U2 (band) - Music - Rock Band

U2 is an Irish rock music band featuring Bono (Paul David Hewson) on vocals and guitar, The Edge (David Howell Evans) on guitar and pianos, vocals, and bass, Adam Clayton on bass and guitar, and Larry Mullen on drums.

U2 has been one of the most popular music rock bands in the world since the 1980s. The band is also very politically active in human rights causes.

History

Formation and breakthrough (1976 – 1980)

The band was formed in Dublin in October 1976. 14-year-old Larry Mullen, Jr. posted a note on his secondary school bulletin board seeking musicians for a new band. The response that followed that note resulted in a 5-piece band, known at the time as feedback, with Mullen on drums, Adam Clayton on bass guitar, Paul Hewson (Bono) on vocals, Dave Evans and his brother Dik on guitar.

Hewson was nicknamed Bono Vox (meaning 'beautiful voice'), after a hearing aid company's advertising sign on the corner of Dame Street and South Great Georges Street in Dublin's city centre. The sign is still in place today. The Edge got his name from Bono who thought it was an accurate description of his head. (Another theory on Edge's nickname is that he is called after a hardware shop in Fairview, Dublin, outside of which he used to catch the bus home.)

After 18 months of rehearsals, Feedback changed their name to The Hype. The band performed with their new name at a talent show in Limerick, Ireland on 17 March 1978. One of the judges for the show happened to be CBS Records' Jackie Hayden; they won the contest, earning a £500 prize. Hayden was impressed enough with the band that he gave them studio time to record their first demo.

The Dublin punk rock guru Steve Averill (better known as Steve Rapid of the Radiators from Space) suggested that "The Hype stinks, at least as a name." Someone offered "What about U2? It's the name of a spyplane and a submarine, and it's got an endearing inclusivity about it."1

Some suggest the meaning of the name "U2" is based on their philosophy. They believe that the audience is part of their music and the concert and that "you too" (U2) are participating in the music. Although, in an interview with Larry King, Bono is quoted as saying "I don't actually like the name U2", "I honestly never thought of it as 'you too'".