U2 can make a difference

Longevity in the fickle world of entertainment is rare and largely dependent on artists’ powers of creativity and reinvention. Only a few bands and artists have the distinction and honour of maintaining their popularity and record sales for over two decades. Perhaps the most notable of those is the Rolling Stones, who are still going strong after 40 years. In comparison to the short-lived, flash in the pan careers of most of today’s young artists; these music giants possess aeons of experience and appear even greater. Among these masters is a band called U2, Irish born and bred and international superstars since the mid-80s.

The two most well known members of the band are Bono, lead vocalist and guitarist, and The Edge, guitarist, keyboardist and supporting vocalist. They are the most outspoken members of the band and are more often seen at public or social functions than the other two. Adam Clayton is the bass guitarist and Larry Mullen Jr handles the drums and other percussion instruments.

The band has the much needed capability to reinvent itself and adapt its style to changing trends in the music industry. A few key features of the band have remained constant, specifically Bono’s impassioned vocals and The Edge’s textural guitar playing, both of which have been carefully cultivated over the years. Another distinguishing aspect is their ability to stage spectacular live shows and concerts. These performances are often thought to be more artistically compelling than their studio albums.

Instead of letting their phenomenal stage presence and commercial success inflate their egos to superlative levels, they’ve maintained their social awareness and used their fame to campaign for several social justice causes. They kicked off their fight against famine, war, and all things unjust, in 1984 when they took part in Band Aid in aid of Ethiopian famine relief. In 1985 they performed at the Live Aid concert, which was a follow up to Band Aid.

In 1998 they donated all of the proceeds from their single “The Sweetest Thing” to the Chernobyl Children’s Project. They’ve vociferously supported Burma’s pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and taken part in Nelson Mandela’s 46664, 2003 concert to create AIDS awareness. They were awarded Amnesty International’s Ambassador of Conscience Award in 2008 for their efforts in promoting human rights.

U2 are not only gifted artists in the eyes of their fans, as they’ve been showered with numerous awards from leaders in the music industry, including 22 coveted Grammy Awards. No other rock band has achieved that level of success. In 2005 they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It was the first year that they were eligible for the honour.

Few would argue that U2’s tremendous success isn’t well earned and well deserved. They’re one of the hardest working bands in the business; releasing albums on a regular basis and going on extended world tours, with sell-out performances where ever they go. Their adoring fans and curious onlookers have been anxiously waiting for a new album, and that wait is nearly over. They’ve been working on new material since 2006 and are planning to release a brand new record in 2008. They may have been around since 1980 but they’ve kept themselves new and exciting, and the world watches with baited breath to see what they’ll do next.

Recommended site:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U2