Home » History » Irish History » Ireland's Famous Rock Band - Page 2

Ireland's Famous Rock Band - Page 2

© Lianne

At the time, they procured themselves an agent, and in 1979 recorded their first band single, titled "U23."

Their first full album was Boy, released in 1980.

Their next album, October, was a hit in the UK, reaching number 11 on the charts, but it didn't make it into the top100 in the US.

War, released in1983, could probably be considered their first big hit. It made it to number one in UK, and into the top 20 in the US, with songs such as Two Hearts Beat as One, and Sunday Bloody Sunday.

U2 was now on a roll. Their next album was the Unforgettable Fire, released in 1984, with the hit single, Pride (In the Name of Love). Pride was a tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr. The album was voted Best Album at Ireland's Music Industry Awards.

1987 saw the pinnacle of U2's success with the release of the Joshua Tree album. Hits such as I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, With or Without You, and Where the Streets Have No Name rocked them to the top of the charts. Many claimed U2 had become "rock's hottest ticket."

"U2's biggest selling album to date entered the US album charts at No.7 and reached No. 1 three weeks later. It was U2's first album to reach No.1 in the United States...In 1999, The Joshua Tree was awarded the RIAA's highest certification, Diamond, with 10 million units sold. The album also peaked at No.1 on the UK, Canadian, West German, Dutch and Australian charts. In Switzerland, the album reached No.1 on the charts and stayed there for a total of 33 weeks. The album and sleeve cover also placed No. 1 in Rolling Stone magazine's annual Music Awards chosen by readers. Critics at Rolling Stone made it No. 2 album of the year. U2 also won Best Rock Performance By A Group Or Duo at the Grammy Awards for The Joshua Tree."

Although the following album, Rattle and Hum, did all right, it was a bit of a let down after the blazing success of Joshua Tree.

U2 stepped down for awhile. But they were impossible to forget. In early 1993, I was listening to the Joshua Tree tape and a young friend walked into my house and asked what I was listening to. I almost laughed in his face. What? You don't know U2? I bit my tongue when I took into consideration his tender years.

The copyright of the article Ireland's Famous Rock Band - Page 2 in Irish History is owned by Lianne Bruynell Lopes. Permission to republish Ireland's Famous Rock Band - Page 2 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.