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U2 (band) facts for kids

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U2
2005-11-21 U2 @ MSG by ZG.JPG
U2 performing at Madison Square Garden in November 2005
Background information
Origin Dublin, Ireland
Genres Rock, post punk, alternative rock
Years active 1976 – present
Labels Interscope (1997-present)
Island (1979-1997)
Members Bono
The Edge
Adam Clayton
Larry Mullen Jr.

U2 is a famous Irish rock band. The four members are the lead singer Bono, lead guitarist The Edge, bassist Adam Clayton, and drummer Larry Mullen Jr..

U2 has been very popular around the world since the 1980s. They have sold over 170 million albums. They have also won 22 Grammy Awards, which is more than any other rock band.

The band formed in Dublin in 1976. At first, the members were not very good musicians. But they got better with practice. They became well-known for their live shows. Their big breakthrough came with their hit record The Joshua Tree in 1987.

In 1991, U2 released Achtung Baby. This album sounded different from their earlier music. It was inspired by alternative rock and dance music. Both Achtung Baby and its worldwide Zoo TV Tour were very successful. U2 kept trying new sounds in the 1990s. They made two more unique albums, Zooropa and Pop.

In the 21st century, U2 went back to a more classic rock sound. They are still very popular and successful today. The band members also do a lot of work for charity. They help groups like Amnesty International, Make Poverty History, and the ONE Campaign. They have also supported events like Live Aid and Live 8. Bono has his own campaign called DATA (Debt, AIDS, Trade in Africa). They also support Music Rising.

In 2014, U2 won a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song. They were also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song. This was for their song Ordinary Love. The song was used in the movie Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.

How U2 Started

Forming the Band (1976-1979)

U2 began in Dublin, Ireland, on September 25, 1976. It all started with 14-year-old drummer Larry Mullen Jr. He put a note on his school's notice board. He was looking for musicians to start a new band.

Seven teenage boys came to the first practice. The band was first called "The Larry Mullen Band." Later, they changed their name to "Feedback," and then "The Hype." Over time, the group became smaller. It ended up with just four members: Bono, The Edge, Clayton, and Mullen. They finally chose the name "U2."

U2's Albums

  • Boy (1980)
  • October (1981)
  • War (1983)
  • The Unforgettable Fire (1984)
  • The Joshua Tree (1987)
  • Rattle and Hum (1988)
  • Achtung Baby (1991)
  • Zooropa (1993)
  • Pop (1997)
  • All That You Can't Leave Behind (2000)
  • How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (2004)
  • No Line on the Horizon (2009)
  • Songs of Innocence (2014)
  • Songs of Experience (2017)

Images for kids

  • MountTempleClock

    The band formed at Mount Temple Comprehensive School in Dublin in 1976 when the members were teenagers.

  • Steve Lillywhite during interview

    Steve Lillywhite produced the band's first three studio albums: Boy, October, and War.

  • U2 War Tour-1983-05-30 - Devore

    U2 performing at the US Festival in May 1983

  • U2 on Unforgettable Fire Tour 09-09-1984

    U2 performing in Sydney in September 1984 on the Unforgettable Fire Tour

  • Joshuatree

    The tree pictured on The Joshua Tree album sleeve. Adam Clayton said, "The desert was immensely inspirational to us as a mental image for this record."

  • Bono as The Fly Cleveland 1992

    Bono in March 1992 on the Zoo TV Tour portraying his persona "The Fly", a leather-clad egomaniac meant to parody rock stardom.

  • HeartWideShot3 jpg

    Contrasting with the elaborate stadium productions of the band's previous two tours, the Elevation Tour was a scaled-down affair, featuring a heart-shaped ramp around the stage.

  • U2 in the heart

    U2 perform during the Elevation Tour in Kansas City in 2001

  • U2 brussels fly 2005-10-06

    The outdoor stage of the Vertigo Tour, pictured in June 2005, featured a massive LED screen.

  • U2 360 Tour Croke Park 2

    At 164 feet tall, the stage structure from the U2 360° Tour was the largest ever constructed. It allowed for a 360-degree seating configuration.

  • U2 at Apple keynote event 9-9-14

    U2 performing at the Apple product launch at which Songs of Innocence was announced in September 2014

  • U2 curtain call in Glasgow 11-7-2015

    U2 takes a curtain call during a 7 November 2015 performance on the Innocence + Experience Tour (from left to right): the Edge, Bono, Mullen, Clayton

  • U2 Gelsenkirchen August 3rd 2009

    U2 performing in 2009. The Edge has described U2 as a fundamentally live band.

  • Bush and Bono

    Bono with then-US President George W. Bush in 2006

  • U2 with Brazil president Rousseff in 2011

    U2 with Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff in 2011 (from left to right): Mullen, Bono, Rousseff, Clayton, and the Edge

  • The Edge and Bono performing in Belfast on Nov 19 2015

    Rolling Stone ranked the Edge and Bono among the greatest guitarists and singers, respectively.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: U2 para niños

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