Was 83 when U2 took the 80's?

They had been building up a reputation as a live band. Boy & October were brilliant but under the radar albums.

Everything seemed to fall into place in 83.

NYD was one of the classic singles of the 80's. Two Hearts a good rocker follow up.

SBS one of the album tracks of the decade & The Refugee the third single that never was.

Jacko stepped aside as War crashed in at number 1. Surely the rock album of the decade.

People that bought NYD, Two Hearts or War would buy the earlier albums & U2 now had more fans & were now playing bigger venues.

However they were not finished.

UABRS swooped in. Both the album and video. U2 were the worlds best live band & Bruce had been demoted from The Boss to the Office Junior.

They could have knocked out The Beatles in 87 with 10 shows at Wembley Stadium. But 83 was when stage one was completed - the decade.   

Nope.

Duran Duran were busy doing that.

Nope.

Duran Duran were busy doing that.

DD's rivals in 83 were Culture Club.

WTF are you talking about?

Born in the USA tour

3.9 million attendance
$90 million gate

Joshua Tree tour

3 million attendance
$40 million gate

Nope.

Duran Duran were busy doing that.

DD could only compete with Wham! A singer who has a voice like a creaking door or a howling cat.

Passengers were shite until the 90's - and they've been shite ever since   

They’d be one hit wonders if they ever had a hit.

WAR era U2 didn't displace Springsteen. 83 was their breakthrough year, but let's take it easy on the accolades......

WAR era U2 didn't displace Springsteen. 83 was their breakthrough year, but let's take it easy on the accolades......

1983: breakthrough

1985: the world notices the potential

1987: decade conquered.

Under A Blood Red Sky album and video is what gave U2 a massive hardcore concert following rivaling many of the biggest artists by 1984 into 1985. The War album and tour alone was not enough. The spread of Under A Blood Red Sky live album and video is what did it.

1987 was the year they conquered the world down to every member of the general public.

Under A Blood Red Sky album and video is what gave U2 a massive hardcore concert following rivaling many of the biggest artists by 1984 into 1985. The War album and tour alone was not enough. The spread of Under A Blood Red Sky live album and video is what did it.

1987 was the year they conquered the world down to every member of the general public.

Wons and Zoo Adam have very similar talking points.

Hmmmmm

Quote from: wons on February 26, 2024, 06:47:52 PM

Under A Blood Red Sky album and video is what gave U2 a massive hardcore concert following rivaling many of the biggest artists by 1984 into 1985. The War album and tour alone was not enough. The spread of Under A Blood Red Sky live album and video is what did it.

1987 was the year they conquered the world down to every member of the general public.

Wons and Zoo Adam have very similar talking points.

Hmmmmm

Two hearts beat as one.

Two avatars post from one.

Under A Blood Red Sky album and video is what gave U2 a massive hardcore concert following rivaling many of the biggest artists by 1984 into 1985. The War album and tour alone was not enough. The spread of Under A Blood Red Sky live album and video is what did it.

1987 was the year they conquered the world down to every member of the general public.

That's why I said The Boss became the office junior.

There is no way Bruce could match U2's high energy performances. His counter was a staged dance with Courtney Cox.

Agree two albums, 2 singles, a video & stunning live shows to add to Boy & October gave 83 to U2.

Quote from: wons on February 26, 2024, 06:47:52 PM

Under A Blood Red Sky album and video is what gave U2 a massive hardcore concert following rivaling many of the biggest artists by 1984 into 1985. The War album and tour alone was not enough. The spread of Under A Blood Red Sky live album and video is what did it.

1987 was the year they conquered the world down to every member of the general public.

That's why I said The Boss became the office junior.

There is no way Bruce could match U2's high energy performances. His counter was a staged dance with Courtney Cox.

Agree two albums, 2 singles, a video & stunning live shows to add to Boy & October gave 83 to U2.

Born in the USA was released in 1984. Massive worldwide success. U2 wouldn’t come close to that until TJT.

Born in the U.S.A. was critically acclaimed upon release and was nominated for Album of the Year at the 27th Annual Grammy Awards. A massive commercial success, it topped the charts in nine countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, producing seven top ten singles in the former region. The album has been certified 17× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for selling at least 17 million units in the United States, and has sold over 30 million copies worldwide, making it Springsteen's most commercially successful release and one of the best-selling albums of all time.

As for your claim of high energy performances, I saw Bruce in the summer of 1984 (a 3 hours + gig with 29 songs played) and then I saw U2 in March 1985, a show that didn’t reach 2 hours, with only 18 songs played.