U2: A Musical Biography

by David Kootnikoff

Overview

This is the story of the phenomenally popular, critically acclaimed Irish band from its Dublin beginnings to the present.

U2: A Musical Biography tells the story of the phenomenally popular Irish rock band whose passionate songs and performances have taken them from their Dublin upbringing to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame—all with the band's original foursome of Bono, The Edge, Larry Mullen, and Adam Clayton intact.

U2 follows the band from the early talent show victory that got them their first recording contract to their 1987 worldwide breakout with The Joshua Tree and the string of critically acclaimed albums and sold-out stadium and arena tours that followed. As the story of U2 unfolds, readers will get a sense of the strong interpersonal bonds and deep-rooted Christian faith that have kept the band together for over three decades. The book also highlights the group's ongoing commitment to supporting a variety of human rights causes worldwide.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780313365232
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	12/30/2009
Series:	The Story of the Band
Pages:	173
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 9.30(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

David Kootnikoff is a Canadian writer currently based in Hong Kong.

Table of Contents

Series Foreword ix

Introduction xi

Timeline xiii

Chapter 1 Stories for Boys: Origins & Early Days (1976-1980) 1

Chapter 2 A New Song: Boy & October (1980-1982) 15

Chapter 3 Out of Control: War & Commercial Success (1982-1983) 29

Chapter 4 Wide Awake: The Unforgettable Fire & Rebirth (1984-1986) 41

Chapter 5 Rattled & Hummed: The Joshua Tree & International Stardom (1986-1990) 57

Chapter 6 Arms Around The World: Achtung Baby & Zooropa (1990-1994) 73

Chapter 7 Too Much Is Not Enough: Pop & PopMart (1994-1998) 89

Chapter 8 A Sort of Homecoming: All That You Can't Leave Behind (1998-2002) 101

Chapter 9 One Step Closer: How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (2002-2006) 113

Chapter 10 Hope & History: No Line on the Horizon (2006- ) 125

Appendix 1 U2's Studio Albums 145

Appendix 2 U2's Number 1 Singles 149

Appendix 3 U2's Videos 151

Appendix 4 U2's Awards 155

Further Reading 157

Index 159