Many rock bands have showed that they can withstand the test of time and such is the case for U2. Formed in 1976, they became internationally recognized by the mid-1980s.
Since their conception, U2 has played over 1,000 concerts for millions of fans all over the world. In fact, they’ve become known for their live performances. In fact, it wasn’t until their 1987 album, The Joshua Tree, that their success as record sellers surpassed their success with live concerts.
There is a noticeable difference between their early albums and the release of The Joshua Tree. Not wanting to become another typical grunge rock band, the group opted to look back into the roots of rock music and become a bit more artsy and abstract. Starting in the late 1980s, U2 had officially changed their sound. They mingled with American blues, country and gospel music and ended up expanding their fan base.
The Johsua Tree album ended up scoring them their first two Grammy awards and put them on the front page of the music industry.
With over 145 million albums sold worldwide and 22 Grammy Awards under their belt, it’s a wonder how such rock artists could have time for anything else. Such is not the case with U2. Throughout their career, they have advocated for various human rights campaigns, including Amnesty International, the ONE Campaign and Bono’s DATA (Debt, AIDS, Trade in Africa) Campaign. This may or may not be a reason why they’ve found continued success for the past 30 years.
Take a look at one of the songs that changed the path for U2 and helped them create a legacy for themselves. In this song, you can hear how they have mixed blues and gospel to create a new sound.
References
U2’s Web site, www.u2.com
Hank Bordowitz & John Swenson, 2003, ‘The U2 Reader,’ Hal Leonard Corporation
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