A History of U2, the Greatest Rock Band on the Planet, Part I

U2 was formed in 1977 when fourteen year oldthan their debut reflecting the Christian beliefs of
Larry Mullen Jr. posted a notice on his schoolBono, The Edge and Larry Mullen Jr. The album
notice board seeking musicians for a new band.met with a lukewarm reception form the critics
They were called Feedback and The Hype beforeand it received limited radio airplay. However, their
settling on the name, U2.subsequent album, War was acclaimed by critics
On St. Patrick's Day 1978, they won a battle ofand was a commercial success, it entered the UK
the bands competition, using the prize money tocharts at number 1.
record a demo which impressed Paul McGuinnessThey recorded the live album Under a Blood Red
enough to become their manager and they wereSky on the War tour, it received extensive play
subsequently signed to CBS Records.on radio and MTV bringing the band to a wider
Island Records signed the band in early 1980, theiraudience. The Unforgettable Fire was released in
UK debut, 11 O'Clock Tick Tock was well received1984, produced by Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois; it
by the critics but failed to chart. Their debutdisplayed a more complex, polished and mature
album, Boy, was released to critical acclaim andsound. The first single from the album, Pride (In
included their first hit single, I Will Follow.the Name of Love) was their biggest hit at that
Their subsequent tour of Europe and America,point and illustrated the passion, idealism and
these revealed U2's potential with Bono'shumanity of the band. That year they played Live
passionate singing and the band's musical prowess.Aid, Self Aid, became involved with Amnesty
October, their second album was released in 1981,International and contributed to Little Steven's
it was a much more mellow and spiritual recordanti-apartheid single Sun City.