Portal:U2

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The U2 Portal

Welcome to Wikipedia's U2 Portal. U2 are a rock band from Dublin, Ireland. The band consists of Bono (vocals and guitar), The Edge (guitar, keyboards, and backing vocals), Adam Clayton (bass guitar), and Larry Mullen Jr. (drums and percussion). U2 have been one of the most popular acts in the world since the mid-1980s. The band has sold upwards of 170 million albums worldwide, and they have won 22 Grammy Awards, more than any other rock band.

U2 formed in 1976 when the members were 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 their 1987 album, The Joshua Tree, brought them mega-stardom. Their alternative rock/dance-infused 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 dance and 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 Music Rising.(more about U2)

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Portal:U2/AOTW/24, 2008

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U2 as teenagers in the 1970s. This image has appeared on the cover of the book U2 by U2, and is one of the few pictures of the band members from this period. From left to right, Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen Jr., Bono, and The Edge.

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Did you know...

  • That Larry Mullen Jr. was the bassist for the opening of the song Zooropa?
  • That in the New Year's Day video, the people on horses are not the band, but are Swedish girls dressed like the band due to the cold?
  • That Larry Mullen Jr. and U2 teamed up with Michael Stipe and Mike Mills from R.E.M to form the group Automatic Baby for the sole purpose of performing "One" at the MTV inaugural ball?
  • That Automatic Baby only performed once?
  • That Adam Clayton was Bono's best man at his wedding?
  • That The Edge and Adam Clayton switch instruments on the song "40" due to the fact that Clayton was not present for the studio recording?
  • That Bono used to be known as "Steinvic von Huyseman", "Huyseman", "Houseman", "Bon Murray", "Bono Vox of O'Connell Street", and "Bono Vox"?
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U2 news

11 September

31 August

  • Footage of U2's Morocco sessions will be released in Lanois' film "Here is What Is". The new album is "making itself," according to Lanois, who has been a writer in the sessions along with fellow producer Brian Eno.Read more

24 August

  • Daniel Lanois, U2 producer, has made a movie called "Here is What Is". Read more

(archive)

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Quotes

  • "What ever you do, do not get into a car with Bono. He's not great at the old driving." ~The Edge
  • "Then Bono arrived, and he meant to play the guitar, but he couldn't play very well, so he started to sing. He couldn't do that either. But he was such a charismatic character that he was in the band anyway, as soon as he arrived. I was in charge for the first five minutes, but as soon as Bono got there, I was out of a job." ~Larry Mullen Jr.
  • "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."~Larry Mullen Jr.
  • "There's a thin line between interesting music and self-indulgence. We crossed it on the Passengers record."~Larry Mullen Jr.
  • "I joined a band to hit things."~Larry Mullen Jr.
  • "B.B. King: If we could find somebody to play chords... I'm no good with chords. I'm horrible with chords.
Bono: Um... yeah... well, uh, the Edge can do that." ~from Rattle and Hum
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Associated Wikimedia

U2 on  Wikinews  U2 on  Wikiquote  U2 on  Wikibooks  U2 on  Wikisource  U2 on  Wiktionary  U2 on Wikimedia Commons
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