One of the world’s most successful rock groups, U2 are unique in having kept a stable line-up throughout a lengthy career. Singer Bono (b. Paul Hewson, 10 May 1960), guitarist The Edge (b. David Evans, 8 August 1961), bassist Adam Clayton (b. 13 March 1960) and drummer Larry Mullen Jr. (b. 31 October 1961) formed a band at ...
, King regularly toured the world, taking on the ambassadorial role that enabled him to survive passing fashions and occasionally hitting the spotlight, as with his collaboration with U2 in 1988 on ‘When Love Comes To Town’. In 2006, he undertook a farewell world tour, but since then, the performances, and awards and accolades, ...
(Guitar, vocals, b. 1925) Riley B. King, from Indianola, Mississippi, is arguably the last surviving authentic blues artist. Orphaned, he took up guitar aged 15, turning professional after US military service. In 1947, he moved to Memphis and lived with cousin Bukka White. There, he worked on a local radio station, ...
And Roll Hall Of Fame in 1987. He also received a Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement that year. In 1989 he recorded the smash ‘When Loves Comes To Town’ with U2, which introduced King to a new generation of rock fans. His B.B. King’s Blues Club operates nightly on 42nd Street in New York. Life At The Top King ...
New-wave guitarist Bernard Sumner (b. 1956) was born in Salford, Manchester. Seeing the Sex Pistols in Manchester in June 1976 inspired Sumner and Peter Hook to acquire their first instruments, guitar and bass respectively. Originally called Warsaw, later Joy Division, they recruited drummer Stephen Morris and singer Ian Curtis for their band, making some self-produced records ...
(Vocal/instrumental group, 1981–2001) Stuart Adamson began with Scottish punk band The Skids. His Caledonian heritage came to the fore with Big Country, as he employed guitar gizmos to create a choral ‘bagpipe’ sound. The epic, yearning songs of debut album The Crossing (1983) played well in America. The follow-up, the more political Steeltown (1984), was a UK ...
US No. 1, and it was clear their success story was set to continue. The album was named after a Spanish phrase that translates as ‘long live life’ and U2 collaborator Brian Eno was one the four producers credited. As of December 2009, the album was the most paid-for downloaded album of all time, while 2011’s Mylo Xyloto ...
another sell-out world tour in 2009/2010. At this point, Green Day were rightfully considered the biggest rock band in the world. They were not only outselling artists such as U2, The Foo Fighters, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Radiohead, Kings Of Leon, The Killers and Coldplay, but were also being woven into the fabric of ...
once owned by Nick Mason was tempting, although in the back of my mind I knew that my wife would kill me. A Trabant might be suitable for a U2 photo opportunity but there was not enough room in the back for the kids…. The maddening thing about interviewing Mason about cars and motor racing was that I was desperate ...
their magnificently arrogant slogan proclaimed, the greatest rock’n’roll band in the world. Even today The Rolling Stones are innovators in live performance, vying with younger competitors such as U2 in discovering just how much can now be done with video technology and stage design, even before the most colossal audiences. Keith and Charlie would prefer it if we ...
and Pete were a case in point. Unlike almost all the other great rock acts, whether it’s The Stones, Kinks and David Bowie, or Led Zeppelin, U2 and Bruce Springsteen, the singer of The Who was not its lyricist (nor even, by and large, a songwriter). The bluntly straightforward Daltrey was seldom on the ...
reaching No. 3 in the UK. Lead single ‘The Bucket’ arrived complete with video depicting Caleb sans trademark beard and with on-trend straightened hair. The Kings Of Leon opened for U2 on the US leg of their Vertigo World Tour in 2005, helping them make a mark in their homeland. But their third LP would take a year to come ...
(Vocals, guitar, b. 1942) Clayton, a former fighter pilot from Tennessee, was one of the most original songwriters in the Outlaws movement, penning ‘Ladies Love Outlaws’ for Waylon Jennings, ‘If You Could Touch Her At All’ for Willie Nelson and ‘Lone Wolf’ for Jerry Jeff Walker. Clayton’s own albums, marked by vivid if unconventional ...
benefit compilation Instant Karma. Kravitz returned in 2008 with It Is Time For A Love Revolution. In 2011, he released the album Black And White America, opened for U2 on a handful of tour dates and was honoured in Paris by being made an Officer of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres – a prestigious cultural award. Kravitz’s ...
(Vocal/instrumental group, 1989–2009) Formed in Pennsylvania, Live – who pulled their name out of a hat – comprise Chad Taylor (guitar), Patrick Dahlheimer (bass), Chad Gracey (drums) and Ed Kowalczyk (vocals). Local shows soon won a following for their blend of rock with a spiritual message that suggested a 40-watt U2. Their debut album Metal Jewelry (1991) won a ...
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David Bowie
Fantastic new, unofficial biography covers
his life, music, art and movies, with a
sweep of incredible photographs.