U2

U2 was formed September 25, 1976 in the capital of Ireland, Dublin. Larry Mullen, when he was 14 years old, put on a school bench rather amusing ad: «I have spent money on a drum kit may have burdock, which bought a guitar and want to organize a group?». Seven teenagers came to listen, held in the kitchen Mallenov. A new group (called simply «The Larry Mullen Band»), included Mullen (drums), Adam Clayton (bass), Paul Hyusona (Bono), Dave Evans (Edzha) and his brother Dick Evans, and Ivan McCormick and Peter Martin - the two other friends of Mullen. Soon they changed the name to the Feedback. Martin and McCormick in the next couple of weeks have left the group.

In March 1977, a group changed its name to The Hype ( «Dust in the eye»). Dick Evans, who was older and had already graduated from college, was more than - the other participants were inclined to the quartet. At one of the concerts Dick demonstratively left the scene. The remaining four continued their concert entitled U2.

The origin of the name «U2» it is not clear. This is the name of an American aircraft-intelligence «Lockheed U-2», but Steve Averill, guru of punk-rock from The Radiators from Space, argues that this name was chosen by team members from a list drawn up by him and Adam Clayton. In an interview with Larry King Bono said: «In fact, I do not really like the name U2» and «Frankly, I never thought of it as "you too"».

In St. Patrick's Day 1978, U2 won a contest whose prize was 500 pounds and the money to record a demo. They recorded a demo tape in the studios Keystone Studios, Dublin, in April 1978. And in May, Paul MakGinness decided to become manager of the group.

First, U2 sound was influenced by groups such as Television and Joy Division, and had «joy», which was the result of «radiant chords» Edzha and «sizzling vocals» Bono. The first single, entitled Three released only in Ireland (1979) and quickly took the first lines in the charts. In December 1979 the band played in London. This was their first performance outside of Ireland, and it passed the attention of the audience and critics. In February 1980, the second single released Another Day, and again falls solely on the music shelves of Ireland.