stagnation, the [[History of dance#Late 20th century: growth of contemporary dance|dance]] and [[Timeline of alternative rock|alternative music]] revolutions, and criticism of their image. This experimentation continued for the rest of the [[1990s]].
In the early years of the [[21st century]], U2 have pursued a more traditional sound while maintaining influences from their previous musical explorations. They continue to enjoy the highest level of commercial and critical success. The band is active in [[human rights]], [[international development]], and [[social justice]] causes, such as [[Amnesty International]], [[Make Poverty History]], the [[ONE Campaign]], [[Live Aid]], [[Live 8]], Bono's [[DATA]] (Debt, AIDS, Trade in Africa) campaign, and The Edge's [[Music Rising]].
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==History==
===Formation and breakthrough (1976–1979)===
U2 formed in [[Dublin]], [[Ireland (republic)|Ireland]] on [[25 September]] [[1976]].<ref>McCormick (2006), page 27</ref> <!--as an Irish topic, under Wikipedia rules this article uses International Dating i.e., dd/mm/yyyy not American dating mm/dd/yyyy.--> Larry Mullen Jr., then fourteen, posted a notice on his secondary school notice board ([[Mount Temple School, Dublin|Mount Temple Comprehensive School]]) seeking musicians for a new band. Seven teenage boys attended the initial practice in Mullen'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 lead vocals, Dave Evans (The Edge) and his brother [[Dick Evans]] on guitar, as well as Ivan McCormick and Peter Martin, two other friends of Mullen.<ref>Chatterton (2001), p. 130</ref> Soon after, the group settled on the name "Feedback", because it was one of the few technical terms they knew.<ref>McCormick (2006), p.30</ref> Martin did not return after the first practice, and McCormick left the group within a few weeks.
<blockquote class="toccolours" style="text-align:left; width:30%; float:left; padding: 10px 15px 10px 15px; display:table;">We couldn't believe it. I was completely shocked. We weren't of an age to go out partying as such but I don't think anyone slept that night....Really, it was just a great affirmation to win that competition, even though I've no idea how good we were or what the competition was really like. But to win at that point was incredibly important for morale and everyone's belief in the whole project.<p style="text-align: right;">—[[The Edge]] on winning the CBS competition<ref>McCormick (2006), pp.46-47</ref></p></blockquote>
In March 1977, the band changed its name to "The Hype".<ref>de la Parra (2003), p. 6</ref> Dick Evans, who was older and by this time at college, was becoming the odd man out as the rest of the band was leaning towards the idea of a four-piece; he was 'phased out' in March 1978. During a farewell concert in the Presbyterian Church Hall in [[Howth]], which featured The Hype playing covers, Dick ceremoniously walked offstage. The remaining four band members completed the concert playing original material as "U2".<ref name="U2_by_U2_46-48">McCormick (2006), pp.46-48</ref> The origin of the name "U2" is unclear; on a list of six names provided by the Dublin [[punk rock]] guru Steve Averill,<ref>Better known as Steve Rapid of [[The Radiators From Space]]</ref> "U2" was chosen for its ambiguity and open-ended interpretations, and because it was the name that the members of the band disagreed with the least.<ref>McCormick (2006), page 44</ref>
[[Image:U2three.jpg|thumb|upright|U2's first release, the ''[[Three (EP)|Three]]'' EP.]]
On Saint Patrick's Day in 1978, U2 won a talent show in [[Limerick, Ireland]]. The prize consisted of £500 and funding to record a demo, which was an important milestone and affirmation for the fledgling band.<ref name="U2_by_U2_46-48"/> The band recorded their first demo tape at Keystone Studios, in Harcourt Street, Dublin, in April 1978.<ref name="Bono">Wall, Mick, (2005). Bono. Andre Deutsch Publishers. ISBN 0233001593 (Promotional edition published by Paperview UK is association with the Irish Independent), pp.45</ref> In May, [[Paul McGuinness]], who had earlier been introduced to the band by ''Hot Press'' journalist Bill Graham, agreed to be U2's manager.<ref>McCormick (2006), pages 53-56</ref> U2's first release, an Ireland-only EP entitled ''[[Three (EP)|Three]]'', was released in September 1979, and was the band's first Irish chart success.<ref>de la Parra (1994), page 8)</ref> In December 1979, U2 performed in London for their first shows outside Ireland, although they failed to get much attention from audiences or critics.<ref>de la Parra (1994), page 10</ref> In February 1980, their second single "[[Another Day (U2 song)|Another Day]]" was released on the CBS label, but again only for the Irish market.<ref>Stokes (1996), page 142; McCormick (2006), page 88</ref>
===''Boy'', ''October'', and ''War'' (1980–1983)===
[[Island Records]] signed U2 in March 1980, and "[[11 O'Clock Tick Tock]]" became the band's first internationally released single that May.<ref>Stokes (1996), page 142</ref> The band's debut album, the [[Steve Lillywhite]]-produced ''[[Boy (album)|Boy]]'', followed in October, and was praised as one of the better debuts in rock history.<ref>Lynch, Declan. [http://www.u2.com/music/index.php?.mode=full&news_id=1072&news_type=review ''Boy'']. Hot Press, October 1980. Retrieved [[15 October]], [[2006]]; [http://www.u2.com/music/index.php?mode=full&news_id=1073&news_type=review ''Boy'' New Music Express review] U2.com. Retrieved [[15 October]] [[2006]]; [http://www.u2.com/music/index.php?mode=full&news_id=1074&news_type=review ''Boy'' Billboard review] U2.com. Retrieved [[15 October]] [[2006]]; [http://www.u2.com/music/index.php?mode=full&news_id=1075&news_type=review ''Boy'' The Washington Post review] U2.com. Retrieved [[October 15]] [[2006]].</ref> Although Bono's lyrics were unfocused and seemingly improvised, common themes appeared that described the hopes and frustrations of adolescence,<ref>[http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/7088993/u2_here_comes_the_next_big_thing ''Boy'' Rolling Stone Review] Rollingstone.com. Retrieved [[October 16]] [[2006]]</ref> such as fear over sex, identity confusion, death, and uncontrollable mood swings.<ref>[http://hem.bredband.net/steverud/U2MoL/ The Meaning of U2 Lyrics (U2MoL)]. Retrieved [[3 November]] [[2006]].</ref> The album included the band's first hit single, "[[I Will Follow]]". ''Boy'''s release was followed by U2's first tour of continental Europe and the United States.<ref>de la Parra (2003), pp.16,17</ref> Despite being unpolished, these early live performances demonstrated U2's potential, as critics noted that Bono was a "charismatic" and "passionate" showman.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4540228.stm Voice of Influential U2 Frontman] bbc.co.uk. Retrieved [[15 December]] [[2006]].</ref> The band's second album, ''[[October (album)|October]],'' was released in 1981 and contained overtly spiritual themes; Bono, The Edge, and Mullen had joined a Christian group in Dublin called the 'Shalom Fellowship', which led them to question the relationship between the Christian faith and the rock and roll lifestyle.<ref>Flanagan (1995), pp. 46-48</ref>
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{{Listen|filename=U2 Sunday Bloody Sunday.ogg|title="Sunday Bloody Sunday" (1983)|description=From the album ''[[War (album)|War]]''.|format=[[Ogg]]}}{{sample box end}}
Resolving the doubts of the ''October'' period, U2 released ''[[War (album)|War]]'' in 1983.<ref>Stokes (1996), page 36</ref> A record where the band "turned pacifism itself into a crusade,"<ref>Reynolds, Simon. ''Rip It Up and Start Again: Postpunk 1978-1984''. Penguin, 2005. p. 367. ISBN 0-14-303672-6</ref> ''War'''s sincerity and "rugged" guitar was intentionally at odds with the "cooler" synth-pop of the time.<ref>Graham (2004), page 14</ref> The album included [[Sunday Bloody Sunday (song)|"Sunday Bloody Sunday]]," where Bono had lyrically tried to contrast the events of [[Bloody Sunday (1972)|Bloody Sunday]] with Easter Sunday.<ref>McCormick (2006), p135.</ref> ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' magazine wrote that the song showed the band was capable of deep and meaningful songwriting.<ref>Rolling Stone wrote that the ability to use a range of powerful images, taking a song initially about sectarian anger, and turn it into a call for Christians to unite and claim victory over death and evil, showed that the band was capable of deep and meaningful songwriting. [http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/210489/review/6067451/war Rolling Stone ''War'' review] JD Considine. Retrieved [[15 October]] [[2006]].</ref> ''War'' was U2's first album to feature the photography of [[Anton Corbijn]], who remains U2 principal photographer and has had a major influence on their vision and public image.<ref>McCormick (2006), p. 127</ref> U2's first commercial success, ''War'' debuted at #1 in the United Kingdom, and its first single, "[[New Year's Day (song)|New Year's Day]]", was the band's first overseas hit.<ref>"New Year's Day" reached #10 on the UK charts, and received extensive radio coverage in the US, almost breaking that country's Top 50. (McCormick (2006), p.139; [http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=892 Songfacts: New Year's Day by U2] Songfacts.com. Retrieved [[31 October]] [[2006]].</ref>
<!-- On the subsequent [[War Tour]], the band performed to sold-out concerts in mainland Europe and the U.S. for the first time. -->On the subsequent [[War Tour]], the image of Bono waving a white flag during performances of "Sunday Bloody Sunday" became a familiar sight.{{Fact|date=June 2007}} U2 recorded the ''[[Under a Blood Red Sky]]'' live album on this tour and a live video was released, both of which received extensive play on the radio and [[MTV]], helping expand the band's audience.<ref>[http://netmusiccountdown.com/inc/artist.php?artist=U2 Net Music Countdown:U2]. netmusiccountdown.com. Retrieved [[November 6]] [[2006]].</ref> Their generally unfavourable record deal with Island Records was coming to an end, and in 1984 U2 signed an unusually lucrative extension. Forgoing a larger initial payment, they instead negotiated the return of their copyrights (such that they owned the rights to their own songs), an increase in their royalty rate, and a general improvement in terms.<ref>{{cite journal | last =Connelly| first =Christopher| authorlink = | coauthors = | title =Keeping the Faith | journal =[[Rolling Stone]] | volume = | issue = | pages = | publisher = | date =14 March 1984 | url = | doi = | id = | accessdate = }}</ref>
===''The Unforgettable Fire'' and Live Aid (1984–1985)===
<blockquote class="toccolours" style="text-align:left; width:30%; float:right; padding: 10px 15px 10px 15px; display:table;">We knew the world was ready to receive the heirs to [[The Who]]. All we had to do was to keep doing what we were doing and we would become the biggest band since [[Led Zeppelin]], without a doubt. But something just didn't feel right. We felt we had more dimension than just the next big anything, we had something unique to offer. The innovation was what would suffer if we went down the standard rock route. We were looking for another feeling.<p style="text-align: right;">—[[Bono]] on ''The Unforgettable Fire's'' new direction.<ref>McCormick (2006), p.147</ref></p></blockquote>
''[[The Unforgettable Fire]]'' was released in 1984. Ambient and abstract, it was at the time the band’s most marked change in direction.<ref name="PARRA_52-56">Parra, Pimm Jal de la ''U2 Live: A Concert Documentary'', pp.52-55, 1996, Harper Collins Publishers, ISBN 0-7322-6036-1</ref> The band feared that following the overt rock of the ''War'' album and tour, they were in danger of becoming another "shrill", "sloganeering arena-rock band".<ref name="RS_JT">{{cite journal
| last =Pond | first =Steve | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =The Joshua Tree Album Review | journal =[[Rolling Stone]] | volume = | issue = | pages = | publisher = | date =9 April 1987 | url = http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/u2/albums/album/108063/review/6067670/the_joshua_tree | doi = | id = | accessdate = }}</ref> Thus, rather than become another formula band, experimentation was sought;<ref name="COMPLETE_21">Graham (2004), page 21</ref> as Adam Clayton recalls, "We were looking for something that was a bit more serious, more arty."<ref name="U2byU2_147">McCormick (2006), p.147</ref> The Edge admired the ambient and 'weird works' of [[Brian Eno]], who along with his engineer [[Daniel Lanois]], eventually agreed to produce the record.<ref>Island Records boss, [[Chris Blackwell]], initially tried to discourage them from their choice of producers, believing that just when the band were about to achieve the highest levels of success, Eno would "bury them under a layer of avant-garde nonsense". (McCormick (2006), p.151)</ref>
''The Unforgettable Fire'' has a rich and orchestrated sound. Under Lanois' direction, Larry's drumming became looser, funkier, and more subtle, and Adam's bass became more subliminal, such that the rhythm section no longer intruded, but flowed in support of the songs.<ref name="STOKES_50-51">{{cite book| last = Stokes| first = Niall| title = Into The Heart: The Story Behind Every U2 Song| publisher = HarperCollins''Publishers''| date = 1996| ___location = Australia| pages = pp.50-51| id = ISBN 0-7322-6036-1}}</ref> Complementing the sonic atmospherics, the album's lyrics are open to many interpretations, providing what the band called a "very visual feel".<ref name="PARRA_52-56"/> Bono's recent immersion in fiction, philosophy and poetry, made him realise that his songwriting mission—about which he had always been reluctant—was a poetic one. Due to a tight recording schedule, however, Bono felt songs like "[[Bad (U2 song)|Bad]]" and "[[Pride (In the Name of Love)]]" were incomplete "sketches".<ref name="U2byU2_151">McCormick (2006), p.151</ref> "Pride (In the Name of Love)", about [[Martin Luther King]], was the album's first single and became the band's biggest hit at that point, being their first to enter the U.S. top 40.<ref>Graham, (2004), page 23, 24</ref>
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{{Listen|filename=Tuf sample.ogg|title="The Unforgettable Fire" (1984)|description=Sample of "The Unforgettable Fire" from the album ''The Unforgettable Fire'' (1984). Typical of the album, the song has a rich, symphonic sound built from ambient guitar and driving rhythm; a lyrical "sketch".<ref name="STOKES_55">{{cite book| last = Stokes| first = Niall| title = Into The Heart: The Story Behind Every U2 Song| publisher = HarperCollins''Publishers''| date = 1996| ___location = Australia| pages = pp.55| id = ISBN 0-7322-6036-1}}</ref>''|format=[[Ogg]]}}{{sample box end}}
Much of the [[Unforgettable Fire Tour]], moves into indoor arenas as U2's wins their long battle to build their audience.<ref>de la Parra (1994), page 62-63</ref> Translating the complex textures of the new studio-recorded tracks, such as "The Unforgettable Fire" and "Bad", to live performance was problematic.<ref name="PARRA_52-56"/> One solution was programmed [[Music sequencer|sequencers]], which the band had previously been reluctant to use, but are now used for the majority of U2 songs in performance.<ref name="PARRA_52-56"/> Songs criticised as being "unfinished", "fuzzy" and "unfocused" on the album, made more sense on stage.<ref>''Rolling Stone'', for example, critical of the album version of "Bad", described its live performance as a 'show stopper'. {{cite journal | last =Henke | first =James | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =<nowiki>''Wide Awake in America''</nowiki> Album Review | journal =[[Rolling Stone]] | volume = | issue = | pages = | publisher = | date =18 July 1985 | url = | doi = | id = | accessdate = }}</ref>
[[Image:Live Aid - U2.jpg|thumb|right|U2's performance at [[Live Aid]] was a turning point in their career.]]
U2 participated in the [[Live Aid]] concert for [[1984 - 1985 famine in Ethiopia|Ethiopian famine relief]] at [[Wembley Stadium (1924)|Wembley Stadium]] in July 1985.<ref>[http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1504968/20050629/story.jhtml Live Aid: A Look Back At A Concert That Actually Changed The World] MTV.com. Retrieved [[31 October]] [[2006]].</ref> A career turning point, U2's performance was considered one of the show's most memorable.<ref>McCormick (2006), p.164</ref> During the song "Bad", Bono leapt down off the stage to embrace and dance with a fan, showing a television audience of millions the personal connection that Bono could make with audiences.<ref>de la Parra (2003), pp. 72-73</ref> In 1985, ''Rolling Stone'' magazine called U2 the "Band of the 80's," saying that "for a growing number of rock-and-roll fans, U2 have become the band that matters most, maybe even the only band that matters."<ref>[http://80music.about.com/od/artistsqu/p/u2profile.htm U2, the Only Band that Mattered in the '80s?] about.com. Retrieved [[January 31]] [[2007]]</ref>
===''The Joshua Tree'' and ''Rattle and Hum'' (1986–1989)===
[[Image:U2 the joshua tree.jpg|thumb|right|upright|U2's ''[[The Joshua Tree]]'']]
Friendships with [[Bob Dylan]], [[Van Morrison]] and [[Keith Richards]] encouraged the band to look back to the roots of rock music and focused Bono on his skills as a song and lyric writer.<ref>McCormick (2006), p.179</ref> Realising "that U2 had no tradition, we were from outer space", the band explored American [[blues]], [[country music|country]] and [[gospel music]].<ref>Bono in McCormick (2006), pp.169, 177</ref> The band wanted to build on ''The Unforgettable Fire's'' atmospherics, but instead of its out-of-focus tracks, they sought a harder-hitting sound within the strict discipline of conventional song structures.<ref>{{cite journal | last =DeCurtis | first =Anthony | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =U2 Releases The Joshua Tree | journal =[[Rolling Stone]] | date =27 March 1987 }} cited in {{Citation
| last =Gardner | first =Elysa (ed) | title =U2: The Rolling Stone Files | publisher =Sidgwick & Jackson | year =1994 | ___location =London | id = ISBN 0-283-06239-8 }}</ref>
U2 interrupted their 1986 album sessions to serve as a headline act on [[Amnesty International|Amnesty International's]] [[A Conspiracy of Hope Tour]]; but rather than be a distraction, the tour added extra intensity and power to their new music.<ref>McCormick (2006), p.174</ref> In his 1986 travels to [[San Salvador]] and [[Nicaragua]], Bono saw first hand the distress of peasants bullied in internal conflicts subject to American political intervention, later a central influence on the album. The album juxtaposes antipathy towards America against the band's deep fascination with the country, its open spaces, freedom, and what it stood for.<ref>McCormick (2006), p.186</ref> The band wanted music with a sense of ___location, a 'cinematic' quality; the album's music and lyrics draw on imagery created by American writers the band had been reading.<ref>Graham (2004), pages 27-30</ref>
<blockquote class="toccolours" style="text-align:left; width:35%; float:left; padding: 10px 15px 10px 15px; display:table;">The wild beauty, cultural richness, spiritual vacancy and ferocious violence of America are explored to compelling effect in virtually every aspect of ''The Joshua Tree''—in the title and the cover art, the blues and country borrowings evident in the music...Indeed, Bono says that "dismantling the mythology of America" is an important part of ''The Joshua Tree's'' artistic objective.<p style="text-align: right;">—''[[Rolling Stone]]''<ref>{{cite journal | last =DeCurtis | first =Anthony | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =Truths and Consequences | journal =[[Rolling Stone]] | volume = | issue = | pages = | publisher = | date =[[7 May]] [[1987]] | url = | doi = | id = | accessdate = }}</ref></p>
</blockquote>
Named ''[[The Joshua Tree]]'' as a "tribute" to, rather than a "metaphor" for America,<ref>McCormick (2006), p.186</ref> the album was released in March 1987. It became the fastest selling album in British chart history, and was number one for nine weeks in the United States.<ref>{{cite video
| title =Classic Albums: The Joshua Tree | medium =Television Documentary | publisher =Eagle Rock Entertainment | date =1998 }}; McCormick (2006), p.186</ref> It won U2 their first two [[Grammy Awards]]<ref>[[Grammy Award for Album of the Year]] and a Grammy for the [[Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal|Best Rock Performance By a Duo or Group With Vocal]].[http://www.grammy.com/GRAMMY_Awards/Winners/Results.aspx?title=&winner=u2&year=1987&genreID=0&hp=1 GRAMMY Winners List] grammy.com. Retrieved [[December 4]] [[2006]].</ref> and its first two singles, the 'rock & roll [[bolero]]' "[[With or Without You]]"<ref>{{cite journal | last =Pond| first =Steve| authorlink = | coauthors = | title =The Joshua Tree Album Review | journal =[[Rolling Stone]] | volume = | issue = | pages = | publisher = | date =9 April 1987 | url = | doi = | id = | accessdate = }}</ref> and the rhythmic gospel "[[I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For]]", quickly went to #1 in the U.S. U2 became the fourth rock band to be featured on the cover of ''[[Time magazine|Time]]'' magazine<ref>following [[The Beatles]], [[The Band]], and [[The Who]])</ref> who declared U2 "Rock's Hottest Ticket".<ref>"[http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19870427,00.html Rock's Hottest Ticket]" Time Magazine Archive, April 1987. Retrieved on [[20 January]] [[2007]].</ref> The album brought U2 to a new level of mega-stardom and is often cited as one of rock's greatest.<ref>[http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5938174/the_rs_500_greatest_albums_of_all_time/ The RS 500 Greatest Albums of All-Time] Rollingstone.com. Retrieved [[15 October]], [[2006]].</ref> The [[Joshua Tree Tour]] sold out arenas and stadiums around the world, the first time the band had consistently played stadiums.<ref>de la Parra (1994), pages 102-103, 111)</ref>
The documentary ''[[Rattle and Hum]]'' featured footage recorded from The Joshua Tree Tour shows, and the accompanying double album of the same name included nine studio tracks and six live U2 performances. Released in record stores and cinemas in October 1988, the album and film were intended as a tribute to American music.<ref>Stokes (1996), page 78; Graham (2004), pages 36-38</ref> The film included tracks recorded at [[Sun Records|Sun Studios]] in [[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis]], and tracks performed with [[Bob Dylan]] and [[B.B. King]]. Despite a positive reception from fans, ''Rattle and Hum'' received mixed-to-negative reviews from both film and music critics.<ref>[http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:zsd1vwvva9lk Allmusic.com ''Rattle and Hum'' review]. Retrieved [[3 November]] [[2006]]; Christgau, Robert. "[http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=u2 ''Rattle and Hum'']. robertchristgau.com. Retrieved [[3 November]] [[2006]].</ref> With a sense of musical stagnation, Bono announced at an end-of-decade concert that the weary U2 had come to the end of an era and had to "...go away and just dream it all up again".<ref>McCormick (2006), p.213; "A Story of One" [Video documentary].</ref>
===''Achtung Baby'', Zoo TV, ''Zooropa'' (1990–1993)===
<blockquote class="toccolours" style="text-align:left; width:30%; float:right; padding: 10px 15px 10px 15px; display:table;">Buzzwords on this record were ''trashy, throwaway, dark, sexy,'' and ''industrial'' (all good) and ''earnest, polite, sweet, righteous, rockist'' and ''linear'' (all bad). It was good if a song took you on a journey or made you think your hifi was broken, bad if it reminded you of recording studios or U2...Berlin became a conceptual backdrop for the record. The Berlin of the Thirties—decadent, sexual and dark—resonating against the Berlin of the Nineties—reborn, chaotic and optimistic...<p style="text-align: right;">—[[Brian Eno]] on the recording of ''Achtung Baby''<ref>{{cite journal | last =Eno | first =Brian | authorlink =Brian Eno | coauthors = | title =Bringing Up Baby | journal =[[Rolling Stone]] | volume = | issue = | pages = | publisher = | date =[[28 November]] [[1991]] | url = | doi = | id = | accessdate = }}</ref></p></blockquote>
In November 1991, U2 released ''[[Achtung Baby]]''. Hurt by criticism of ''Rattle and Hum'', the band made a calculated change in musical and thematic direction, their most audacious since ''The Unforgettable Fire''.<ref>Flanagan (1995), pages 4-6; Graham (2004), page 43</ref> Sonically, ''Achtung Baby'' incorporated both [[dance music|dance]], [[industrial music|industrial]], and [[alternative music|alternative]] music influences of the time; the band referred to it as the sound of "four men chopping down the Joshua Tree".<ref>[http://www.bullz-eye.com/music/deep_cuts/2005/U2_part_1.htm Deep Cuts: U2, Part I]</ref> Thematically, it was a more inward-looking and personal record; it was darker, yet at times more flippant, than the band's previous work. A crucial part of the band's early 1990s reinvention,<ref>Graham (2004), page 44</ref> it was commercially and critically, one of the band's most successful albums. Like ''The Joshua Tree'', it is often cited as one of rock's greatest.<ref>[http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5938174/the_rs_500_greatest_albums_of_all_time/ The RS 500 Greatest Albums of All-Time] Rollingstone.com. Retrieved [[15 October]], [[2006]].</ref>
The band initially worked on ''Achtung Baby'' in [[East Berlin]], seeking inspiration and renewal on the eve of German reunification. Daniel Lanois produced the album with assistance from Brian Eno.<ref>Flanagan (1995), page 7</ref> In the Berlin sessions, conflict arose within the band over the quality of material and musical direction. While Adam and Larry preferred to keep a similar sound, Bono and The Edge were inspired by alternative and European dance music and advocated a change. Weeks of slow progress, argument, and frustration ended when Edge came up with a chord progression that the band quickly rallied around, creating the song "[[One (U2 song)|One]]".<ref>Flanagan (1995), pages 6-11</ref>
{{Sound sample box align left|Music sample:}}
{{Listen|filename=Fly sample.ogg|title="The Fly" (1991)|description=Sample of "The Fly" – chosen as the first single from ''[[Achtung Baby]]'' (1991) because its hip-hop beats, distorted vocals and hard industrial edge sounded nothing like U2.<ref>Flanagan (1995), page 30; Graham (2004), page 49; {{cite book| last = Stokes| first = Niall| title = Into The Heart: The Story Behind Every U2 Song| publisher = HarperCollins''Publishers''| date = 1996| ___location = Australia| pages = pp.102| id = ISBN 0-7322-6036-1}}</ref>|format=[[Ogg]]}}{{sample box end}}
The [[Zoo TV Tour]] of 1992-1993 was a [[multimedia]] event, and showcased an extravagant but intentionally bewildering array of hundreds of video screens, upside-down flying [[Trabant]] cars, mock transmission towers, [[satellite television|satellite TV]] links, [[subliminal message|subliminal text messages]], and over-the-top stage characters such as "The Fly", "Mirror-Ball Man" and "(Mister) MacPhisto" played by Bono. The extravagant shows are intentionally in contrast to the austere staging of previous U2 tours, and mock the excesses of rock and roll by appearing to embrace these very excesses. The shows were, in part, U2's way to represent the the pervasive nature of cable television and its blurring of news, entertainment, and home shopping.<ref>de la Parra (1994), pages 139-141; Flanagan (1995), pages 12,13, 58-61; Stokes (1996), pages 110-111</ref> Live prank phone calls to [[George H. W. Bush|President Bush]] caused controversy, as did satellite uplinks to war-torn [[Sarajevo]].<ref>de la Parra (2003), pp. 153, 166</ref>
[[Image:Zoo stage.jpg|thumb|right|The Zoo TV stage]]
Recorded in 1993 during a break in the Zoo TV tour, the ''[[Zooropa]]'' album continued many of the themes from the ''Achtung Baby'' album and Zoo TV tour. Initially intended as an EP, ''Zooropa'' expanded into a full-fledged LP, and was released in July 1993. It was an even greater departure from the style of their earlier recordings, incorporating [[techno]] influences and other electronic effects.<ref>Graham (2004), page 51</ref> Most of the songs were played at least once in the 1993 leg of the tour through Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Japan, with half the album's tracks becoming fixtures in the set.<ref>de la Parra (2003), pp. 166-172</ref>
===Passengers, ''Pop'', and Popmart (1995–1998)===
After time off and side projects including the ''[[Batman Forever]]'' and ''[[Mission: Impossible (movie)|Mission: Impossible]]'' soundtracks, in 1995 U2 released an experimental album called ''[[Original Soundtracks 1]]''. Brian Eno, producer of three previous U2 albums, contributed as a full partner, including writing and performing. For this reason, and due to the record's highly experimental nature, the band chose to release it under the moniker "Passengers" rather than "U2", in order to distinguish it from their conventional albums. Commercially, it was relatively unnoticed by U2 standards, and it received generally poor reviews. However, the single "[[Miss Sarajevo]]" featuring [[Luciano Pavarotti]], and which Bono cites as one his favourite U2 songs,<ref>McCormick (2006), p.261-262</ref> was a hit.
<blockquote class="toccolours" style="text-align:left; width:30%; float:left; padding: 10px 15px 10px 15px; display:table;">It's not enough to write a great lyric; it’s not enough to have a good idea or a great hook, lots of things have to come together and then you have to have the ability to discipline and screen. We should give this album to a re-mixer, go back to what was originally intended, so that 'Mofo' is on top of the stickiest groove with a proper plastic attack, 'Do You Feel Loved' is done as a liquid base line hook that carries the intimacies whispered on top of it, 'If God Will Send His Angels' should be [[Diamonds and Pearls (song)|diamonds and pearls]].<p style="text-align: right;">—[[Bono]] on ''Pop''<ref>McCormick (2006), p.269</ref></p></blockquote>
On 1997's ''[[Pop (album)|Pop]]'', U2 continued experimenting; [[tape loops]], [[programming]], rhythm sequencing, and [[Sampling (music)|sampling]] provided much of the album with heavy, funky dance rhythms.<ref>Graham (2004), pages 62-63</ref> Released in March, the album debuted at #1 in 35 countries, and drew mainly positive reviews,<ref>[http://www.u2.com/music/index.php?mode=full&news_id=1111&news_type=review (U2 have) relaxed sufficiently to allow a certain funk into their music...] ''NME'' Retrieved [[31 October]], [[2006]]; [http://www.u2.com/music/index.php?mode=full&news_id=1110&news_type=review U2 have not reinvented themselves so much as rediscovered themselves...] ''Sunday Times (UK)'' Retrieved [[31 October]], [[2006]]</ref> including from ''Rolling Stone'' who stated that U2 had "defied the odds and made some of the greatest music of their lives."<ref>{{cite journal| last =| first =| authorlink =| coauthors =| title =Rolling Stone Pop Review| journal =Rolling Stone| volume =| issue =756| pages =| publisher =| date =March 1997| url =http://www.u2station.com/news/archives/1997/03/index.php| doi =| id =| accessdate = }}</ref> Others however, particularly American fans, felt that the album was a major disappointment, and it was commercially disappointing by U2 standards.{{Fact|date=June 2007}} The band was hurried into completing the album in time for the impending pre-booked tour, and Bono admitted that the album "didn't communicate the way it was intended to".<ref>[http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/mndwebpages/u2%20set%20to%20rerecord%20pop U2 Set to Re-Record Pop] contactmusic.com. Retrieved [[31 October]], [[2006]].</ref>
The subsequent tour, [[Popmart Tour|Popmart]], commenced in April 1997, and continued the Zoo TV theme of decadence.{{Fact|date=June 2007}} The set included a 100-foot tall golden yellow arch, a large 150-foot long video screen, and a 40-foot tall mirrorball lemon. Like Zoo TV, it featured advertising influences and was intended to send a sarcastic message to those accusing U2 of commercialism. U2's "big shtick" failed, however, to satisfy many who were seemingly confused by the band's new kitsch image and elaborate sets.<ref>[http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/special/1997/apr/27/505835294.html U2 live: Play-by-play of the concert] lasvegassun.com. Retrieved [[29 December]], [[2006]]; [http://www.spin.com/community/blogs/kyle_anderson/2006/10/061004_u2 U2, Brute?] spin.com. Retrieved [[December 29]], [[2006]]; [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/u2/albums/album/321527/review/5942462/pop U2:Pop : Music Reviews] Rollingstone.com, December 1997. Retrieved [[29 December]], [[2006]].</ref> The late delivery of ''Pop'' meant rehearsal time was severely reduced, and performances in early shows suffered.<ref>de la Parra (2003), pp. 193-202</ref> A highlight of the tour was a concert in [[Sarajevo]] where U2 was the first major group to perform following the [[Bosnian war]].<ref>[http://www.rockonthenet.com/artists-u/u2_main.htm Rock On The Net: U2] rockonthenet.com. Retrieved [[October 31]], [[2006]],</ref> Larry Mullen described the concert as "an experience I will never forget for the rest of my life, and if I had to spend 20 years in the band just to play that show, and have done that, I think it would have been worthwhile."<ref>[http://entertainment.msn.com/news/article.aspx?news=106185&mpc=2 U asked U2!] msn.com. Retrieved [[15 January]], [[2007]]; Furthermore, Bono described the show as "one of the toughest and one of the sweetest nights of my life."([http://www.u2station.com/news/archives/1997/09/index.php Bono in Conversation] The Independent. Retrieved [[15 January]], [[2007]])</ref> In 1998, the band's first compilation album, ''[[The Best of 1980-1990]]'' was released.
==="Reapplying for the best band in the world" (2000-present)===
<blockquote class="toccolours" style="text-align:left; width:30%; float:right; padding: 10px 15px 10px 15px; display:table;">''All That You Can't Leave Behind'' is easy to relate to, full of solid songs that appeal to a wide audience with its clear notions of family, friendship, love, death, and re-birth. More Lanois than Eno on first impression, the sounds on this album come from a band that has digested the music it started to consume while making ''Rattle and Hum''. This time they are neither imitating or paying tribute. This time it's soul music, not music about soul.<p style="text-align: right;">—Caroline van oosten de Boer<ref>Graham (2004), page 21</ref></p></blockquote>
Following the comparatively poor reception of their previous album ''[[Pop (album)|Pop]]'', U2 declared on a number of occasions that they were "re-applying for...The best band in the world".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,212605,00.html |title=Bono's Mission |accessdate=2007-03-10 |last=Tyrangiel |first=Josh |work=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=[[2002-02-23]] }}</ref> Since 2000, the band has pursued a more traditional sound, while maintaining influences from their previous musical explorations.<ref>McCormick (2006), pages 289 & 296</ref> ''[[All That You Can't Leave Behind]]'' was released in October 2000 and reunited the band with producers Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois. The album was considered by many of those not won over by the band's 1990s experimentation as a return to the grace;<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/friday_review/story/0,,388228,00.html#article_continue Time to Get the Leathers Out] Guardian.co.uk. Retrieved on [[31 October]], [[2006]]</ref> ''Rolling Stone'' called it U2's "third masterpiece" alongside ''The Joshua Tree'' and ''Achtung Baby''.<ref>{{cite journal| last = Hunter | first = James | title = Review: All That You Can't Leave Behind | journal = [[Rolling Stone Magazine]] | issue = RS 853 | date = 26 October 2000|url = http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/232369/all_that_you_cant_leave_behind|accessdate = }}</ref> The album debuted at #1 in 22 countries<ref>[http://www.therockradio.com/u2/biography.html The Rock Radio: U2 biography] therockradio.com. Retrieved [[31 October]], [[2006]].</ref> and its world-wide hit single, "[[Beautiful Day]]" earned three of six [[Grammy|Grammy Awards]] associated with the album.{{Fact|date=June 2007}}
[[Image:U2 Super Bowl.jpg|thumb|left|U2 performs at [[Super Bowl XXXVI]] Halftime Show, [[3 February]] [[2002]]]]
The [[Elevation Tour]] saw the band performing in a scaled-down setting, returning to arenas after nearly a decade of stadium productions, with a heart-shaped stage and ramp permitting greater proximity to the audience.{{Fact|date=June 2007}} Following the [[September 11, 2001 attacks]] the new album gained added resonance; in October, U2 performed a series of sold-out shows at [[Madison Square Garden]] in [[New York City]].{[cn}} In later interviews, Bono and the Edge, would call these New York City shows among their most memorable and emotional performances.{{Fact|date=June 2007}} In early 2002, U2 performed during halftime of [[Super Bowl XXXVI]].<ref>de la Parra (2003), p. 268</ref> In 2002, the band released their second compilation album, ''[[The Best of 1990-2000]]''.
The band's next studio album, ''[[How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb]]'' was released on [[22 November]] [[2004]]. Sonically, the band were looking for a harder-hitting rock than the previous ''All That You Can't Leave Behind'', and thematically, Bono describes that "A lot of the songs are paeans to naiveté, a rejection of knowingness."<ref>{{Citation | last =Wenner | first =Jann S | title =Bono On The Records | journal =Rolling Stone | issue =648 | pages =pages 74, 75 | date =February | year =2006}}</ref> The first single "[[Vertigo (song)|Vertigo]]" was featured on a widely-aired [[television commercial]] for the [[Apple Computer|Apple]] [[iPod]] in conjunction with the release of a special edition U2 iPod and an [[The Complete U2|iTunes U2 box set]]. The album debuted at #1 in 32 countries; first week sales in the US doubled that of the previous album and set a record for the band.<ref>[http://www.rockonthenet.com/artists-u/u2_main.htm Rock On The Net: U2] rockonthenet.com. Retrieved [[October 31]], [[2006]].</ref> Claiming it as a contender as one of U2's three best albums, Bono said, "There are no weak songs. But as an album, the whole isn't greater than the sum of its parts, and it fucking annoys me."<ref>{{Citation | last =Wenner | first =Jann S | title =Bono On The Records | journal =Rolling Stone | issue =648 | pages =pages 74, 75 | date =February | year =2006}}</ref> Using a similar setup and stage design as the previous tour, the [[Vertigo Tour]] featured a setlist that varied more across dates than any U2 tour since the Lovetown Tour, and included songs not played since the early 1980s. Much like the Elevation Tour, the Vertigo Tour was a large commercial success.<ref>[http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001659352 U2's Vertigo Leads Year's Top Tours] billboard.com. Retrieved [[31 October]], [[2006]].</ref>
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{{Listen|filename=U2 Vertigo.ogg|title="Vertigo" (2004)|description=From the album ''[[How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb]].''|format=[[Ogg]]}}{{sample box end}}
In 2005, [[Bruce Springsteen]] inducted U2 into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/4349877.stm U2 stars enter rock Hall of Fame] bbc.co.uk. Retrieved [[January 17]], [[2007]]; [http://www.u2station.com/news/archives/2005/03/transcript_bruc.php Transcript: Bruce Springsteen Inducts U2 into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame] u2station.com. Retrieved [[January 17]], [[2007]]</ref> On [[8 February]] [[2006]], U2 won Grammy Awards for each of the five categories they were nominated (see [[List of U2's Awards#2006|list of U2 awards]]).<ref>[http://cbs4boston.com/grammys/local_story_040062525.html U2, Clarkson steal Carey's spotlight at the Grammys] cbs4boston.com. Retrieved [[15 October]], [[2006]].</ref> In late 2006, and further developing the retrospective theme of the Vertigo Tour, the band released an autobiography<ref>Released on 26 September 2006 and titled ''U2 by U2'', the large copy table sized book was compiled from interviews with contributing author/editor Neil McCormick and includes hundreds of colour photos.</ref> and [[U218 Singles|a compilation album]], the first spanning their whole careeer.<ref>[http://www.u2.com/news/index.php?mode=full&news_id=2004 'U218 Singles...'] U2.com. Retrieved [[15 October]] [[2006]].</ref> In October 2006, the band switched to [[Mercury Records]] after 26 years signed to [[Island Records]], both of which are subsidiaries of [[Universal Music Group]]. U2 are reportedly working on a new album<ref>[http://www.atu2.com/newalbum/ U2 New Album Information] @U2.com. Retrieved [[15 October]] [[2006]].</ref> with producer Rick Rubin.<ref>{{cite web
| title =Update: The Edge Talks Rock Auction, New U2 Album
| publisher =Rolling Stone Magazine
| date =[[2007-03-29]]| url =http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2007/03/29/update-the-edge-talks-rock-auction-new-u2-album/
| accessdate =2007-05-04}}</ref> The band have said that the new material is heading in a new direction from the last two albums.<ref>In an RTÉ report, Bono has said:"We're gonna continue to be a band, but maybe the rock will have to go; maybe the rock has to get a lot harder. But whatever it is, it's not gonna stay where it is", he says.[http://www.rte.ie/arts/2007/0102/u2.html RTE report]; In the December 2006 issue of [[Q Magazine]], The Edge said that the new album will be a very melodic record: "A new found appreciation for pure melody. That seems to be what we're all interested in at the moment."[http://www.u2boy.nl/u2/u2_new_album.php#sound u2boy.nl] (Quote from the printed magazine); The April 2007 edition of Rolling Stone Magazine, Bono says "We've reached the end of where we've been for the last couple of albums. I want to take it to the next level."{{Citation|last=Greene|first=Andy et al|title=When Bono Comes To Town|newspaper=Rolling Stone Magazine|issue=664|pages=12|year=2007|date=April}} The band has been working in the [[Abbey Road Studios]]; {{cite news | last =Montgomery | first =James | coauthors = | title =Green Day, U2 Take Historic Collabo One Step Further By Re-Enacting Beatles' Abbey Road LP Cover | work = | pages = | language = | publisher =VH1.com | date =[[2006-09-22]]| url =http://www.vh1.com/news/articles/1541543/20060922/u2.jhtml | accessdate = }}[http://www.vh1.com/news/articles/1541543/20060922/u2.jhtml Green Day, U2 Take Historic Collabo One Step Further By Re-Enacting Beatles' Abbey Road LP Cover] On [[June 1]] [[2007]], the band's official website announced that they were working on new material in [[Fes, Morocco]].[http://www.u2.com/news/index.php?mode=full&news_id=2131 Out of Africa] u2.com. Retrieved [[June 1]] [[2007]].</ref>
==Musical style==
Since their inception, U2 have developed and maintained a distinctly recognisable sound, with emphasis on melodic instrumentals and expressive, larger-than-life vocals.<ref name="ABOUT_TOP10">[http://80music.about.com/od/artistsqu/tp/topu2songs.htm Top 10 U2 Songs of the '80s] about.com. Retrieved [[February 18]], [[2007]]</ref> 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.<ref>[http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/6769075/u2_dissect_bomb U2 Dissect "Bomb"] rollingstone.com. Retrieved [[February 18]], [[2007]]</ref> The Edge has consistently used a rhythmic echo and a signature delay<ref>[http://www.amnesta.net/edge_delay/ A Study of the Edge's (U2) Guitar Delay] amnesta.net. Retrieved [[February 18]], [[2007]]</ref> to craft his guitar work, coupled with an Irish-influenced [[drone (music)|drone]] played against his syncopated melodies,<ref name="MU_MAG">[http://www.amnesta.net/edge_delay/musician_magazine_1986.html U2's Leading Edge] Musician Magazine. Retrieved [[February 25]], [[2007]].</ref> that ultimately yields a well-defined ambient and atmospheric sound. Bono has nurtured his [[falsetto]] operatic voice<ref>[http://www.atu2.com/news/article.src?ID=4234&Key=off%20the%20record&Year=&Cat=12 Column: off the record..., vol. 6-201] atu2.com. Retrieved [[February 18]], [[2007]]</ref> 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.<ref name="MU_MAG"/>
Despite 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 (band)|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".<ref>Reynolds (2005), p. 368</ref> 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.<ref>[http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/210489/review/6067451/war Rolling Stone: War: Review] rollingstone.com. Retrieved [[February 18]] [[2007]]</ref> The two albums were labelled "muscular and assertive" by ''Rolling Stone'',<ref name="RS_JT"/> 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".<ref name="RS_JT"/> 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 (guitar)|distortion]], and [[electronica|electronic]] beats derived from alternative music, dance music and even hip-hop, in both ''Achtung Baby''<ref>[http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/u2/albums/album/116432/review/5941852/achtung_baby U2: Achtung, Baby: Music Reviews] rollingstone.com. Retrieved [[February 18]] [[2007]]</ref> and ''Pop''.<ref name="NYT_POP">[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0DE5DC1531F93BA15757C0A961958260 Under A Golden Arch, Sincerely U2] nytimes.com. Retrieved [[February 18]] [[2007]]</ref> The 2000s had U2 returning to more of a stripped-down sound with less use of synthesizers and effects, and a more traditional rhythm.
===
Social and political commentary, often embellished with religious and spiritual imagery,<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/14/arts/music/14pare.html?ex=1258174800&en=f3575bdf103425da&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt U2: The Catharsis in the Cathedral] nytimes.com. Retrieved [[February 18]], [[2007]]</ref> are a major aspect of U2's lyrical content. Songs like "[[Sunday Bloody Sunday (song)|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 (song)|Mofo]]", "[[Tomorrow (song)|Tomorrow]]" and "[[Kite (song)|Kite]]". An emotional yearning or pleading is another frequent conveyance,<ref name="ABOUT_TOP10"/> in tracks such as "[[Yahweh (song)|Yahweh]]"<ref>[http://www.uncut.co.uk/music/u2/reviews/400 U2 - How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb Review] uncut.co.uk. Retrieved [[February 18]] [[2007]]</ref> and "[[Please (U2 song)|Please]]". More generally, the investigation of loss and anguish coupled with hopefulness and resiliency, central in ''The Joshua Tree'',<ref name="RS_JT"/> 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.<ref name="NYT_POP"/>
===
The band cites [[The Who]],<ref>McCormick (2006), p.113</ref> [[The Clash]],<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/2600669.stm Clash Star Strummer Dies], BBC news, [[27 December]] [[2002]]</ref> [[The Ramones]],<ref>[http://forum.interference.com/t99039.html About U2 Influences: The Ramones] by Daniel Walker, October 2004</ref> [[The Beatles]]<ref>[http://www.skepticfiles.org/en003/beat_u2.htm "This is a song Charles Manson stole from The Beatles, we're stealing it back!"]</ref> as their main influences. Artists such as [[Joy Division]]/[[New Order]]<ref>''NewOrderStory'' [DVD]. Warner Bros., 2005.</ref> and [[Siouxsie & the Banshees]]<ref>[http://siouxsie.trinitystreetdirect.com/news/archived_news.asp The Creatures - Siouxsie Sioux Official Website. Archived News:] ''Mojo Icon Award 17.06.05. Last night Siouxsie lifted the Icon Award and the Mojo Honours Awards. The award was given to her by U2's The Edge who sited Siouxsie as a big influence on Bono and U2 before handing over the Award.'' Retrieved [[May 17]] [[2007]]</ref> also inspired the band. Other musicians and bands such as [[Coldplay]],<ref name="RS1025">Rolling Stone, Issue #1025-1026, [[May 3]] - [[May 17]] [[2007]]</ref> [[The Killers (band)|The Killers]],<ref name="RS1025"/> [[Depeche Mode]],<ref name="RS1025"/> and [[Angels and Airwaves]]<ref>NME's 10 Most Influential Bands/Artists. NME Magazine, 2002; [http://www.musicomh.com/interviews/angels-and-airwaves_0606.htm Angels & Airwaves - Between the Blinks] musicOMH.com. Retrieved [[February 18]] [[2007]]</ref> 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 (band)|The Chimes]], [[Joe Cocker]], [[Pearl Jam]], [[James Blunt]], [[Pet Shop Boys]], [[Radiohead]], [[Keane (band)|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. (band)|R.E.M.]], and [[Anton Corbijn]].
==Campaigning and activism==
[[Image:LulaAndBonoVox.jpeg|thumb|right|Bono with [[President of Brazil|President]] [[Luís Inácio Lula da Silva]] of [[Brazil]]]]
<!-- Please do not include here that Bono was nominated for Nobel Prize as the records are sealed for 50 years, therefore this is not verifiable. Thanks. --[[User:Eleassar777|Eleassar777]] 06:15, [[19 April]] [[2005]] (UTC) -->U2 have long been interested in social and political issues inside and outside the scope of their music. Since the early 1980s, the members of U2, both as a band and individually, have collaborated with other musicians, artists, celebrities, and politicians to address issues concerning poverty, disease, and social injustice.
In 1984, Bono and Adam Clayton participated in [[Band Aid (band)|Band Aid]] to raise money for [[Ethiopia]]n [[famine relief]]. The initiative produced the hit charity single "[[Do They Know It's Christmas?]]" and would be the first among several collaborations between U2 and Geldof. In July 1985, U2 played [[Live Aid]], a follow-up to [[Band Aid]]'s efforts. Bono and his wife Ali, invited by [[World Vision]], later visited Ethiopia, where Bono witnessed the famine first hand. Bono would later say this laid the groundwork for his Africa campaigning and some of his songwriting.<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1001931-2,00.html Bono] time.com. Retrieved [[January 16]] [[2007]]; McCormick (2006), p.289</ref>
In 1986 U2 participated in both the [[A Conspiracy of Hope Tour]] in support of [[Amnesty International]], and in [[Self Aid]] for unemployment in Ireland. The same year, Bono and Ali Hewson also visited [[Nicaragua]] and [[El Salvador]] on the invitation of the [[Sanctuary movement]] and saw the effects of the [[El Salvador Civil War]] first hand. These 1986 events greatly influenced ''The Joshua Tree'' album being recorded at the time.
In 1992, the band participated in the "Stop [[Sellafield]]" concert with [[Greenpeace]] during their Zoo TV tour.<ref>McCormick (2006), p.238</ref> Events in Sarajevo during the [[Bosnian war]] inspired the song "[[Miss Sarajevo]]", which premiered at a September 1995 [[Pavarotti]] and Friends show at which Bono and the Edge performed at [[War Child (charity)|War Child]].<ref>McCormick (2006), p.262</ref> A promise in 1993 saw them play Sarajevo as part of 1997's Popmart Tour.<ref>McCormick (2006), p.277</ref> In 1998 they performed in [[Belfast]] days prior to the vote on the [[Good Friday Agreement]], bringing Irish political leaders [[David Trimble]] and [[John Hume]] on stage to promote the agreement.<ref>McCormick (2006), pp.285-286</ref> Later that year, all proceeds from the release of "[[The Sweetest Thing (song)|The Sweetest Thing]]" single went towards supporting the [[Chernobyl Children's Project]].
In 2001, the band dedicated "[[Walk On (song)|Walk On]]" to [[Burma|Burma's]] pro-democracy leader [[Aung San Suu Kyi]].<ref>McCormick (2006), pp.295-296</ref> In late 2003, Bono and the Edge participated in the South Africa HIV/AIDS awareness [[46664 (concerts)|46664]] series of concerts hosted by [[Nelson Mandela]]. The band played 2005's [[Live 8]] concert in London and the band and manager Paul McGuinness were awarded [[Amnesty International]]'s [[Ambassador of Conscience Award]] for their work in promoting human rights.<ref>[http://www.artforamnesty.org/aoc/events_2005.html Ambassador of Conscience Award 2005] artforamnesty.org. Retrieved [[February 5]], [[2007]]</ref>
Since 2000, Bono has done a significant amount of solo campaigning; he was involved in the [[Jubilee 2000]] campaign with Geldof, [[Muhammad Ali]], and others with the aim of cancelling third world debt during the [[Great Jubilee]]. In January 2002, Bono, along with activists from [[Jubilee 2000]] founded a multinational [[NGO]] called [[Debt, AIDS, Trade in Africa|DATA]], with the aim of improving the social, political, and financial state of Africa. He continued his campaigns for debt and HIV/AIDS relief into June 2002 by making high-profile visits to Africa.<ref>Kagan Daryn."[http://archives.cnn.com/2002/US/05/24/bono.africa.cnna/index.html CNN Access: Bono backs 'effective aid' for Africa]" CNN.com, May, 2002. Retrieved [[31 October]], [[2006]]; [http://archives.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/africa/05/30/bono.oneill.kagan.otsc/index.html Bono and O'Neill in Africa: Summing up the trip] CNN.com. Retrieved [[October 31]], [[2006]]; "[http://archives.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/africa/06/20/bono.chirac/index.html Bono wins Chirac aid boost pledge]". CNN.com, June, 2002. Retrieved [[31 October]], [[2006]].</ref> [[Product Red]], a 2006 for-product brand seeking to raise money for the [[Global Fund]], was also founded, in part, by Bono. [[The ONE Campaign]], the US counterpart of [[Make Poverty History]], has been shaped by his efforts and vision. Bono has also teamed up with [[Yahoo!]] to promote the ONE Campaign, which Yahoo! has helped to re-develop.
In late 2005 following [[Hurricane Katrina]] and [[Hurricane Rita]], The Edge helped introduce [[Music Rising]], an initiative to raise funds for musicians who lost their instruments in the storm-ravaged [[Gulf Coast]].<ref>[http://www.modernguitars.com/archives/001351.html The Edge (U2) Announces 'Music Rising', a Campaign to Aid Musicians Affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita] modernguitars.com. Retrieved [[January 16]] [[2007]]</ref> In 2006, U2 collaborated with [[pop punk]] band [[Green Day]] to record a cover version of the song "[[The Saints Are Coming]]" by [[The Skids]] to benefit Music Rising.<ref>{{cite web | last =Hiatt | first =Brian | title =U2, Green Day Unite | work =Rolling Stone | date = [[25 September]] [[2006]] | url =http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/11788881/u2_green_day_unite_for_a_new_orleans_benefit_song_play_superdome | accessdate =2007-05-04}}</ref>
==Other projects==
The members of U2 have undertaken a number of side projects, sometimes in collaboration with some of their bandmates. In 1985, Bono recorded the song "In a Lifetime" with the Irish band [[Clannad]] and The Edge recorded a solo soundtrack album for the film ''[[Captive Soundtrack|Captive]]'' in 1986.<ref>McCormick (2006), p.169</ref> Bono and The Edge wrote the song "She's A Mystery To Me" for [[Roy Orbison]], featured on his 1989 album ''[[Mystery Girl]]''.<ref>McCormick (2006), p.211</ref> Together with The Edge, Bono wrote the song "[[GoldenEye (song)|Goldeneye]]" for the 1996 [[James Bond]] film ''[[GoldenEye (movie)|GoldenEye]]'', which was performed by [[Tina Turner]].<ref>de la Parra (2003), p. 141</ref> Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. did a rework of the title track of the movie ''[[Mission: Impossible (movie)|Mission: Impossible]]'' in 1996.<ref>de la Parra (2003), p. 132</ref> Bono has loaned his voice to "Joy" on [[Mick Jagger]]'s 2001 album ''[[Goddess in the Doorway]]''.<ref>{{cite web | last =Wenner | first =Jann S | title =Goddess In The Doorway Review | work =Rolling Stone | date =[[December 6]] [[2001]] | url =http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/mickjagger/albums/album/114714/review/5942832/goddess_in_the_doorway
| accessdate =2007-05-04}}</ref>
Aside from musical collaborations, U2 have worked with authors, including American author [[William S. Burroughs]], who had a guest appearance in their video of "Last Night on Earth" shortly before he died.<ref>[http://www.chron.com/cgi-bin/auth/story/content/chronicle/features/books/97/08/03/burroughs.html William S. Burroughs dies at 83; Beat Generation godfather] Houston Chronicle. Retrieved [[October 31]] [[2006]]; [http://www.mirror.co.uk/catchall/tm_method=full%26objectid=13136269%26siteid=89520-name_page.html How Mystical 23 Changed Course Of History] mirror.co.uk. Retrieved [[February 25]] [[2007]].</ref> His poem "A Thanksgiving Prayer" was used as video footage during the band's Zoo TV Tour. Other collaborators included [[William Gibson (novelist)|William Gibson]] and [[Allen Ginsberg]].<ref>[http://www.atu2.com/news/connections/gibson/ U2 Connections: William Gibson] atu2.com. Retrieved [[October 31]] [[2006]]; [http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/database/ginsberg_a.html American Masters: Allen Ginsberg] PBS.com. Retrieved [[October 31]] [[2006]].</ref> In early 2000, with the release of the film ''[[The Million Dollar Hotel]]'', the band recorded two songs for [[The Million Dollar Hotel: Music from the Motion Picture|its soundtrack]], including "[[The Ground Beneath Her Feet (song)|The Ground Beneath Her Feet]]," co-written by [[Salman Rushdie]] and motivated by his [[The Ground Beneath Her Feet|book of the same name]].<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/News/9901/22/showbuzz/#story2 Salman Rushdie's Words Become U2 Lyrics] CNN.com Retrieved [[November 6]] [[2006]].</ref>
==Discography==
{{main|U2 discography}}
<!-- Please don't put anything here apart from the studio albums in this list. ''[[Wide Awake In America]]'' is a live EP and ''[[Under a Blood Red Sky]]'' is a concert video.-->
{| Border="0"
| valign="top" |
;Studio albums
*''[[Boy (album)|Boy]]'' (1980)
*''[[October (album)|October]]'' (1981)
*''[[War (album)|War]]'' (1983)
*''[[The Unforgettable Fire]]'' (1984)
*''[[The Joshua Tree]]'' (1987)
*''[[Rattle and Hum]]'' (1988) <!-- Please don't remove Rattle & Hum. It has 9 newly released studio songs (outtakes or not, they are new studio releases).-->
*''[[Achtung Baby]]'' (1991)
*''[[Zooropa]]'' (1993)
*''[[Pop (album)|Pop]]'' (1997)
*''[[All That You Can't Leave Behind]]'' (2000)
*''[[How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb]]'' (2004)
|}
==Awards==
{{main|List of U2's Awards}}
==References==
===General===
*Chatterton, Mark (2001). ''U2: The Complete Encyclopedia''. Firefly Publishing. ISBN 0-946719-41-1
*Flanagan, Bill (1995). ''U2 at the End of the World''. Delacorte Press. ISBN 0-385-31154-0
*{{cite book | last =Graham | first =Bill | authorlink = | coauthors =van Oosten de Boer | title =U2: The Complete Guide to their Music | publisher =Omnibus Press | date =2004 | ___location =London | id = ISBN 0-7119-9886-8 }}
*McCormick, Neil (ed), (2006). ''U2 by U2''. HarperCollins ''Publishers. ISBN 0-00-719668-7
*de la Parra, Pimm Jal (1994). ''U2 Live: A Concert Documentary''. Omnibus Press. ISBN 0-7119-3666-8
*de la Parra, Pimm Jal (2003). ''U2 Live: A Concert Documentary''. Omnibus Press. ISBN 0-7119-9198-7
*{{cite book | last =Stokes | first =Niall | authorlink =Niall Stokes | title =Into The Heart: The Stories Behind Every U2 Song | publisher =Harper Collins Publishers | date =1996 | id = ISBN 0-7322-6036-1 }}
*Wall, Mick, (2005). ''Bono''. Andre Deutsch ''Publishers. ISBN 0233001593 (Promotional edition published by Paperview UK in association with the Irish Independent)
===Notes===
{{reflist|2}}
==External links==
{{commons|U2}}
*[http://www.u2.com/ U2.com Official website]
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