U2 biggest rivals in last 40 years

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Duran Duran

SM & Queen were there first rivals. Both throughout the 80's.

Some bands had short periods where they could claim they were bigger.

Think U2 have always had The Beatles in their sights.

They made them wobble in 87. But then The Beatles came back in the mid 90's when U2 were not as big as before.

Rivals for what?

The Crips.

Duran Duran

Duran Duran

DD were Culture Club's big rivals during 82-85.

Oasis went head to head with U2 in 98. U2 won.

U2 have usually been mates with rivals - GnR, Oasis, Muse.

Don't believe Freddie or Bono's paths ever crossed.

A pity, would have liked to see them on stage together.

Maybe they’re not rivals, then?

It’s music, not a cage match or gang warfare.

SM & Queen were there first rivals. Both throughout the 80's.

Some bands had short periods where they could claim they were bigger.

The Police were the biggest band in the world in 1983-1984 and overall the biggest band of the early 1980s worldwide. So in that respect they should be on the list, even though they essentially broke up after 1984. Simple Minds were never big enough in the United States to qualify for this list. What popularity Queen did have in the United States evaporated in 1982, with a poor selling album and poor selling tour.

In general though, Coldplay is the only band that really challenged U2 commercially and for public appeal for a considerable length of time and managed to unseat them from their throne about a decade and half after they released their debut album. R.E.M. challenged U2 for a bit in the early to mid 1990s, R.E.M.'s most commercially successful period.

Rivals for what?

I'm guessing all things considered, sales, popularity, critical acclaim etc.

Quote from: Zoo adam on June 24, 2023, 02:54:06 PM

SM & Queen were there first rivals. Both throughout the 80's.

Some bands had short periods where they could claim they were bigger.

The Police were the biggest band in the world in 1983-1984 and overall the biggest band of the early 1980s worldwide. So in that respect they should be on the list, even though they essentially broke up after 1984. Simple Minds were never big enough in the United States to qualify for this list. What popularity Queen did have in the United States evaporated in 1982, with a poor selling album and poor selling tour.

In general though, Coldplay is the only band that really challenged U2 commercially and for public appeal for a considerable length of time and managed to unseat them from their throne about a decade and half after they released their debut album.

Thread is for the last 40 years. So 83 onwards.

U2 had there first commercial success in 83.

Quote from: Zoo adam on June 24, 2023, 02:54:06 PM

SM & Queen were there first rivals. Both throughout the 80's.

Some bands had short periods where they could claim they were bigger.

The Police were the biggest band in the world in 1983-1984 and overall the biggest band of the early 1980s worldwide. So in that respect they should be on the list, even though they essentially broke up after 1984. Simple Minds were never big enough in the United States to qualify for this list. What popularity Queen did have in the United States evaporated in 1982, with a poor selling album and poor selling tour.

In general though, Coldplay is the only band that really challenged U2 commercially and for public appeal for a considerable length of time and managed to unseat them from their throne about a decade and half after they released their debut album. R.E.M. challenged U2 for a bit in the early to mid 1990s, R.E.M.'s most commercially successful period.

SM did have 2 number 1's in America. But were always a notch behind U2 in the 80's.