U2: why they are the best rock band ever throughout the entire history of rock music

Alex Wyler · 26th December 2006

1. U2 members all make the same money and keep a brotherly friendship

2. U2 give more than ample credit to the people who work behind the scenes on their albums, tours, videos, management, publicity, assistants etc...

3. U2 are committed to something greater than themsleves and their fame

4. U2 know that they are only a vehicle for the unexplainable ideas that come through them when they are inspired by what is going on around them.

5. U2 share a great love of the people (fans) who support them and they give much of the money that fans give them to serve a higher purpose - helping out people in need all over the world. Bono doesn't have to touch the hands of fans and is probalby advised by security very strongly not to but he does anyway, putting his life in danger because he wants to connect with the people and love them back the same way that Martin Luther King did.

6. U2 takes the fame and uses it to channel good will to the rest of the world

7. U2 make their music with the grand idea that it must lift people's spirits up and elevate them to a higher place where inspiration can make people want to be better human beings to one another and to the rest of the earth.

8. U2 work within their limitations to make great songs. Not every single one but each album has peak songs.

9. You might hate U2's music but there is no denying the greatness of those 4 people and the hundreds of talented people they employ and the billions of fans that love their company.

el cochino · 26th December 2006

Ok, but I still wouldn't buy their albums.

Sounds Great · 26th December 2006

Well, I don't think they are. I find a few of their songs pretty decent, but overall they have always bored me to death.

Protools Guy · 26th December 2006

I think they are a great band, but I would not call them "the best rock band ever throughout the entire history of rock music".

zboy2854 · 26th December 2006

I would agree with your premise, or at least put them on par with the Beatles, and I would add the following:

No other band has remained together with its original lineup intact for a longer period of time, while at the same time maintaining such a high level of both artistic, critical and popular success. IMHO, they have no peer when considering all three factors.

chriscoleman · 26th December 2006

While I applaud their do-good ethic, I could go the rest of my life without listening to another installment of their readily-available, easily-digested musak for the masses.

Ashermusic · 26th December 2006

First of all, let me say that I greatly respect U2 and their work. And they may be the best human beings assembled in a band in terms of the good they do for the world.

But musically they are not even close to the best rock band ever IMHO. Certainly I would rate the Beatles, who are in a class by themselves, the Eagles, The Band, and Led Zeppelin above them, and possibly The Rolling Stones ,The Who, The Kinks, and about 25 others as on a par with them.

Now if you want to argue that they are the best rock band working today well that is a more sustainable premise.

theblue1 · 26th December 2006

I bought their first album... and gave it to my buddy's 13 year old son after a couple listens. (Who promptly traded it for a GBH album, IIRC, been a while.)

They seem like nice guys.

DivideByZero · 26th December 2006

And nothing says "artistic integrity" like an official U2 Special Edition IPod™! They won't be the greatest band ever until there's a U2 Official Breakfast Cereal, though.

Also, every album they've released since 1993 has been their "comeback" album. I can't wrap my head around this concept; perhaps someone from the world of rock journalism or the PR industry can help me with that one. You put an album that sucks, or you go away for a while, and THEN you release your comeback album. The collective homonculus of music journalists pee their ironically hip corduroys every time a U2 record comes out, as if they didn't write a thesaurus-powered faux-intellectual dissertation on the previous album. But somehow, the previous bladder-constricting album has been deemed sucky in retrospect, and this new one is their comeback album. I can't figure that out.

But U2 is a pretty good band.

andrew269 · 26th December 2006

i would've agreed with you up until 97-98. POP and its tour was their zenith. since then they've just been taking a free ride on their own reputation.

themaidsroom · 26th December 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by DivideByZero

And nothing says "artistic integrity" like an official U2 Special Edition IPod™!
But U2 is a pretty good band.

i also see the special edition ipod as a benchmark of integrity.......

to my ears.......my boy prince from minneapolis has more going on in one
middle eight than U2 often have in a five year period, but that's
just my opinion........

"beautiful day" live on snl a couple of years ago blew me away.......
right after the loss of joey ramone....
i saw both the "war" and "unforgettable fire" tours - both were
great shows.....

i love people to love music: it's a very therapeutic
thing to do with one's energy and spirit, whatever the music
may be

be well

- jack

camitchell · 26th December 2006

.

I'll try to stay out of the "best band" debate..... but any band could learn a thing or two from them about the way they have handled their business affairs. How many bands own their publishing/masters from the beginning? U2 does.

Ka-ching!

And to simply stay intact and relevant as a band for 25+ years..... that is just impressive.

.

Pericles · 26th December 2006

There is no such animal as "the best band ever." it's much too subjective. I'm sure they're a bunch of nice guys but to elevate their musical talent over a band such as Yes (Wakeman could probably play circles around everyone in U2 put together) is a bit obscene.

Jeff16years · 26th December 2006

"First of all, let me say that I greatly respect U2 and their work. And they may be the best human beings assembled in a band in terms of the good they do for the world."

+1, i completely agree

none of the reasons posted make a band the best.
i like what u2 does poitically and helping the needy and stuff like that but...

i think that the best rock band ever is led zeppelin and all they did was party, part more and make great music. i'm not sure if they ever helped anyone or gave anyone else credit, etc.

it's all about the music, that's why (in my opinion) U2 doesn't make the top 500 rock bands of all time

TornadoTed · 26th December 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex Wyler

1. U2 members all make the same money and keep a brotherly friendship

2. U2 give more than ample credit to the people who work behind the scenes on their albums, tours, videos, management, publicity, assistants etc...

3. U2 are committed to something greater than themsleves and their fame

4. U2 know that they are only a vehicle for the unexplainable ideas that come through them when they are inspired by what is going on around them.

5. U2 share a great love of the people (fans) who support them and they give much of the money that fans give them to serve a higher purpose - helping out people in need all over the world. Bono doesn't have to touch the hands of fans and is probalby advised by security very strongly not to but he does anyway, putting his life in danger because he wants to connect with the people and love them back the same way that Martin Luther King did.

6. U2 takes the fame and uses it to channel good will to the rest of the world

7. U2 make their music with the grand idea that it must lift people's spirits up and elevate them to a higher place where inspiration can make people want to be better human beings to one another and to the rest of the earth.

8. U2 work within their limitations to make great songs. Not every single one but each album has peak songs.

9. You might hate U2's music but there is no denying the greatness of those 4 people and the hundreds of talented people they employ and the billions of fans that love their company.

Got to agree, I love U2. I finally got to see them last year and they are out of this world live.

Still they do still come a close second to Creedence Clearwater Revival for me!

Don't get me started on The Beatles, wouldn't be in my top 100!

pramrod · 26th December 2006

2 words- ZZ TOP- 35+ years, all original members, still making great albums, still kicking major ass on tour, no BS. U2 is fine, but greatest rock band ever throughout history? sorry, i'd have to put beatles, stones, zz top, sabbath, motorhead, slayer, zepplin all above the U2. and U2 REALLY benefits from the collective genius' that are ENO and LANOIS- larry mullen jr. is an ass kicking drummer though- his work on lanois productions (emmylou harris, etc.) is spectacular- the difference between him and brian blade on that emmy record is astounding- deep and heavy versus light and jazzy wimpy- check it. enjoy pram

p.s. this should in no way diminish the great work that bono does as an activist, however, i don't think that his activism is enough to call them greatest band of all time- and apparently the other guys in U2 are not so involved with the saving the world bit- they just make music, which is fine...

AlexLakis · 26th December 2006

Well, since we're throwing around opinions, personally, I think they're sell-out bitches with little musical talent at all. They used to stand for something, and now they are just complete money/marketing wh*res who are mere shadows of their past as far as songwriting goes (Joshua Tree was a good album.) It's okay to admire someone if you happen to like their music, or for their ability to make money, but I think comparing Bono to Martin Luther King Jr. is sacrilegious. Just my opinions.

mcballs · 26th December 2006

My favorite U2 album is actually 'All that you can't leave behind'. Anyone else really dig that one? Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby had a lot of great songs but, start to finish, I like ATYCLB the best.

Nu-tra · 26th December 2006

I think their rhythm section sucks. I do like a lot of their songs though.

warhead · 26th December 2006

I applaud anyone with the dough to try and help others as much as U2.

Musically though, with U2 I still haven't found what I'm looking for.

War

Jax · 26th December 2006

Sure it is admirable what U2 does as a socially-conscious megaband. But musically, they've gotten so Middle of the Road that I find them unlistenable. Each album has been like a trek further down the Path to Pablum. Their early stuff, I like. That's from back in the days when they had something to say, and some piss and vinegar to say it with. But now? I wish they'd go away.

4. U2 know that they are only a vehicle for the unexplainable ideas that come through them when they are inspired by what is going on around them.

Unexplainable ideas? Lol. Yeah, I've often thought alot of their songs weren't about much of anything in particular.

.... Why the F is this in 'So Much Gear?'

Sounds Great · 26th December 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by warhead

Musically though, with U2 I still haven't found what I'm looking for.

War

thenoiseflower · 26th December 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nu-tra

I think their rhythm section sucks. I do like a lot of their songs though.

No, its just the bass player who sucks.....

I like "POP" the best (followed by WAR), I know I know, but "POP" is such a great record....

Jax · 26th December 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by zboy2854

I would agree with your premise, or at least put them on par with the Beatles...

I really can't do that. Not even close IMO.

andrew269 · 26th December 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff16years

(in my opinion) U2 doesn't make the top 500 rock bands of all time

Quote:

Originally Posted by TornadoTed

Don't get me started on The Beatles, wouldn't be in my top 100!

raal · 26th December 2006

this is almost as good as ITB/OTB wars but i may as well jump in.

i've never really dug their recorded music but was blown away by a live show i was once dragged to by an ex girlfriend. imho bono and co. are a very talented bunch, but if there were to be a 'the best' title to hand out in rock and pop, i'd have to give it to the beatles hands down.

now let's start a thread about what rock n' roll means.

Teddy Gee · 26th December 2006

Yes and I think that vanilla is simply the best flavor ever and look how it is still used in cooking the world over today!!

Best of anything will always be a principally subjective measure. U2 is not even a remote candidate for my "favorite rock band" list and I don't have any idea what "being like brothers", or giving credit to the people who work with them" has to do with being a great rock band(?) Admirable traits but,...............

This is an odd topic for the 'So much gear' forum..............

Happy Holidays!

Stephen

DivideByZero · 26th December 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcballs

My favorite U2 album is actually 'All that you can't leave behind'. Anyone else really dig that one? Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby had a lot of great songs but, start to finish, I like ATYCLB the best.

It's my favorite, too. Namely, the first seven tracks, minus "Elevation". I was never really into them in the first place, but those songs stuck with me for some reason. I was forced to listen to it for three months straight, so I'm going to assume it's a form of the Stockholm syndrome.

BB Edwards · 26th December 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex Wyler

U2: why they are the best rock band ever throughout the entire history of rock music

oh, I don't know, maybe cause you said so? The premise is as ridiculous as the thread. Take it to the U2 fanboy forums Alex.

dreamsongs · 26th December 2006

U2 is not a band anymore, it's a business...

They have some good songs but I haven't found an album where I liked more than 3 songs on it.

Let's judge a band by their music, OK ? In that respect, I wouldn't rate them even close to top #20 or #30. They're too inconsistent for that. If you want to judge by longevity, then they're higher...

I think the poster is a huge fan driven by the mega-advertising machine that U2 has become...

26th December 2006	#1
Alex Wyler Banned Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Toronto, LA & Alaska Posts: 334 Thread Starter	U2: why they are the best rock band ever throughout the entire history of rock music 1. U2 members all make the same money and keep a brotherly friendship 2. U2 give more than ample credit to the people who work behind the scenes on their albums, tours, videos, management, publicity, assistants etc... 3. U2 are committed to something greater than themsleves and their fame 4. U2 know that they are only a vehicle for the unexplainable ideas that come through them when they are inspired by what is going on around them. 5. U2 share a great love of the people (fans) who support them and they give much of the money that fans give them to serve a higher purpose - helping out people in need all over the world. Bono doesn't have to touch the hands of fans and is probalby advised by security very strongly not to but he does anyway, putting his life in danger because he wants to connect with the people and love them back the same way that Martin Luther King did. 6. U2 takes the fame and uses it to channel good will to the rest of the world 7. U2 make their music with the grand idea that it must lift people's spirits up and elevate them to a higher place where inspiration can make people want to be better human beings to one another and to the rest of the earth. 8. U2 work within their limitations to make great songs. Not every single one but each album has peak songs. 9. You might hate U2's music but there is no denying the greatness of those 4 people and the hundreds of talented people they employ and the billions of fans that love their company.

26th December 2006	#4
Protools Guy Lives for gear Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: US of A Posts: 1,261	I think they are a great band, but I would not call them "the best rock band ever throughout the entire history of rock music". __________________ I only need one more piece of gear...

26th December 2006	#5
zboy2854 Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Ft. Lauderdale, FL Posts: 7,936	I would agree with your premise, or at least put them on par with the Beatles, and I would add the following: No other band has remained together with its original lineup intact for a longer period of time, while at the same time maintaining such a high level of both artistic, critical and popular success. IMHO, they have no peer when considering all three factors. __________________ What the wise man does in the beginning, fools do in the end. --Warren Buffett The four most expensive words in the English language are: "This time it's different." --John Marks Templeton

26th December 2006	#7
Ashermusic Lives for gear Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,776	First of all, let me say that I greatly respect U2 and their work. And they may be the best human beings assembled in a band in terms of the good they do for the world. But musically they are not even close to the best rock band ever IMHO. Certainly I would rate the Beatles, who are in a class by themselves, the Eagles, The Band, and Led Zeppelin above them, and possibly The Rolling Stones ,The Who, The Kinks, and about 25 others as on a par with them. Now if you want to argue that they are the best rock band working today well that is a more sustainable premise. __________________ Composer, Logic Certified Trainer, Level 2 Author of "Going Pro with Logic Pro 9" www.jayasher.com

26th December 2006	#8
theblue1 Gear Guru Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 14,279	I bought their first album... and gave it to my buddy's 13 year old son after a couple listens. (Who promptly traded it for a GBH album, IIRC, been a while.) They seem like nice guys. __________________ day job \| A Year of Songs \| music and social stuff \| mutant pop on facebook \| roots acoustic on facebook

26th December 2006	#2
el cochino Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Austria Posts: 937	Ok, but I still wouldn't buy their albums.

26th December 2006	#3
Sounds Great Gear Guru Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Twin Cities, MN Posts: 18,030 1 Review written	Well, I don't think they are. I find a few of their songs pretty decent, but overall they have always bored me to death. __________________ http://soundcloud.com/sounds-great-1 -Rob Kicking around on a piece of ground in your home town Waiting for someone or something to show you the way.

26th December 2006	#6
chriscoleman Lives for gear Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 548	While I applaud their do-good ethic, I could go the rest of my life without listening to another installment of their readily-available, easily-digested musak for the masses.

26th December 2006	#9
DivideByZero Gear nut Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 82	And nothing says "artistic integrity" like an official U2 Special Edition IPod™! They won't be the greatest band ever until there's a U2 Official Breakfast Cereal, though. Also, every album they've released since 1993 has been their "comeback" album. I can't wrap my head around this concept; perhaps someone from the world of rock journalism or the PR industry can help me with that one. You put an album that sucks, or you go away for a while, and THEN you release your comeback album. The collective homonculus of music journalists pee their ironically hip corduroys every time a U2 record comes out, as if they didn't write a thesaurus-powered faux-intellectual dissertation on the previous album. But somehow, the previous bladder-constricting album has been deemed sucky in retrospect, and this new one is their comeback album. I can't figure that out. But U2 is a pretty good band. __________________ /0

26th December 2006	#10
andrew269 Gear nut Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: hbg, pa Posts: 82	i would've agreed with you up until 97-98. POP and its tour was their zenith. since then they've just been taking a free ride on their own reputation.

26th December 2006	#12
camitchell Gear maniac Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orlando, Fl Posts: 201	. I'll try to stay out of the "best band" debate..... but any band could learn a thing or two from them about the way they have handled their business affairs. How many bands own their publishing/masters from the beginning? U2 does. Ka-ching! And to simply stay intact and relevant as a band for 25+ years..... that is just impressive. .

26th December 2006	#13
Pericles Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 584	There is no such animal as "the best band ever." it's much too subjective. I'm sure they're a bunch of nice guys but to elevate their musical talent over a band such as Yes (Wakeman could probably play circles around everyone in U2 put together) is a bit obscene.

26th December 2006	#14
Jeff16years Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Weymouth, MA U.S.A. Posts: 1,224	"First of all, let me say that I greatly respect U2 and their work. And they may be the best human beings assembled in a band in terms of the good they do for the world." +1, i completely agree none of the reasons posted make a band the best. i like what u2 does poitically and helping the needy and stuff like that but... i think that the best rock band ever is led zeppelin and all they did was party, part more and make great music. i'm not sure if they ever helped anyone or gave anyone else credit, etc. it's all about the music, that's why (in my opinion) U2 doesn't make the top 500 rock bands of all time __________________ www.sonicdisorder.com “One of the 10 best independent albums of 2008” -The Noise

26th December 2006	#16
pramrod Gear addict Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: CATSKILLS Posts: 303	2 words- ZZ TOP- 35+ years, all original members, still making great albums, still kicking major ass on tour, no BS. U2 is fine, but greatest rock band ever throughout history? sorry, i'd have to put beatles, stones, zz top, sabbath, motorhead, slayer, zepplin all above the U2. and U2 REALLY benefits from the collective genius' that are ENO and LANOIS- larry mullen jr. is an ass kicking drummer though- his work on lanois productions (emmylou harris, etc.) is spectacular- the difference between him and brian blade on that emmy record is astounding- deep and heavy versus light and jazzy wimpy- check it. enjoy pram p.s. this should in no way diminish the great work that bono does as an activist, however, i don't think that his activism is enough to call them greatest band of all time- and apparently the other guys in U2 are not so involved with the saving the world bit- they just make music, which is fine...

26th December 2006	#17
AlexLakis Lives for gear Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Annapolis, MD/L.A. Posts: 3,631	Well, since we're throwing around opinions, personally, I think they're sell-out bitches with little musical talent at all. They used to stand for something, and now they are just complete money/marketing wh*res who are mere shadows of their past as far as songwriting goes (Joshua Tree was a good album.) It's okay to admire someone if you happen to like their music, or for their ability to make money, but I think comparing Bono to Martin Luther King Jr. is sacrilegious. Just my opinions.

26th December 2006	#18
mcballs Gear addict Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 366	My favorite U2 album is actually 'All that you can't leave behind'. Anyone else really dig that one? Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby had a lot of great songs but, start to finish, I like ATYCLB the best.

26th December 2006	#19
Nu-tra Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 3,270	I think their rhythm section sucks. I do like a lot of their songs though.

26th December 2006	#20
warhead Jai guru deva om Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: South Carolina Posts: 11,910	I applaud anyone with the dough to try and help others as much as U2. Musically though, with U2 I still haven't found what I'm looking for. War __________________ Warren Dent - Owner of: www.ZenProAudio.com Where You Get Gear Now & Zen Email via Gearslutz

26th December 2006	#21
Jax Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: San Francisco Posts: 4,763	Sure it is admirable what U2 does as a socially-conscious megaband. But musically, they've gotten so Middle of the Road that I find them unlistenable. Each album has been like a trek further down the Path to Pablum. Their early stuff, I like. That's from back in the days when they had something to say, and some piss and vinegar to say it with. But now? I wish they'd go away. 4. U2 know that they are only a vehicle for the unexplainable ideas that come through them when they are inspired by what is going on around them. Unexplainable ideas? Lol. Yeah, I've often thought alot of their songs weren't about much of anything in particular. .... Why the F is this in 'So Much Gear?'

26th December 2006	#26
raal Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: mexico Posts: 4,882	this is almost as good as ITB/OTB wars but i may as well jump in. i've never really dug their recorded music but was blown away by a live show i was once dragged to by an ex girlfriend. imho bono and co. are a very talented bunch, but if there were to be a 'the best' title to hand out in rock and pop, i'd have to give it to the beatles hands down. now let's start a thread about what rock n' roll means.

26th December 2006	#27
Teddy Gee Gear addict Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 311	Yes and I think that vanilla is simply the best flavor ever and look how it is still used in cooking the world over today!! Best of anything will always be a principally subjective measure. U2 is not even a remote candidate for my "favorite rock band" list and I don't have any idea what "being like brothers", or giving credit to the people who work with them" has to do with being a great rock band(?) Admirable traits but,............... This is an odd topic for the 'So much gear' forum.............. Happy Holidays! Stephen

26th December 2006	#30
dreamsongs Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: FL Posts: 1,542	U2 is not a band anymore, it's a business... They have some good songs but I haven't found an album where I liked more than 3 songs on it. Let's judge a band by their music, OK ? In that respect, I wouldn't rate them even close to top #20 or #30. They're too inconsistent for that. If you want to judge by longevity, then they're higher... I think the poster is a huge fan driven by the mega-advertising machine that U2 has become... __________________ Dreamsongs BMI Dreamsongs Productions Dreamsongs Publishing BMI Dreamsongs LLC " The dream don't come any closer on it's own, you have to go after it " Me...!

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