The Irish band U2 is one of those groups compromised with their fans and the world in which they live, usually embarked in activism campaigns against disease, poverty, and social injustice, but also achieving great success as musicians.
U2 was formed on 25 September 1976, in Dublin, Ireland, after a 14 years old boy Larry Mullen Jr. posted a school add seeking musicians to join him for a new band named "The Larry Mullen Adventure".
Fellow students Paul Hewson (Bono), Adam Clayton, Dave Evans, and his brother Dick Evans joined Mullen and rehearsed in a kitchen and they changed their name to "Feedback". Once again, the band’s name changed in 1977 to "The Hype" before switching definitely to U2 in 1978 after Dick Evans left the band at a farewell concert at the Presbyterian Church Hall in Howth.
As U2, the band began their career with good luck because that same year they won a talent show sponsored by artists’ manager Paul McGuinness on an Irish meaningful Saint Patrick's Day. The band received the opportunity to record a demo tape and McGuinness offered to manage them.
Although the band failed an audition with CBS Records in late 1978, the following summer U2 released their debut EP entitled "U2 Three". Although, this early recording hit the national charts, it was only distributed in Ireland so the band went on tour to England in order to bring attention to their work.
The next time U2 topped the charts was in early 1980 with the single "Another Day", but once again only released in Ireland. In March, Island Records signed the band and released the band's full-length debut album "Boy", produced by Steve Lillywhite with "11 O'Clock Tick Tock" as the first U2's single with international release.
Breakthrough into the mainstream was marked by "War", an album released in 1983 that not only entered in the UK charts but also hit the top-ten in the United States. Since that time, U2 would achieve great international success.
U2 and vocalist Bono have increased their participation in social issues during the 2000’s including Live Aid, Make Poverty History, Amnesty International, and Bono's DATA AIDS campaign among others.
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