U2
BIOGRAPHY: Indisputably the most popular rock act of the 80s in
Britain, Irish unit U2 began their musical career at school in
Dublin back in 1977. Bono (b. Paul David Hewson, 10 May 1960,
Dublin, Eire; vocals), The Edge (b. David Evans, 8 August 1961,
Barking, Essex; guitar), Adam Clayton (b. 13 March 1960, Chinnor,
Oxfordshire, England; bass) and Larry Mullen Jr. (b. Laurence
Mullen, 31 October 1961, Dublin, Eire; drums) initially played
Rolling Stones and Beach Boys cover versions in an outfit named
Feedback. They then changed their name to the Hype before finally
settling on U2 in 1978. After winning a talent contest in
Limerick that year, they came under the wing of manager Paul
McGuinness and were subsequently signed to CBS Records Ireland.
Their debut EP U2:3 featured 'Out Of Control' (1979), which
propelled them to number 1 in the Irish charts. They repeated
that feat with 'Another Day' (1980), but having been passed by
CBS UK, they were free to sign a deal outside of Ireland with
Island Records. Their UK debut '11 O'Clock Tick Tock', produced
by Martin Hannett, was well received but failed to chart. Two
further singles, 'A Day Without Me' and 'I Will Follow', passed
with little sales while the group prepared their first album,
produced by Steve Lillywhite. Boy, a moving and inspired document
of adolescence, received critical approbation, which was
reinforced by the live shows that U2 were undertaking throughout
the country. Bono's impassioned vocals and the band's rhythmic
tightness revealed them as the most promising live unit of 1981.
After touring America, the band returned to Britain where 'Fire'
was bubbling under the Top 30. Another minor hit with the
impassioned 'Gloria' was followed by the strident October. The
album had a thrust reinforced by a religious verve that was
almost evangelical in its force. In February 1983 the band
reached the UK Top 10 with 'New Year's Day', a song of hope
inspired by the Polish Solidarity Movement. War followed soon
afterwards to critical plaudits. The album's theme covered both
religious and political conflicts, especially in the key track
'Sunday Bloody Sunday', which had already emerged as one of the
group's most startling and moving live songs. Given their power
in concert, it was inevitable that U2 would attempt to capture
their essence on a live album. Under A Blood Red Sky did not
disappoint and, as well as climbing to number 2 in the UK, it
brought them their first significant chart placing in the USA at
number 28.By the summer of 1984, U2 were about to enter the
vanguard of the rock elite. Bono duetted with Bob Dylan at the
latter's concert at Slane Castle and U2 established their own
company, Mother Records, with the intention of unearthing fresh
musical talent in Eire. The Unforgettable Fire, produced by Brian
Eno and Daniel Lanois, revealed a new maturity and improved their
commercial and critical standing in the US charts. The attendant
single, 'Pride (In The Name Of Love)', displayed the passion and
humanity that were by now familiar ingredients in U2's music and
lyrics. The band's commitment to their ideals was further
underlined by their appearances at Live Aid, Ireland's Self Aid,
and their involvement with Amnesty International and guest spot
on Little Steven 's anti-Apartheid single, 'Sun City'. During
this same period, U2 embarked on a world tour and completed work
on their next album. The Joshua Tree emerged in March 1987 and
confirmed U2's standing, now as one of the most popular groups in
the world. The album topped both the US and UK charts and
revealed a new, more expansive sound that complemented their
soul-searching lyrics. The familiar themes of spiritual salvation
permeated the work and the quest motif was particularly evident
on both 'With Or Without You' and 'I Still Haven't Found What I'm
Looking For', which both reached number 1 in the US charts. After
such a milestone album, 1988 proved a relatively quiet year for
U2. Bono and the Edge appeared on Roy Orbison 's Mystery Girl and
the year ended with the double-live album and film, Rattle And
Hum. The band also belatedly scored their first UK number 1
single with the R&B-influenced 'Desire'. The challenge to
complete a suitable follow-up to The Joshua Tree took
considerable time, with sessions completed in Germany with Lanois
and Eno. Meanwhile, the band members appeared on the Cole Porter
tribute album Red Hot + Blue, performing a radical reading of
'Night And Day'. In late 1991, 'The Fly' entered the UK charts at
number 1, emulating the success of 'Desire'. Achtung Baby was an
impressive work that captured the majesty of its predecessor, yet
also stripped down the sound to provide a greater sense of
spontaneity. The work emphasized U2's standing as an
international rock act, whose achievements since the late 70s
have been extraordinarily cohesive and consistent. Although the
critics were less than generous with Zooropa and the
dance-orientated Pop the band remain one of the most popular
'stadium' attractions of the modern rock era. In the mid-90s Bono
devoted much of his time to writing songs for others. With the
Edge he wrote the James Bond film theme 'Goldeneye' for Tina
Turner and became involved in the Passengers project. His verbal
lashing of the French president Jacques Chirac at the MTV Awards
in Paris created the biggest news, however. Obviously upset by
the recent nuclear tests, Bono came onstage smiling to accept an
award. The audience were brilliantly fooled by his perfectly
delivered sarcasm: 'What a city' (cheers and applause), 'what a
night' (cheers and applause), 'what a bomb' (confused laughter
and applause), 'what a mistake' (mixed response), 'what a wanker
you have for President' (sporadic boos). A re-recorded b-side,
'Sweetest Thing', reached UK number 3 in October 1998, and was
followed by the release of the band's first compilation album. In
March 2000, the Bono-scripted movie The Million Dollar Hotel was
released. The soundtrack included the new U2 track 'The Ground
Beneath Her Feet', featuring lyrics by novelist Salman Rushdie.
The song was featured on All That You Can't Leave Behind, an
album which eschewed the band's preoccupation with electronica
and return to the epic rock sound they championed in the late
80s.
U2 GRAMMY
2001
category 1 - record of the year
beautiful day
category 3 - song of the year
beautiful day
category 16 - best rock performance by a duo or group with vocal
beautiful day
1994
category 17 - best alternative music album
zooropa
1993
category 12 - best rock performance by a duo or group with vocal
achtung baby (album)
1989
category 11 - best rock performance by a duo or group with vocal
desire
category 57 - best performance music video
where the streets have no name
1988
category 2 - album of the year
joshua tree
category 12 - best rock perf. by a duo or group with vocal
the joshua tree (album)
HISTORIA U2 BIOGRAPHY DESCARGAS IMAGENES DISCOGRAFIA Y LETRAS
B - SIDES All That You Can't Leave Behind