U2 are an Irish rock band formed in Dublin in 1976 — Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr., a lineup unchanged ever since. The Joshua Tree (1987) and Achtung Baby (1991) are the twin peaks, one earnest and expansive, the other a bold electronic reinvention. Shop U2 vinyl, CDs, and reissues at Wax Trax Records.
U2 formed in Dublin, Ireland in 1976, when the members were still teenagers. The lineup of Bono (Paul Hewson), The Edge (David Evans), Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr. has remained unchanged throughout the band's career. Rising from the post-punk era, U2 became one of the biggest rock bands in the world, known for soaring anthems, spiritual and political themes, and continual reinvention across decades.
U2's sound is defined by The Edge's chiming, effects-laden guitar, Bono's expansive vocals and earnest lyrics, and a rhythm section built for arena-scale anthems. The band evolved from raw post-punk through the expansive rock of The Joshua Tree to the irony and electronic experimentation of their 1990s work, remaining one of rock's most influential and commercially dominant acts.
The Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby have been reissued in expansive anniversary and box-set editions, and the band's Island catalog appears across numerous remasters and colored-vinyl variants. Original pressings and deluxe sets are widely collected.
Listeners new to U2 usually start with The Joshua Tree (1987) or Achtung Baby (1991). For related listening, see and .
