November
1988: Director Phil Joanou's full length tour film
"Rattle & Hum" hits theaters around the globe.
November 1991:
Originally
titled "Hansa Ton," "AchtungBaby" is released, marking the
band's third teaming with Eno & Lanois; singles include "One" and "Mysterious
Ways."
Summer 1993:
"Zooropa"
is released; exiled author Salman Rushdie joins the band on-stage at London's
Wembley Stadium.
Spring 1997:
Weeks
before the release of "Pop," the band announces its forthcoming
tour dates with a press conference and performance at a Manhattan K-Mart
store; ratings for an hour-long ABC TV special on the band are disappointing.
May 1998: U2
performs a Belfast concert supporting the Northern Ireland Peace Accord;
the band also appears on an Irish TV fund raiser for victims of the Omagh
bombing.
February 1999:
Bono
receives a Brit Award for his international support of the Jubilee 2000
campaign to cancel Third World debt.
Fall 2000:
"All That You Can't Leave Behind" is released.
Spring 2001: U2
comes back to the Grammy winner's circle
with Record Of The Year, Song Of The Year and Best Rock Performance By
A Duo Or Group on the strength of their single "Beautiful Day."
Career
Turning Point:
Although the band has had many monumental
album releases and have earned respect for Bono's campaigns for tolerance
and international debt relief, It is agreed by many fans and industry insiders
that "The Joshua Tree" spawned such masterpieces as "I Still Haven't
Found What I'm Looking For" and "Where The Streets Have No Name" and marked
the band's musical summit, second only to the commercial success of "Achtung
Baby."
What
Are They Doing Now?
Still riding the crest of the wave, U2
are touring the United States at this writing and bringing their "All
That You Can't Leave Behind" album to the masses.
This collection of tunes, with their uplifting
beat brings the message that there is always something to live for, even
in your darkness. It speaks to a love of life and includes a special
song ("Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of") that was written for the
late Michael Hutchence. It is an argument between someone who is committing
suicide and his angry friend. The smash hit single "Beautiful Day"
has taken 2001 Grammy awards and propels U2 into the next century with
out a single rest stop.
Debbie Seagle is the Special
Features Editor for the IconoFAN Network.
Live Photos by Debbie Seagle
- Copyright 2001 Groove Quest Productions. Logo photo courtesty U2 and
Interscope All Rights Reserved by the Copyright holders.
Fan Speak. Post your thoughts
and comments about U2 or discuss what makes them legends?
Fan
Speak:
Posted by Komel
"U2 Twin" Malhi: U2...make life worth livin....
Posted by
Bono: The music. No one else sounds like them.
Posted by
Megan McClure: It has been said that great artists find
their own color and paint it to the world, and this is what I feel U2 have
done. U2 have discovered their own color, and have spent over 20 years
adding shades and tones to it, but never forgetting its original essence.
Coming out of the post punk era, with the belief that their friendship
and musical/philisophical vision really could change the temperature of
the room, they fused together elements that were considered "uncool"at
the time, like using their limitations as advantages, believing in the
60's notion of rock n roll being a positive force in the world, and their
experience of charismatic christianity to infuse the rock n roll airwaves
with hope peeking out of the darkness and postive rebellion. Their music
and lyrics powerfully connect to the human condition and speak of man's
desire to be physically, mentally and spiritually whole. It's a pretty
tall order for a rock band, but I believe in U2's 25 yrs of existence..they
have come the closest out of the myriad popular artists in this world to
fulfilling this order.
