U2 timeline
Category: Other
Updated: 1 Jan 2020
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_U2
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Created bySarah N Benmansour
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Adam Clayton born in Chinnor, OxfordshirePaul Hewson born in DublinDavid Evans born in East LondonLarry Mullen Jr. born in Artane, DublinThe band forms after Larry posts on the notice boardThey win a talent show in Limerick and won £500 and time in a studio record a demo for CBS Ireland.They change their name to U2 instead of 'The Hype'They get their first interview in 'Hot Press' with Bill GrahamPaul McGuinness becomes their managerThey have their biggest concert so far, where they were paid £50 at the Top Hat Ballroom to support 'The Stranglers'They play their first performance on TV at the Cork Opera House, a televised concert broadcast on RTE'Hot Press' feature them on the coverThey get a cover story in 'Record Mirror' (a British magazine), their first outside of Ireland.They perform their first shows outside of Ireland, touring London clubs for a fortnight, using £3000 that they borrowed from their family and friends.They perform on The Late Late Show, singing 'Stories for Boys'They release 'Another Day' for the Irish market with CBSIsland Records signs them on an international dealThey release their first international single, '11 O'Clock Tick Tock'They played to 15,000 people in Kildare, at Leixlip Castle, their first open-air festival.They get paid £50 to play at the Top Hat Ballroom, supporting 'The Stranglers'. This their biggest gig so farThey perform at the Lyceum Ballroom in London supporting Echo and the BunnymenThey play at Melkwig ('The Milkway') in Amsterdam, their first continental Europe gig.'Boy', their debut album, is released in the UK and Ireland, and peaks at no. 52They play in New York, at the Ritz, their first concert in America, part of a 2-week long tour.They have their first show in Canada. It receives fantastic reviews as people were emotional about the death of John Lennon the day before'Boy' gets released in the USThey make their TV debut in the US on the 'Tomorrow Show''Gloria' is released and makes the charts'October', their 2nd album, is releasedThe pre-'War' tour beginsThey release their 3rd album 'War' and it debuts at No. 1 in the UK'Two Hearts Beat as One' (a single) gets released in Europe, Australia and North America. However, they release 'Sunday Bloody Sunday' in the Netherlands and Germany instead.They start the American leg of their tour, in North Carolina, at Kenan Stadium, Chapel HillThe Edge gets married to Aislinn O'Sullivan, where Bono serving as the best manThey play in Osaka, their first Japanese concert.'War's tour comes to an end.Aislinn gives birth to Hollie, her and The Edge's first childThey start their first tour of Oceania in Christchurch'The Unforgettable Fire', their fourth album, was released.They play at live aid at Wembley StadiumGreg Carroll, a crew member, is killed in a motorcycle accidentThe Joshua Tree, their 5th album, is releasedThey get their fist number 1 single in the US, 'With or Without You'The Joshua Tree enters the Billboard Charts at number 7The Joshua Tree reaches number 1 on Billboard charts and stays there for 7 weeksThey get called 'Rock's Hottest Ticket' as they become the 4th rock band to be featured on the cover of Time magazineAt the Grammy Awards, U2 win 'Best Vocal of the Year' for 'I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For' and 'Album of the Year' for The Joshua Tree'Rattle and Hum' is releasedThe 'Rattle and Hum' film has its world premiere'Angel of Harlem' is released as the second single from 'Rattle and Hum'Jordan, Bono and Ali's first child, is born on Bono's 29th birthday'All I Want is You' is released as the fourth single from 'Rattle and Hum' and reaches number 1 on the charts in Australia.Adam Clayton gets arrested in Dublin on drug chargesThe Lovetown Tour starts in AustraliaBono inducts The Who into the Rock and Roll Hall of FameThey are named Best International Group at the Brit AwardsThey arrive in East Berlin to start working on a new albumThey film the music video for 'Night and Day' at director Wim Wenders' home in BerlinIn Dublin, they get together to talk about the group's future after the difficulties of the Berlin sessions and all agree to continueEve, Bono and Ali's second child, is bornThe new album's first single, 'The Fly', is released. It becomes their second No. 1 single in the UKThey release 'Achtung Baby''Mysterious Ways' is released as 'Achtung Baby's second single. The song reaches No. 9 on the Hot 100, making it the band's fourth highest charting singleThe Edge inducts The Yardbirds into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. On stage he joins Keith Richards, Neil Young, and Jimmy Page for a version of 'Big River'The Zoo TV Tour begins in Lakeland, FloridaPeriods
They record a performance of 'The Fool' for 'Our Times', an RTE programme. It is their first appearance on TVThey decide for their name to be 'Feedback'They record their first demo in Keystone Studios in Dublin'The Greedy Bastards', a band made up of members of 'Thin Lizzy', 'Boomtown Rats' and 'Sex Pistols', play in Dublin at the Stardust nightclub and hire U2 to support them.Bono goes to London to try and sell the idea of U2 to music magazines and record companiesThey play in Dublin at the Dandelion Market. This expanded their audience as it let in young people that couldn't go to their other showsThey had their first success in the Irish charts after they released 'Three', an Ireland-only EPThey record their first album in Windmill Lane StudiosThey release a single called 'A Day Without Me'They tour around the UK for 56 daysThey release a single that peaks at no. 20 on the 'Mainstream Rock Charts', called 'I Will Follow'They start their first tour of continental Europe.They have their first major tour of the US, playing nearly 60 dates around the country, mostly in clubs.'Fire' is releasedThey record their 2nd album in Dublin, at Windmill Studios.'A Celebration' is released'War's first single, 'New Years Day' is released and is their first hit outside the UKThe Rolling Stone's magazine writer's poll votes U2 the 'Band of the Year'They hire Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno to produce their fourth album, which they perform at Slane CastleThey finish their album at Windmill Lane Studios.Pride (In the Name of Love) is released as the first single for 'The Unforgettable Fire' and enters the U.S top 40, being their biggest hit to that pointThe tour for their fourth album, playing 13 shows across Western EuropeThey get called the 'Band of the 80s' by Rolling Stone magazinePropaganda, their fanclub magazine, publishes its first issueSales of The Joshua Tree pass seven million. 'I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For' is released and reaches number one in the United States'where the streets have no name' is releasedEamon Dunphy publishes 'Unforgettable Fire: The Definitive Biography of U2', an official biography of U2'In God's Country is released as a single in North America and makes the charts in the UK as the import sales are so strongThe last 2 shows are played on The Joshua Tree Tour are played in Arizona, in the Sun Devil Stadium'One Tree Hill' is released as a single exclusively in New ZealandThey get their first number one single in the UK - 'Desire''When Love Comes to Town' is released as the third single from 'Rattle and Hum'They start their longest break to date, including a 2 year break from performing publiclyMullen writes the official anthem for Ireland's 1990 World Cup Soccer Team and it reaches number 1 on the chartsU2 sue the Sunday Independent over an October 1990 article based on third-hand reports about U2 behaving badly in a Dublin restaurant. The matter is settled out of court including a printed apology from the paper which says the original article had 'no foundation in fact'The third single from 'Achtung Baby', 'One', is released. It reached No. 7 in the UK charts, No. 10 in the US charts, and No. 1 on the US Mainstream Rock Tracks and the US Modern Rock Tracks charts
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