2008 Woodie Awards
U2 Rocks the Hall of Fame
Katie Meyer
Issue date: 4/6/05 Section: Arts & Entertainment
It is every rock band's life ambition and dream to be inducted into the prestigious Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. On March 14th at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City, U2, one of the contemporary world's most acclaimed and popular rock bands, was inducted into the hall of fame by rock legend Bruce Springsteen. After 30 years, U2 has proven they have the talent and influence to be among rock and roll's elite.
U2 was formed in 1976 in Dublin, Ireland, under the name "Feedback". In 1978, after intense rehearsal, publicity, and a change of name, the band's big break finally arrived on a fateful March day in Limerick, Ireland at a talent show where a CBS Records executive happened to be in attendance. U2 not only won the talent show, but were also given studio time to record a demo. They soon garnered a loyal and faithful following in Ireland, and in 1980 they were granted a record deal from Island Records. And so the rock legends journey towards outrageous commercial and critical success began.
While U2's fist album, "Boy", was a critical and a modest commercial success, it was 1983's "War" that propelled them to star like status in the eyes of critics and audiences. It was a boldly honest album that challenged the synthetic musical style of its contemporaries. Its raw, uncompromising sound and lyrics captivated and enthralled its listeners as it changed the direction rock music was heading. It was the album and band for which the world had been searching.
Since 1983's revolutionary "War", U2 has continued to achieve tremendous success as they continue to sell out arena tours all around the globe and receive countless accolades from a myriad of institutions. They have received eight Grammy awards and won a Golden Globe for 2002's "The Hands That Built America" featured in Martin Scorsese's "Gangs of New York". Leads singer Bono was even nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in 2003.
He worked to relieve third world debt and for spreading awareness of the AIDS epidemic in Africa, thus proving that U2 is a band not only trying to make a musical statement, but a social one as well. U2 has become one of the most well respected bands in the world for their tremendous talent and for their selfless service to the global community.
U2 was formed in 1976 in Dublin, Ireland, under the name "Feedback". In 1978, after intense rehearsal, publicity, and a change of name, the band's big break finally arrived on a fateful March day in Limerick, Ireland at a talent show where a CBS Records executive happened to be in attendance. U2 not only won the talent show, but were also given studio time to record a demo. They soon garnered a loyal and faithful following in Ireland, and in 1980 they were granted a record deal from Island Records. And so the rock legends journey towards outrageous commercial and critical success began.
While U2's fist album, "Boy", was a critical and a modest commercial success, it was 1983's "War" that propelled them to star like status in the eyes of critics and audiences. It was a boldly honest album that challenged the synthetic musical style of its contemporaries. Its raw, uncompromising sound and lyrics captivated and enthralled its listeners as it changed the direction rock music was heading. It was the album and band for which the world had been searching.
Since 1983's revolutionary "War", U2 has continued to achieve tremendous success as they continue to sell out arena tours all around the globe and receive countless accolades from a myriad of institutions. They have received eight Grammy awards and won a Golden Globe for 2002's "The Hands That Built America" featured in Martin Scorsese's "Gangs of New York". Leads singer Bono was even nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in 2003.
He worked to relieve third world debt and for spreading awareness of the AIDS epidemic in Africa, thus proving that U2 is a band not only trying to make a musical statement, but a social one as well. U2 has become one of the most well respected bands in the world for their tremendous talent and for their selfless service to the global community.