were U2 a postpunk band?

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If U2 had split up after October, would we remember them now as that weird Christian postpunk band?

― DV (dirtyvicar), Monday, 13 January 2003 21:26 (twenty-two years ago)

If U2 had split up after October, would we remember them?

― hstencil, Monday, 13 January 2003 21:30 (twenty-two years ago)

By definition, I'd begrudgingly say "yes, they were a post-punk band", but only in that they formed *POST* Punk Rock and were clearly influenced by it. This is not to say, however, that they displayed any sonic affinity to the likes of the Pop Group et al.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 13 January 2003 21:32 (twenty-two years ago)

V. close to PIL's first album as many have noted.

― Sterling Clover (s_clover), Monday, 13 January 2003 21:40 (twenty-two years ago)

The Gang Of Four influence clinches it.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Monday, 13 January 2003 21:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Most definitely; post-punk puritanism/idealism, no lust/love songs (unless universal/spiritual love), cold war angst -great name- and leftist politics. Television were a huge influence, as were Joy Division, they rightly regarded the Bunnymen as kindred spirits. Boy is a damn fine album that, had they split, would be remembered with great affection.

(but then again i was a 'wierd post-punk christian' myself in the early 80s and thus felt very at home)

― stevo (stevo), Monday, 13 January 2003 21:46 (twenty-two years ago)

considering "11 o'clock tick tock" was produced by Martin Hannett that'd be a big ole YES.

btw, does anyone know where I can get _any_ copy of that on wax?

― Winslow (winslow), Monday, 13 January 2003 21:55 (twenty-two years ago)

they rightly regarded the Bunnymen as kindred spirits

If ever a feeling wasn't mutual.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 13 January 2003 21:55 (twenty-two years ago)

As Flea put it, "It made me laugh to hear the guy from U2 talk about his guitar influences being old bluesmen. I thought, 'Hey, you dipshit, what about Andy Gill?'"

TMFTML
http://intonation.blogspot.com

― TMFTML (TMFTML), Monday, 13 January 2003 22:24 (twenty-two years ago)

It's true: in 1980, U2, Echo and Teardrop (?) were all regularly lumped together as being part of the same "scene." Which seems absurd now.

― mike a (mike a), Monday, 13 January 2003 22:30 (twenty-two years ago)

It's true: in 1980, U2, Echo and Teardrop were all regularly lumped together as being part of the same "scene." Which seems absurd now.

― mike a (mike a), Monday, 13 January 2003 22:30 (twenty-two years ago)

I think in Cope's book he talked about being embarrassed seeing them in clubs and that because they were really nice to him but he thought they were complete shit.

― Ferg (Ferg), Monday, 13 January 2003 23:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Cope takes every opportunity to slight them now, but at this point....not many people are taking the "arch-drude" as seriously as they once might've.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 13 January 2003 23:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh yeah, I forgot about his mad tirades on his website. In the autobiog he seemed a bit more guilty and embarrassed over hating them. But then in the book he did a fairly good job of keeping hindsight from interfering in the way he wrote about people.

― Ferg (Ferg), Monday, 13 January 2003 23:33 (twenty-two years ago)

He took a massive swipe at Killing Joke as well.....tho' I doubt he' embarassed by that one.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 13 January 2003 23:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh yeah. Haha. I didn't know Jaz Coleman's name was Jeremy until then.

― Ferg (Ferg), Monday, 13 January 2003 23:39 (twenty-two years ago)

I stuck "J Swallow" from the U2ROK EP on a mix CD of total obscuro post-punk vinyl from '80-'81 (The 49 Americans, Electric Chairs, etc.) and it fit right in.

Also, an old co-worker of mine saw them on their first American tour, at a show where they had to come up with two sets' worth of material, and said they resorted to a bunch of Wire covers. I would LOVE to have heard that...

― Douglas (Douglas), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 03:47 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm trying to imagine Bono singing "I Am the Fly" and wondering if the seed was planted (too bad it flowered like shit).

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 03:49 (twenty-two years ago)

vulgar vulgar, tsk tsk

― James Blount, Tuesday, 14 January 2003 03:55 (twenty-two years ago)

On some crap Irish TV series on the history of Irish Rock Bono continually sickens by claiming to be influenced by everybody. The week Astral Weeks is featured he's going on about what an influence that was on the young U2. Next week it's Rory Gallagher who was as far removed from that whole Joy Division/Gang Of Four/Television as is possible. He's such a total idiot lick arse really!

― David Gunnip, Tuesday, 14 January 2003 09:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Simillarly, when Joey Ramone passed away, Bono told every erect bi-ped with a pair of ears that "if not for the Ramones, U2 wouldn't have existed." Fast forward a year and change to December 02 and Joe Strummer's death, and Bono is pulling the same stunt, only replacing the word "Ramones" with "Clash." Fast forward to March 03, and it'll be "if not for Ronnie James Dio, U2 wouldn't have existed." July 03, "If not for Tenpole Tudor, U2 wouldn't have existed." November 03, "If not for Richard Marx, U2 wouldn't have existed." Etc. Etc.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 13:42 (twenty-two years ago)

I encountered U2 on what I believe was their first UK tour, which they were supposed to be co-headlining with Delta 5.

I wasn't aware that they were supposedly Christian at the time, but the way they and their entourage conducted a concerted campaign of bullying and intimidating Delta 5 (who, lest we not forget, were 3 girls and 2 guys) until they had effectively relegated them to being U2's support band, didn't seem to be exactly overflowing with "Love Thy Neighbour" Christian spirit to me.

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 13:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Haha early U2 = CREED!!!

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 14:37 (twenty-two years ago)

Early U2 in my experience = bunch of arseholes!

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 15:26 (twenty-two years ago)

(Why are you echoing me, Stuart?)

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 15:46 (twenty-two years ago)

I've never met Creed, Dan.

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 15:48 (twenty-two years ago)

in 1980, U2, Echo and Teardrop (?) were all regularly lumped together as being part of the same "scene."

I thought so too; I'm certain I read articles and reviews that talked about all three.

― Sean (Sean), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 16:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Were postpunk, now postpuke.

― Nicole (Nicole), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 16:01 (twenty-two years ago)

"If not for Maurice Gibb, U2 wouldn't have existed."

― mike a (mike a), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 16:01 (twenty-two years ago)

"If it weren't for Mickey Finn, U2 wouldn't have existed."

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 16:09 (twenty-two years ago)

''Were postpunk, now postpuke.''

U2 were postpuke right from the start.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 16:11 (twenty-two years ago)

They did get much pukier as time went on though.

― Nicole (Nicole), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 16:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Swimming in a sea of their copious vomit...um, excuse me. *runs to bathroom*

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 16:29 (twenty-two years ago)

are you gonna vomit blood ned?

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 16:35 (twenty-two years ago)

I've come to realize I dislike U2 a lot more for what they do off-stage than on, _Rattle and Hum_ excepted. I can think of at least four songs on each of their albums that I think are fantastic (_R&H_ excepted).

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 16:35 (twenty-two years ago)

I could probably listen to Boy and October today and still enjoy them, despite the 20-odd years that followed.

― mike a (mike a), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 16:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, their first three albums are still miles better than the rest of their output, although later albums have some stunning individual songs on them.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 16:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Boy is a damn fine album that, had they split, would be remembered with great affection.

Oh PLEASE. That record is 'remembered with great affection' by millions of people. I suppose you're speaking only of snobs though, am I right?

U2's best work was a decade or so after their postpunk early days, anyway.

― Your Best Friend, Tuesday, 14 January 2003 16:49 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm sort of disturbed by this implication that U2 could only have had one single influence in becoming a band - I mean, are any of you only inspired by one single artist and no others? It is not at all unreasonable to assume that Bono isn't lying about any of those bands being part of why he and he friends started a band. I don't doubt Bono's affection for any of the artists he's commented on, even if his phrasing of it tends to be a little formulaic and insincere-sounding in soundbites.

― Your Best Friend, Tuesday, 14 January 2003 16:54 (twenty-two years ago)

My Best Friend has never heard of diminishing returns. :(

― nabisco (nabisco), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 17:35 (twenty-two years ago)

...and Nabisco hasn't heard of "the benefit of the doubt".

― Your Best Friend, Tuesday, 14 January 2003 17:41 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't really think "benefit of the doubt" applies: the point is more that if you go around claiming anyone and everyone were profoundly important to you, that recommendation begins to mean less and less every time you say it.

― nabisco (nabisco), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 17:53 (twenty-two years ago)

I mean:

"Annabelle, I love you with all my heart."
"Beatrice, I love you with all my heart."
"Clara, I love you with all my heart."
"Denise, I love you with all my heart."
"Eleanor, I love you with all my heart."
...
"Zelda, I" (SLAP)

― nabisco (nabisco), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 17:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh Nabisco! I thought I was the only girl for you!

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 18:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Zelda is a little FREAKY, yo.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 18:18 (twenty-two years ago)

I saw an ancient clip of them dug up from some Irish TV show, they definitely sounded like a Television tribute band

― dave q, Tuesday, 14 January 2003 19:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, one thing that's kinda bothered me about the Flea quote re: Andy Gill is that in the interviews I've read the Edge has never been one to claim a kinship with bluesmen. I remember some interview in Rolling Stone around the time of the Joshua Tree where the interviewer kept asking him about Clapton or Beck's influence on him and Edge kept insisting that Tom Verlaine was a much bigger influence.

― James Blount, Tuesday, 14 January 2003 19:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Boy is a damn fine album that, had they split, would be remembered with great affection.....
Oh PLEASE. That record is 'remembered with great affection' by millions of people. I suppose you're speaking only of snobs though, am I right?

Less the snobs Your Best Friend + more the haters who loath U2 for reasons I have no difficulty in understanding whilst liking other bands of that era whose flaws were less glaring.

― stevo (stevo), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 19:53 (twenty-two years ago)

six years pass...

I have been listening to the extras from the BOY era - 11 o'clock, Saturday Night (= Fire), Boy / Girl, Rouch, Speed of Life -- wow !!! I love it. It's probably my favourite ... 'postpunk' music ever.

― the pinefox, Monday, 13 April 2009 10:33 (sixteen years ago)

Rouch = TOUCH

not to mention

Things To Make And Do

― the pinefox, Monday, 13 April 2009 10:34 (sixteen years ago)

Please don't get me started on U2 post-punk, I have to go to sleep now. I can't do this. Really, help. I can't do this. I have to go to sleep. Do you have any You Tube videos that would corroborate this? Dude, I'm on my last legs for tonight, please please don't get me started about U2. I could really, really go on all night.

THINGS TO MAKE & DO!!! ROCK ON!!!

― Gross Chapel British Grenadiers (Bimble), Monday, 13 April 2009 10:36 (sixteen years ago)

Oh god please don't get me started about U2. Please. It's almost 4AM here. I have to go to work. Please don't get me started.

― Gross Chapel British Grenadiers (Bimble), Monday, 13 April 2009 10:38 (sixteen years ago)

companion amazing B-side to Things To Make & Do is "J. Swallo" do you know it?

― Gross Chapel British Grenadiers (Bimble), Monday, 13 April 2009 10:40 (sixteen years ago)

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I encountered U2 on what I believe was their first UK tour, which they were supposed to be co-headlining with Delta 5.
I wasn't aware that they were supposedly Christian at the time, but the way they and their entourage conducted a concerted campaign of bullying and intimidating Delta 5 (who, lest we not forget, were 3 girls and 2 guys) until they had effectively relegated them to being U2's support band, didn't seem to be exactly overflowing with "Love Thy Neighbour" Christian spirit to me.

Sounds completely right.

They behaved exactly like that in their early days in Dublin too.
Pricks then, Pricks now.

― sonofstan, Monday, 13 April 2009 11:19 (sixteen years ago)

Bimble, yes I have that track on the original yellow-sleeve 12-inch - I think it calls itself a MAXI-SINGLE.

I had a period long ago of buying up what old U2 45s I could find, albeit some not in original sleeve etc - I got the double 7-inch of Two Hearts Beat as One (just plaed WAR today and enjoyed that song), 11 o clock tick tock, A Day Without Me, etc. The sound they had prior to October was magical.

― the pinefox, Monday, 13 April 2009 12:39 (sixteen years ago)

just started 'things to make & do' again - wow, the sound so perfect, starting with those chiming notes and simple bass - and I love the minor key break at 35 seconds, 1:15 seconds or so ... like I said, they had a sound that related to others (postpunk, whatever) but cos of the Edge is also distinctive.

― the pinefox, Monday, 13 April 2009 12:41 (sixteen years ago)

reading *U2 by U2*, the main recurrence is how critical they are of all their records - they keep saying 'that was a great idea that never really happened ... if only we'd known how to do it properly'. Kind of disappointing - I wish they would occasionally say that something worked and was fabulous.

― the pinefox, Monday, 13 April 2009 12:43 (sixteen years ago)

Boy / Girl -- he's still singing in an English accent here, a lot of the time - sounds like he's trying to be early Paul Weller!

― the pinefox, Monday, 13 April 2009 12:47 (sixteen years ago)

The Edge used a chorus pedal pretty frequently = postpunk band

― Myonga Vön Bontee, Monday, 13 April 2009 14:06 (sixteen years ago)

They most certainly were post-punk, came out of the same arty Dublin miasma that spawned the Virgin Prunes, a far more interesting, if not exactly listenable band.

Musically, Edge's guitar quotes Andy Gill and Keith Levene at every opportunity. If Tony Wilson can be believed, early U2 wanted to be Joy Division.

I remember an early NME review where U2 was supporting some now forgotten post-punk band saying the musicians were OK, but the singer was a bombastic twat. Sometimes critics do get it right.

Though I can’t stand their later stuff, I still love Boy quite a bit.

― leavethecapital, Monday, 13 April 2009 14:07 (sixteen years ago)

The Virgin Prunes are perhaps the only band worse than U2

― Plaxico (I know, right?), Monday, 13 April 2009 14:12 (sixteen years ago)

You should be set on fire.

― Alex in NYC, Monday, 13 April 2009 14:16 (sixteen years ago)

classic alex

― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Monday, 13 April 2009 14:19 (sixteen years ago)

In Praise of.... ...if I Die, I Die by the Virgin Prunes

― Alex in NYC, Monday, 13 April 2009 14:21 (sixteen years ago)

Back in 1980, when 'Boy' was pretty new, our local alt-weekly ran a music column interviewing high school students about why new wave wasn't making inroads. They did a blind listening test a la Downbeat, and I remember one of the comments being that U2 was "too acid rock."

― Such A Hilbily (Dan Peterson), Monday, 13 April 2009 15:04 (sixteen years ago)

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