93XRT invites you to celebrate U2’s Day with a full day devoted to the music of U2 on 93.1 FM and 93XRT.com.
Before and after U2’s Day, tune into XRT for three nights of Live U2 on the radio! Monday – an inside look at the new CD
No Line on the Horizon, with host, Shirley Manson.
Then Tuesday – Live from Chicago, it’s an XRT Takeover with the members of U2 playing DJ from 8 to 9pm.
This Wednesday night at 8pm - hear U2 performing Live from Boston.
From Chicago’s only station that’s been playing U2 from Day One – right thru U2’s Day. Hear it on 93XRT!
Get info about U2's 2009 Tour
U2 3 NIGHTS LIVE
Part One: Live from Los Angeles
MONDAY NIGHT (8-9pm)
An inside look at the new CD, No Line on the Horizon. The band will play selections from the album and discuss the recording process, as well as sharing the concepts and ideas behind their latest work. The night’s host, Shirley Manson, is best known as lead vocalist of Garbage, as well as co-star of the Fox TV series Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.
Part Two: Live from Chicago
TUESDAY NIGHT (8-9pm)
The members of U2 spin their favorite records live on 93XRT at an undisclosed location.
Part Three: Live from Boston
WEDNESDAY NIGHT (8-9pm)
A live concert performance from an intimate historic theatre; the band will also participate in Q & A with the audience.
U2 Discography
BOY
In October, 1980, U2 released their debut album, Boy. It was the first of three albums to be produced by Steve Lillywhite. The first song recorded for the album was “A Day Without Me” but its biggest hit was “I Will Follow.” In 1995, Boy was certified platinum by the RIAA.
OCTOBER
In October, 1981, U2 released their second album, October. The working title of the album was Scarlet. It never cracked the Top 100 on the album charts and didn’t rise higher than number 104, yet it was still eventually certified platinum by the RIAA in 1995. Prior to recording the album, the band was touring the U.S. Bono was working on lyrics for October but lost them while on the road. They already booked studio time after the tour and the singer had to improvise some of the lyrics. The most popular songs off the set are considered to be “Gloria” and the title track.
WAR
In March of 1983, U2 released their third album, War. War entered the album charts in the Top 20 and eventually climbed as high as number 12. The album became U2’s first gold album in the U.S., eventually being certified multi-platinum by the RIAA with four-million copies sold. In 2003, the album was ranked number 221 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. War’s biggest hits include Sunday Bloody Sunday” and “New Years Day.”
UNDER A BLOOD RED SKY EP
In October 1983, U2 released the Under a Blood Red Sky EP. This record was comprised of music from three live performances from the War Tour. The phrase “Under a blood red sky” is taken from the lyrics of the song “New Year¹s Day,” originally released on U2’s War album. Under a Blood Red Sky reached as high as number 23. In 1985, the EP was certified platinum and in 1994, it was certified multi-platinum by the RIAA with three million copies sold.
THE UNFORGETTABLE FIRE
In October 1984, U2 released The Unforgettable Fire, their first collaboration with producer Brian Eno and engineer Daniel Lanois. The album contains tributes to Martin Luther King, Jr. and Elvis Presley. The Unforgettable Fire produced the band’s biggest hit at the time, “Pride (In the Name of Love),” as well as the live favorite “Bad.” It peaked at number 12 on the album charts. The album was certified multi-platinum by the RIAA with three million copies sold.
THE JOSHUA TREE
In March of 1987, U2 released The Joshua Tree and became Rock’s Hottest Ticket. The Joshua Tree is the band’s biggest selling album to date and debuted on the charts at number seven, reaching number one three weeks later. It was U2’s first album to reach number one in the U.S. In 1999, The Joshua Tree was awarded the RIAA’s highest certification, diamond, with ten-million copies sold. The band also won their first GRAMMYs because of The Joshua Tree. The took home awards for Album of the Year and Best Rock Performance By A Group Or Duo.
RATTLE AND HUM
In October 1988, U2 released Rattle And Hum as a companion double-LP set to the Phil Joanou-directed film of the same name. The album highlighted live performances from the band’s successful 1987 to 88 Joshua Tree tour, as well as additional songs recorded at Sun Studios in Memphis. It peaked at number one on the album charts. The record was certified as multi-platinum by the RIAA with five-million copies sold. Rattle And Hum was voted the Best Album of the year by Rolling Stone readers and was nominated for a GRAMMY for Best Rock Group Performance.
ACHTUNG BABY
After Rattle and Hum, U2 went away to “dream it all up again.” In November, 1991, they released Achtung Baby, which was widely regarded as a sonic and visual reinvention of the band. At U2’s request, it was the first album by a major act to be released in two eco-friendly packages - the jewel box (without the long box attachment) and the cardboard Digi-Trak. The record peaked at number two on the album chart. It was certified multi-platinum by the RIAA with eight-million copies sold. The group won the GRAMMY for Best Rock Album by a Duo or Group and producers Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno won Producers of the Year for the effort. Additionally, the album was nominated for Album of the Year. In the Rolling Stone annual reader's poll, it was voted number one for Best Album and Best Album Cover.
ZOOROPA
Initially intended to be just an EP, in July 1993, Zooropa became a full-fledged album with ten tracks recorded in six-weeks, the fastest U2 record ever. Zooropa reached number one and later, the album was certified multi-platinum by the RIAA with two-million copies sold. The band won a GRAMMY for Best Alternative Album of the Year for the effort and the readers of Rolling Stone voted it Best Album.
POP
After U2 released Pop in March 1997, the album entered the charts at number one. Pop also got other accolades, like a GRAMMY nomination for Best Rock/Pop Album. The record combined elements of popular techno, dance and electronica influences with traditional alternative rock. Pop featured the singles “Discotheque” and “Staring at the Sun.” The album was supported by the PopMart Tour, which was an elaborately-staged, multimedia trek. It featured a lavish stage design, complete with a 165-foot wide LED screen, a 100-foot high golden arch and a large mirror-ball lemon. The band performed in costumes that departed from their traditional image.
THE BEST OF 1980-1990
In November of 1998, U2 released their first compilation comprised two discs, The Best of 1980-1990. The first CD was titled The Best of U2 Volume One 1980-1990 and consisted of 14 tracks from Boy to the Rattle and Hum era. The second disc, called The B-Sides, was a collection of 15 B-sides from the same era. The two CDs were combined into a limited edition double release for the first week of sales. After the first week, the B-sides disc was deleted from the band¹s catalog. The single disc Best Of peaked at number four on the U-S album charts while the combined Best Of/B-sides set reached number two. U2 had the largest opening week for a greatest hits collection for any group in the Soundscan era. The single disc Best Of was certified gold by the RIAA whereas the combined Best Of/B-sides package was certified multi-platinum by the RIAA with two-million units sold.
ALL THAT YOU CAN¹T LEAVE BEHIND
In October of 2000, U2 released All That You Can’t Leave Behind. The album signaled the band¹s return to a more traditional sound after their experimentation in the 1990s. The record reunited U2 with producers Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois. All That You Can't Leave Behind sold over 4.3-million copies in the U.S. It contains the hit singles, “Beautiful Day,” “Walk On,” “Elevation” and “Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of.” “Walk On” was originally written about and dedicated to Aung San Suu Kyi, a Burmese activist, but the song took on new meaning with listeners following the September 11th attacks. The band won seven GRAMMY Awards for the album. In 2003, it was ranked number 139 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. For the Elevation Tour to promote the record, U2 performed in a scaled-down setting, returning to arenas after nearly a decade of stadium productions. A heart-shaped stage and ramp permitted greater proximity to the audience.
THE BEST OF 1990-2000
In November 2002, U2 released The Best of 1990-2000, the second volume of their Best of Collection. A limited edition Best of the B-sides was also released and the following month, a Best Of 1990-2000 DVD hit stores. The 16 tracks on the album are highlights from Achtung Baby, Zooropa, Pop and All That You Can't Leave Behind. Two brand new tracks were also recorded for this set: “Electrical Storm” and “The Hands That Built America,” which was featured on the soundtrack to the Martin Scorsese movie The Gangs Of New York. In addition, four songs including “Discothèque,” “Gone, Numb” and “Staring At The Sun,” were substantially reworked by producer Mike Hedges.
HOW TO DISMANTLE AN ATOMIC BOMB
In November of 2004, U2 released their 11th studio album, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. The record was produced by Steve Lillywhite. Much like their previous album, All That You Can't Leave Behind, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb maintained a more traditional rock sound. The album and its singles won all eight GRAMMY Awards for which they were nominated. The effort sold over 3.2-million copies in the U-S and included the hit singles “Vertigo,” “City of Blinding Lights” and “Sometimes You Can¹t Make It on Your Own.”
U218 SINGLES
In November of 2006, U2 released U218 Singles. The greatest hits compilation boasted two new songs which were recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London and produced by Rick Rubin. The pair of tracks includes “The Saints Are Coming,” a cover of the 1978 Skids track, which was recorded with Green Day. It debuted live a few days later at the reopening of the New Orleans Dome and proceeds from worldwide sales went to Music Rising, a charity set up by Edge to help bring the music back to New Orleans. The other new song is called “Window on the Skies.”
NO LINE ON THE HORIZON
On March 3rd, 2009, U2 will release their latest album, No Line on the Horizon.
U2’s 12th studio album.
The band’s first record since 2004’s How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, the longest gap between studio albums in the band’s career.
In July 2006, U2.com sent out e-mails to subscribers confirming that the band had begun work on a new album.
The group started working on the album with producer Rick Rubin in 2006, but later collaborated with Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois in 2007. None of the Rubin recordings will be on the CD.
In February 2008, producer Daniel Lanois described Bono as “all charged up with a lyrical angle.”
In August 2008, Bono was playing some new tunes off of No Line on the Horizon so loudly at his French retreat, that someone outside of the estate recorded the songs and posted them on YouTube, though they were quickly removed from the site.
In September 2008, The Edge said that the band is trying to “take it to the next level” with the new album.
In November 2008, producer Daniel Lanois said that with the new album, the band has “reinvented the genre of rock n’ roll again.”
The album was written and recorded in Morocco, New York, France, England and Ireland.
The Edge says the album was inspired by Led Zeppelin and the White Stripes. The rocker was influenced by Zep’s Jimmy Page and the White Stripes’ Jack White after appearing alongside them in the documentary It Might Get Loud.
The Edge described the title No Line on the Horizon to Rolling Stone saying, “It’s an image, Bono tells me. It’s like when you’re moving forward, but you’re not exactly sure what you’re heading towards—that moment where the sea and the sky blend into one. It’s an image of infinity, I suppose a kind of Zen image.”
The album was originally expected out in October, then rumors surfaced that it’d come out on November 14th. By September, it was announced the disc would be out in 2009. It was later revealed that the band pushed back the release date because they needed to do two more songs.
U2 love their homeland so Ireland will get first dibs at the album. The record is out on the Emerald Isle on February 27th, long before its release in the states on March 3rd.
The band decided to release their new record in five different versions: the standard CD; a double vinyl package; a magazine version with a 60 page soft cover book; a digi-pack version which includes a 36 page booklet, a poster and a film by video director Anton Corbijn featuring the band’s music; and the box set version, which has a 60 page hard cover book, a poster and the Corbijn film.
The cover art features a black and white photograph of the sea meeting the sky. It was taken by Japanese photographer Hiroshi Sugimoto.
The band was accused of stealing the cover art for the album. Apparently, the image they use is very similar to the cover of Richard Chartier and Taylor Deupree’s album specification.fifteen.
U2 recorded some of No Line on the Horizon at London’s Olympic Studios and they must’ve liked it since they¹re now considering buying the place. Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles and Led Zeppelin have all recorded there.
When U2 tour behind No Line On the Horizon, Bono says the trek will be a “feat of geniu”² that will feature something that has never done before.
Get On Your Boots
No Line On The Horizon
City of Blinding Lights
How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb
All Because Of You
How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb
Walk On
All That You Can’t Leave Behind
Elevation
All That You Can’t Leave Behind
Beautiful Day
All That You Can’t Leave Behind
Please
Live from Rotterdam
Staring At The Sun
Live from Rotterdam
Stay (Faraway So Close)
Zooropa
The Fly
Achtung Baby
One
Achtung Baby
I Still Haven't Found What I?m Looking For
The Joshua Tree
With Or Without You
Live from Rotterdam
Where The Streets Have No Name
Live from Rotterdam
Pride (In The Name of Love)
The Unforgettable Fire
The Unforgettable Fire
The Unforgettable Fire
Two Hearts Beat As One
War
11 O'Clock Tick Tock
Live Version
Gloria
Live Version
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Live Version
U2
White as Snow
U2
Unknown Caller
U2
Stand Up Comedy
U2
No Line on the Horizon
U2
Moment of Surrender
U2
Magnificent
U2
I'll go Crazy if I Don't Go Crazy Tonight
U2
Breathe
U2
Being Born
Night 1
U2 Live on Letterman
Night 2
U2 Live on Letterman
Night 3
U2 Live on Letterman
Night 4
U2 Live on Letterman
Night 5
U2 Live on Letterman
U2
Get On Your Boots
U2 TIMELINE
1976
U2 formed on September 25th, 1976 Dublin, Ireland.
As for the band’s origin, all four members of U2 attended the Mount Temple Comprehensive School in Clontarf County, Dublin. The school was the first state funded multi-denominational public school in the city. At age 14, drummer Larry Mullen, Jr. posted a sign seeking musicians to form a band. Among the boys that responded were Bono, The Edge and Adam Clayton. Their first practice took place in Mullen’s kitchen.
U2 wasn’t the group’s original name. Their first band name was Feedback. In 1977, they changed it to The Hype. Then, in 1978, they began playing under the name U2.
1978
U2 won five-hundred pounds at a talent contest in Limerick, Ireland, as well as money to record their first demo. The boys went into Keystone Studios in Dublin.
Paul McGuiness, introduced to U2 by Hot Press journalist Bill Graham, agrees to manage the band.
1979
U2 released their first EP titled Three, which featured the tracks “Out of Control,” “Stories for Boys” and “Boy/Girl.” It was originally only released in Ireland. In 2008, the EP made its CD debut as bonus tracks on the Boy reissue.
U2 played their first live shows in London.
1980
U2 signed to Island Records.
U2 released “11 O’clock Tick Tock” as their first international single.
U2 released their debut album Boy, which was produced by Steve Lillywhite. Martin Hannet, who produced for Joy Division, was set to work on the record but later pulled out after the death of Joy Division singer Ian Curtis. The album was recorded at the Windmill Lane Studios in Dublin. In 2003, Rolling Stone ranked the effort number 417 on the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
U2 toured Europe and the United States for the first time.
1981
U2 released their second album, October. During the recording of the album, which was fraught with conflict, a briefcase filled with lyrics for the record was stolen and was later returned in 2004. Steve Lillywhite produced again and they recorded at Windmill Lane Studios.
1982
Bono married his childhood sweetheart Ali Stewart.
1983
U2 released their third album, War. War featured the classic anthem “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” which was written about the events of “Bloody Sunday,” an incident in Derry, Northern Ireland on January 30th 1972 where 27 protesters were shot by members of the British army. War also featured classic tracks like “New Year’s Day,” “40” and “Two Hearts Beat As One.” The album was recorded at the Windmill Lane Studios in Dublin and produced by Steve Lillywhite. It also marked the first time that the band works with photographer Anton Corbijn.
U2 recorded the live album Under a Blood Red Sky while touring War. Jimmy Iovine produced it.
U2 recorded a concert film in Denver, Colorado called Live at Red Rocks. It was later released in November 1984. The movie was shown on MTV and later was described by Rolling Stone as one of the 50 Moments that Changed the History of Rock and Roll.
The Edge married Aislinn O’Sullivan. The couple has three children together. They later separated in 1990 and legally divorced in 1996.
1984
U2 released their fourth studio album, The Unforgettable Fire. It was recorded at Slane Castle in County Meath, Ireland with producers Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois and Steve Lillywhite. The effort hit shelves on October 1st and contained the hit song “Pride in the Name of Love.”
Bono and Adam Clayton recorded the Band Aid charity single “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” along with many huge artists of the time.
1985
U2 released the Wide Awake in America EP, which contains live versions of “Bad” and “A Sort of Homecoming” as well as two B-sides, “The Three Sunrises” and “Love Comes Tumbling.”
U2 performed at the Live Aid concert at Wembley Stadium in London. The event was organized by their fellow Irishman Bob Geldof. Many regard their performance at the show as a turning point in their career.
Bono and his wife, Ali, visit Ethiopia. This is where the singer says he witnessed famine for the first time and what sparked his humanitarian work later in life.
1986
U2 began recording their fifth studio album, The Joshua Tree.
Bono took a break from The Joshua Tree recordings to travel to San Salvador and Nicaragua. The experience witnessing so much poverty has a profound impact on the singer.
1987
U2 released The Joshua Tree. The band returned to Windmill Lane Studios in Dublin to record the effort and once again worked with producers Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois. The record spawned massive hits like “With Or Without You,” “Where the Streets Have No Name” and “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.” The album, which has sold over 25-million copies worldwide, was re-released in 2007.
U2 graced the cover of Time magazine.
U2 filmed and recorded Rattle and Hum, an album/film release. The album portion featured live performances from the band’s Joshua Tree tour as well as new songs including “Desire,” “Angel of Harlem” and “All I Want is You.” The film, which explores the band’s tour, came to theatres in 1988 and was directed by Phil Joanou.
1988
The Joshua Tree won Album of the Year and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal at the GRAMMY Awards.
1989
After many reports claimed the band was exhausted following the Joshua Tree and Lovetown tours, at a concert in Dublin on December 30th, 1989, Bono announced that the group would go away for a while and “dream it all up again.”
Adam Clayton was arrested in Dublin, Ireland for possession of a small amount of marijuana.
1990
Larry Mullen, Jr. co-wrote and produced a song for the Irish International soccer team called “Put Em Under Pressure.”
U2 began work on their seventh studio album in East Berlin with producers Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois and Steve Lillywhite.
1991
U2 released Achtung Baby. The album, which was recorded in Berlin and Dublin, was a huge departure for the Irish act. The record had industrial, dance and alternative influences, a first for the rock act. Bono was quoted as describing the effort as “four men trying to chop down the Joshua Tree.” The tracklisting includes “One,” “Mysterious Ways” and “Ultraviolet (Light My Way).”
1992
U2 kicked off the Zoo TV Tour, an over the top touring event featuring the band performing in front of hundreds of TV screens, upside down flying cars, satellite TV links and more. During the show, Bono took on characters like “The Fly,” “Mirror-Ball Man” and “Mister MacPhisto.” The group made prank phone calls to many from the stage including President Bush.
1993
U2 recorded Zooropa in Dublin, Ireland with producers Flood, Brian Eno and their guitarist The Edge.
Adam Clayton was allegedly too hungover to play a show in Sydney, Australia. The bassist reportedly gave up alcohol after the incident.
U2 released their eighth studio album, Zooropa. The record was originally intended to be an EP and was made during a break on the Zoo TV tour. Zooropa took home a GRAMMY for Best Alternative Music Album. Johnny Cash sang on the album’s final track, “The Wanderer.”
1995
U2 released an album under the name Passengers. The record was titled Original Soundtracks 1 and featured producer Brian Eno playing and writing for the record.
Bono and The Edge wrote the tune “GoldenEye” for the James Bond film.
1996
Larry Mullen, Jr. and Adam Clayton produced their version of the Mission Impossible theme song for the film.
U2 released their ninth studio album, Pop. The effort was recorded in Dublin and Miami. Flood, Howie B and Steve Osborne produced it.
1997
U2 headed out on the PopMart world tour. The massive multimedia trek featured a huge mirror ball lemon that the band came out of like it was a spaceship. The production also boasted a 100 foot golden arch.
U2 were the first band to play Sarajevo after the Bosnian War.
1998
U2 appeared on the 200th episode of The Simpsons.
2000
U2 released their tenth studio album, All That You Cant Leave Behind. They recorded the effort with producers Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois in Dublin, Ireland. Many regarded the album as a return to the band’s traditional rock roots. The album, which had mega hit singles like “Beautiful Day” and “Elevation” on it, won seven GRAMMY awards.
According to NME.com, All That You Can’t Leave Behind was banned in Burma. The album was prohibited because the track “Walk On” was dedicated to the country’s pro-democracy leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
U2 recorded three songs for the Million Dollar Hotel soundtrack.
2001
After the September 11th attacks, the song “Walk On” took on new meaning for many.
Bono’s father, Bob Hewson, died.
U2 kicked off the Elevation tour. The trek saw the band returning to indoor arenas. Pollstar said in 2005 that it was the third biggest tour of all time.
U2 announced that they were “reapplying for the job of the best band in the world”
In October, U2 played a series of sold-out shows at New York’s Madison Square Garden.
2002
The Edge got remarried, this time to Morleigh Steinberg. The couple has two children together.
U2 performed at the halftime show at Super Bowl XXXVI. SI.com ranked it the best halftime show in the game’s history.
Bono co-founded DATA (Debt, AIDS, Trade, Africa).
2003
U2 played the 46664 concert hosted by Nelson Mandela in South Africa.
Bono was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
2004
On September 22nd, 2004, U2 released their 11th studio album, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb.
How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb’s first single, “Vertigo,” was featured in an Apple iPod ad.
The U2 iPod was released, as was an iTunes U2 box set.
Bono was named one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People.
Bono’s One Campaign was founded. The campaign aimed to make poverty history.
2005
Bono was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for a second time.
Bono and his wife launched their EDUN clothing line in the hopes of shifting the focus in Africa from aid to trade.
U2 embarked on the Vertigo tour in support of How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. The trek kicked off in San Diego, California on March 28th, 2005.
U2 won all eight GRAMMYs for which they were nominated for How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb.
U2 was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame by Bruce Springsteen.
Bono was named Time magazine’s Person of the Year alongside Bill and Melinda Gates.
U2 played the Live 8 concert in London, also organized by their close friend Bob Geldof.
The Edge, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, started the Music Rising charity, which aimed to raise funds to buy instruments for musicians who lost theirs in the tragedy.
2006
U2 began work on their 12th studio album, No Line on the Horizon. It was announced that they would work with Rick Rubin, but those sessions have since been scrapped.
Bono was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for a third time.
U2 recorded “The Saints Are Coming” with Green Day to benefit The Edge’s Music Rising charity.
The Product Red campaign was launched. The organization was founded in part by Bono and hoped to raise money for the Global Fund, which aims to fight HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases in Africa.
2007
Bono was knighted by the British Empire.
Bono and the boys went back to longtime producers Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois to work on their new record.
Bono appeared in the major motion picture Across the Universe.
2008
U2 signed a 12-year deal with Live Nation worth an estimated 100-million dollars. The deal gave Live Nation control over merchandise, sponsoring and the band’s Web site, U2.com.
In December, U2 finished working on No Line on the Horizon and announced that it would be released on March 3rd.
