U2

About U2

The four-piece formed at Mount Temple Comprehensive School and signed to Island Records within four years of their first rehearsals. War (1983) and The Joshua Tree (1987) established them as a politically conscious group with crossover appeal; the latter became one of the best-selling albums ever, reaching 25 million copies worldwide and producing their only US number-one singles "With or Without You" and "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For". Their partnership with producers Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois starting with The Unforgettable Fire (1984) pushed them toward more abstract sonic textures that would define their sound.

After the critical and commercial struggles of Rattle and Hum (1988), U2 pursued a radical reinvention with Achtung Baby (1991), incorporating alternative, industrial, and electronic dance influences alongside a more ironic public persona. This experimental period extended through Zooropa (1993) and Pop (1997), though the PopMart Tour proved divisive. The group returned to a grounded approach on All That You Can't Leave Behind (2000) and How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (2004), reclaiming mainstream success. Beyond albums, their concert tours became legendary in scale; the U2 360° Tour (2009-2011) held records for attendance and gross revenue until 2019.

The band holds 22 Grammy Awards and sold an estimated 150-170 million records worldwide, making them among the most successful recording artists in history. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005 and have remained politically active advocates for human rights causes throughout their existence. The Groove Hunter currently tracks 8 editions across titles including The Joshua Tree, Achtung Baby, Rattle and Hum, Zooropa, All That You Can't Leave Behind 20th Anniversary, and compilations spanning their full catalog.