U2 Blog

Is U2 ‘Christian?’ It Just Doesn’t Matter

Most fans of U2 have heard that they started out as a Christian group, but their Christian faith has been questioned quite a bit by the Church over the years and especially in the past few years.

This band was once praised for their faith; however, today they are often used as an example within the ChristianChurch as a band that has fallen away from their faith. The members themselves, of course, deny this.

Going from a small, almost insignificant group to what they’ve become today seems like an impossible feat for such an outwardly Christian group (only the bass player, Adam Clayton, does not profess a Christian faith) Yet their fame has exploded among the Christian and secular world alike. Bono’s lyrics are filled with passion, love and longing and he claims that all his songs are songs of praise to God in his mind (although admittedly most fans at a concert would seem more likely to worship Bono himself).

It is clear that the band has more than just money as their goal; they genuinely seem interested pursuing justice and the eradication of poverty throughout the world. Still, the question remains: what to do with Bono’s beliefs? He breaks almost all conservative Christian moral codes by smoking cigars, drinking Jack Daniel’s and letting an occasional word of profanity slip out of his mouth. His most popular statement among the more liberal, charismatic or Pentecostal streams of Christianity is “Religion is what you get when the Spirit leaves the building.” He feels that religion is the worst enemy of the Holy Spirit and that we should all let up a bit on how strictly we follow “the rules” of Christianity. He also states that the most important goal of Scriptures should be taking care of the world’s poor. This doesn’t set well with the theology of many Christians, although others embrace it.

So are they Christian or not? In the end, it doesn’t really matter. U2 has made a very strong impression on the world through their faith and unrelenting fight against poverty. As stadiums fill up with fans to watch them perform people are changed through their lyrics and passion for love and we may yet all be able to learn a thing or two from them, Christian and secular alike.

If you’d like to see in person why this band has made such an impact, then be sure to see them in concert. U2Tickets.com has the largest selection of seats you’re likely to find online. Contact us today.

The Evolution of U2

U2 has been around for nearly three decades now, and yet still they draw huge crowds at concerts. This is because of one word: Evolution.

All bands evolve their sound (some less so than others) but not all evolve their art in the precise and confident manner that U2 has. We’ve been blasting U2’s singles since the 1980’s, dancing or head banging to the charged guitars and shattering vocals. And we’re still doing it. Most rock stars would have shrunk into memory, obscurity, or rehab by now like shots of spectacle that flare up only to sputter out just as quickly. But U2 has kept burning, kept playing, and most importantly, we’ve kept listening.

Twelve albums and 22 Grammys later (Which, by the way, is more Grammy awards than any other band has won) U2 still has our undivided attention. Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame by none other than Bruce Springsteen himself (who polishes three less Grammys than Bono and company). Each decade a whole new demographic and age group joins the following, proving to the teens of today that U2 isn’t their Dad’s band the way Motley Crue was. U2 is for everyone because they change their approach, not themselves.

Their style was originally inspired by the spirit of punk rock more so than the execution of it. They bottled the energy and fused it into their debut album Boy, pouring out that adolescent vexation. As they matured, so did their music, and most notably Bono’s lyrics. Largely poetry rather exasperated venting, which more and more grew complex and open to political and social interpretations. Like any mature individual they also never lost the fun loving nature of their synthesizer and effects laden tracks of the 80’s, which pepper their modern hits in less obvious forms.

Their key to adaptation is refining the methods of the creature, never the spirit. And now, thirty years later, that initial spark of Sex Pistols punk rock energy and enthusiasm permeates U2fs being. Like the Pistols, they are concerned less with overtly complex musical arrangements and more with better ways to express themselves. As a band, U2 has learned the key to survival, the key to staying relevant in the eyes of multiple generations, the key to keeping the fire from sputtering out. That key is evolving. U2tickets.com sells tickets to U2’s current tour.

Why U2 Remains Popular Even Today

There are few bands whose fame has reached the same iconic status that U2 has achieved. From their humble beginnings as a fledgling punk rock group in their native Ireland, to their multiple sold out world tours, U2 has left an enduring mark on the landscape of popular music. Their continued success is signified not only by their teeming record sales, but by their vast cultural influence as well.

Lead singer Bono, along with the rest of the band, has made working with countless charitable organizations a vital point of their career. These combined characteristics, their ongoing musical success and their dedication to humanitarian causes, have made U2 one of rock and roll’s most popular acts, and is why they remain so to this day.

Originally starting out in the late 1970′s under a different moniker, U2 managed to garner a respectable amount of success in their homeland. However, they wouldn’t reach the world wide, chart-topping success we know them for today until 1987, when they released their preeminent album The Joshua Tree. Containing such hits as “With or Without You” and “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For,” this album kick-started U2′s rapid ascent to super stardom. Without it, I doubt the band as we know it would exist today.

The Joshua Tree quickly became the definitive U2 album and contains songs that are still a staple of their live performances to this day. Based on its commercial success, U2 was invited to play in larger arenas around the globe and they were exposed to bigger audiences than ever before. The Joshua Tree earned the band their first two Grammy Awards as well as landing them on the cover of TIME Magazine, a privilege which had, until then, been reserved for only three other bands: The Beatles, The Band, and The Who.

Over the course of the next 25 years U2 continued to release dynamic albums that helped shape the face of modern music. In conjunction with their musical output, they have also been able to focus their attention on several worthy charities and bring those charities to the attention of the public. Among these charities are Live Aid, Amnesty International, the ONE Campaign, and Music Rising.

The considerable effort by U2 on behalf of each of the mentioned charities, as well as their on going musical success, has helped to build and maintain their universal popularity. By staying humble they have kept their music honest and that is always refreshing.

U2tickets.com sells tickets to U2′s current tour, so witnessing the legend of this iconic group is easy and affordable.

U2: Music for Outsiders

Like all good alternative rock musicians, the Irish band, U2 makes music for outsiders. Near the beginning of their 30 year career, the band was filmed performing songs from their 1983 album, War, at the Red Rocks amphitheatre in Colorado for 9,000 fans. Holed up in the canyon, lead singer Bono seemed to be rallying a band of rebels rather than putting on a rock and roll show. Their hit at the time, “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” featured a machine-gun-like rhythm from guitarist, The Edge. The emotionally charged and socially conscious performance soon became the band’s trademark.
26 years, 22 Grammy awards and 145 million record sales later, U2 has clearly outgrown its underground status. No longer just a voice for alienated teenagers, the band has branched out into partnerships with major corporations, (Apple’s U2- inspired iPod) organized religion (the U2 Eucharist) and even world leaders (Bono’s work with the “Drop the Debt” program.)
At times, Bono himself seems chagrined by the mainstream success of the band. While speaking to an audience, which included President George W. Bush at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington D.C. in 2006, Bono joked that, “… there’s something unnatural, something unseemly about rock stars mounting the pulpit and preaching at presidents.”
Still, Bono seems to alternate between being embarrassed by the band’s world domination status and loving it. For example, while he poked fun at his overblown celebrity self by donning dark wraparound sunglasses and becoming “The Fly” during 1992-93’s Zoo TV tour, he has also repeatedly called U2, “The greatest band in the world!”
Despite their massive success in the rock and roll business, U2 has managed to keep creating songs with their personal, universal appeal still intact. The songs for outsiders, in other words. These songs, say many fans, are what has made them stick by the band all these years
The band’s latest recording, No Line on the Horizon has received generally good reviews. But if the song’s third single is any indication, Bono won’t be reforming his lead singer antics any time soon. For on “I’ll go Crazy, if I don’t go crazy tonight,” he sings that “The right to appear ridiculous is something I hold dear.” But for what the fans are getting, that is something they are willing to endure.
Nothing beats hearing the music of U2 in person. But you can only do that if you have tickets. When you’re ready to see U2 in person, remember that u2tickets.com has the largest selection of seats and tickets available online.

The Best Things About The Band U2

First established as a group of teenagers in 1976, U2 has become an icon around the world. But why? What makes U2 so popular over 30 years later? There are many different possibilities I’d like to toss out there. Maybe the popularity and greatness associated with U2 has something to do with the versatility of the music and intensity of the lyrics. Maybe it is because of Bono, a compassionate song writer and philanthropist. Maybe it is because of the number of albums they have sold, spanning the globe and reaching multiple generations. Whatever the reason, few people can deny U2’s incredible legacy.

The music of U2 is versatile and has gathered fans from several generations. For over 30 years, U2 has been reaching out to fans across the globe. When scanning the venue during a concert, fans can be found ranging in age from 5 to 65 years old, all singing along to various songs. Covering topics like religion, politics, war, and famine, U2 created and recorded songs they felt expressed important viewpoints. Bono, who wrote the lyrics for almost all of U2’s songs, took great pride in handcrafting the songs to portray messages such as the greatness of Martin Luther King Jr. or seeking spiritual fulfillment.

Besides this, some people attribute the band’s success to one man: Bono. When most people are asked about the band U2, his is the name that usually comes to mind. Since the band’s creation, Bono has been a key member. Writing nearly all of the song lyrics himself, Bono carefully selected what topics would be covered and what U2’s message would be regarding them. Many of the songs spoke of controversial topics such as politics, war, and religion. Although the songs contributed to Bono’s popularity, it was his compassionate side that people have grown attached to. Bono has established several charities, including DATA (Debt, AIDS, Trade, Africa), ONE, and RED. Because of his generosity, Bono has received many honors including 2005 Times Man of the Year, honorary Knighthood from Queen Elizabeth, and a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize. No wonder people think of Bono!

Whether it’s the diversity, the causes they champion, or the impact of Bono, U2′s legacy cannot be disputed. With 12 studio albums to date, U2 has sold over 145 million copies worldwide. In the United States alone, U2 has earned 22 Grammys and been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. They were even listed as #22 in Rolling Stones’ 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.

You can see U2 for yourself if you have tickets. And remember that U2tickets.com has the largest selection of tickets you’ll find online.

Why U2 Might Be the Best Band Ever

For more than two decades, U2 has been exciting, entertaining, and enlightening audiences worldwide. Just another rock band? Hardly! In fact, there is a case to be made that they might be the best rock band ever.

Around since the 1980s, the band still amazes. Front man Bono is still capable of wailing out the lyrics that gave rise to his iconic “solo moniker” status, still surrounded by the same talented team from its humble beginnings, still championing causes like peace in Northern Ireland, and engaging audiences all the way. The Edge, Larry Mullen, and Adam Clayton round out the Dublin, Ireland crew, and in the 1980′s after more than a decade getting attention in live venues, U2 hit rock n’ roll gold with the release of “The Joshua Tree.” With the vocal and musical ambition to capture rock, alternative, progressive, and techno music the band was launched into superstardom where it remains today.

The genres may vary, but the band has stayed true to its core beliefs and style. The focus remains making good music, while affecting change in social and political climates. The formidable foursome is steadfast: donating proceeds of sell out national and international venues to health concerns like AIDS, and malaria, while singing and backing the goals of peacemakers like Desmond Tutu. This chamelon like band was able to change with the times, all the while still preserving its place in the rock n’ roll hall of fame.

With the energy of an anthem rock n’ roll cover band and the ability to deliver mellower music, U2 continues to amaze. Take the song and video “Magnificent,” for instance. It was filmed in Morocco, and in it, Bono and company deliver a compelling and stirring message. The video takes place in a town with ominous, ancient buildings shrouded in sheets. It’s a suggestive sort of middle eastern venue longing for change. It’s Bono that spearheads that message. In his vocals, backed with a compelling beat, it’s not long before we witness the band’s message of hope come to life. The sheets lift seemingly without effort. The sun shines in all its glory. Then we experience hope for a new day. It’s not lip service either, with Bono at the helm. You know that this hope is something that the band truly believes. And lives.

Perhaps it’s that genuineness, more than anything, that makes U2 one of history’s greatest bands. Want to see this legendary band for yourself?  u2tickets.com sells tickets to all of their concerts, so contact us today.

U2 Strives to Lower Carbon Emissions

It was quite a wake-up call for Irish rock band U2 a few weeks ago when Helen Roberts of the environmentalist group Carbon Footprint publicly declared that the carbon put into the atmosphere by the band and people traveling to their concerts was enough to power a trip to Mars. While some rockers might let this roll off their back, U2 has built a reputation as a socially-conscious singing group. So they’ve responded.

Live Nation, the producers for the band’s current 360° Tour, have announced that they will begin adopting more environment-conscious policies. Their goal, according to the group, is to balance the Tour’s carbon footprint through an offset and reduction strategy.

The Tour has said their first goal is to work with venues, production and fans to reduce the Tour’s environmental impact, and yet not compromise the experience for the fans. For instance, they will set up recycling programs at many of the venues. They are also encouraging fans to use Brita hydration stations at venues to reduce plastic-bottle waste. Those directly involved in the concert will also ue these stations and Brita products to refill reusable steel water bottles.

The Tour is also offering fans a PickupPal carpooling program, so taht fans can lower the amount of carbon emissions from their vehicles while traveling to and from the concert.

There have also been several changes backstage at the U2 concerts, as well as in the office and on the road. For example, there is now bus and backstage recycling, recycling of batteries and electronics, refillable water sations, and constant analyzing of bus and truck operations for areas in which carbon emissions can be reduced.

And finally, the Tour is announcing a customized U2
“Next we will announce the 2009 customized U2-360° Tour OFFSET strategy, details of which are still being finetuned.

All of this is welcome from a band that preaches environmentalism to their fans and which is eager to not appear to be hypocritical. And they’re doing a fine job of living up to their own talk.

Interested in seeing the socially-conscious U2 in person? Tickets are still available for their current tour. And remember that FrontRow.com has the largest selection you’re likely to find on the Internet, so contact us with your ticket needs. http://u2tickets.com

U2: A Christian Band?

U2 is a Christian rock band. Or not.

So are they or aren’t they? The truth seems to lie somewhere in between.

There’s no denying that U2 songs have, for decades, popped up on contemporary Christian stations throughout the world, because their messages are so consistent with the Christian message. In fact, U2 lyrics can even be heard coming from Sunday school classes and church sanctuaries. You’ll also hear them in Jewish temples.

Not surprising, since the “secular” rock band which probably has the most spiritual themes and biblical allusions is U2. Some church leaders have even begun conducting classes centered around the messages in U2 songs.

So U2 must be Christian, right? Well–sort of. It’s an absolute fact that members Bono, Larry Mullen Jr. and The Edge come from Christian backgrounds and were part of the same conservative Christian youth group when they were teens in Ireland. However, the members left this youth group — and organized religion — behind after they disagreed with church leaders over whether Christians could play and sing rock and roll.

But even when they left, the three did not leave their faith behind. They routinely made it a regular part of their music. Indeed, they give a musical recitation of Psalm 40 in their song, “40.” And in their recent release, “No Line on the Horizon,” there are a whole slew of biblical images. For instance, “White as Snow” gives the biblical metaphor of a lamb which is white as snow.

There are other songs that specifically refer to Jesus and God and the failures of the modern-day church. So if they sing about the church’s failures, that should be a turn-off to Christian churches, right? Not at all. Many modern-day churches are introspective in much of the more mainstream “Contemporary Christian Music’ and welcome music that it is not meant to be judgmental of the church, but longing to fix those things which are wrong. And that, they say, seems to be the spirit behind U2′s message.

In fact, many churches use U2′s music to draw people into their services. One Episcopal church created a service that they called U2charist, in which the band’s music is presented and congregants are urged to give offerings for eradicating disease and poverty. And one United Methodist Church held a similar service and gave away tickets to a U2 concert.

Want to check out the spiritual message of U2 for yourself? As always, the best tickets at the best prices are available here: http://u2tickets.com