ARTIST

U2

Armed with juvenile delinquent attitude, hyper-child energy, and the distinct inability to play their instruments, U2 became Ireland's most important export since St. Patrick's snakes, charismatic visionaries who believed the human spirit could transcend the boundaries of rock.

As high school friends in 1970s Dublin, singer Bono, guitarist the Edge, drummer Larry Mullen, Jr., and bassist Adam Clayton won a battle of the bands and won over Island Records head Chris Blackwell. Landing in the U.S. with soaring melodic anthems including "I Will Follow," U2 quickly became a post-punk phenomenon, the UK's equivalent to R.E.M. Steve Lillywhite's echoing, bell-spiked production made Boy (1980) a hit, while October (1981) exhibited growing pains, a...
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