U2

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U2 is a massively popular rock band formed in the late 1970s in Dublin, Ireland by Paul "Bono" Hewson, David "The Edge" Evans, Larry Mullen and Adam Clayton. They performed once in Birmingham during their "Zoo TV" tour, at Legion Field in October 1992.

U2 signed with Island Records in 1980 and released their first full-length album, Boy later that year. They cemented their importance with their third release, War, in 1983. That album distinguished itself with a signature ragged-edged sound and Bono's emotional rendition of politically-charged lyrics. The group added a more avant-garde dimension with the Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois-produced The Unforgettable Fire in 1984. Its lead single, "Pride (In the Name of Love)" was a tribute to Martin Luther King Jr.

After their globally televised performance at "Live Aid" in 1985, Rolling Stone dubbed U2 "the band of the '80's." They leveraged that boost with their most enduringly successful album, The Joshua Tree, in 1987. Its first two singles, "With or Without You" and "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" remain among their most-loved songs. The follow-up, a double album and documentary film called Rattle and Hum was commercially successful, but struck some critics as indulgent and pretentious.

Led by Bono and the Edge, U2 broadened their sound again with 1991's Achtung, Baby, adding elements of industrial, electronic and hip-hop. The album was supported by the massive multi-media "Zoo TV" tour, an elaborate parody and celebration of commercialized pop culture, which stopped at Legion Field on October 7, 1992.

During a break in the global tour, the band recorded several tracks for a companion album, Zooropa. After the tour ended in Tokyo in December 1993 the band took an extended break before returning to the studio to contribute a track to the soundtrack for the film "Batman Forever". The band's next full studio album, Pop, inspired by dance club beats and pop consumerism, was delayed until 1997. It garnered mixed reviews and short-lived sales.

Eno and Lanois returned for the band's 10th album, All That You Can't Leave Behind, which marked a welcomed return to a simplified rock sound. The single "Beautiful Day" became one of the band's biggest hits. Since then, the band has alternated highly lucrative arena tours with studio albums. Their 2014 release, "Songs of Innocence" was automatically added to Apple devices free of charge, generating an unexpected backlash from users. In 2017 the band toured for the 30th anniversary of The Joshua Tree, performing the album in its entirety.

Legion Field performance

U2's Zoo TV tour stopped at Birmingham's Legion Field on October 7, 1992 during its third leg ("Outside Broadcast"). The show, with Big Audio Dynamite II and Public Enemy as supporting acts, drew between 35,000 and 41,000 and netted $1,021,061 in receipts.

Setlist

  • "Zoo Station"
  • "The Fly"
  • "Even Better Than The Real Thing"
  • "Mysterious Ways" (with an excerpt from "Love To Love You Baby")
  • "One" (with an excerpt from The Temptations' "My Girl" as a tribute to the recently-deceased Eddie Kendrick)
  • "Until The End Of The World"
  • "New Year's Day"
  • "Whiskey In The Jar" (traditional)
  • "Tryin' To Throw Your Arms Around The World" (with an excerpt from "Love And Affection")
  • "Angel Of Harlem" (with an excerpt from "Hello, Goodbye")
  • "When Love Comes To Town"
  • "Satellite Of Love"
  • "All I Want Is You"
  • "Sunday, Bloody Sunday"
  • "Bullet The Blue Sky" (with an excerpt from "The Battle Hymn Of The Republic")
  • "Running To Stand Still" (with an excerpt from the traditional "Hallelujah")
  • "Where The Streets Have No Name"
  • "Pride (In the Name of Love)"
  • "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" (with an excerpt of Ben E. King's "Stand By Me")

(encore)
  • "Desire"
  • "With Or Without You" (with excerpts from "Shine Like Stars" and The Eurythmics "Love Will Tear Us Apart")
  • "Love Is Blindness"
  • "Can't Help Falling In Love" (Elvis Presley)

Other connections

  • The U2 single ""Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses?" was one of the first 10 songs aired on WWMM-FM when it debuted in 2008.
  • Bono was featured in the documentary "Muscle Shoals" about the music industry in Muscle Shoals.