when did U2 start to suck?

[TripletDaddy]

Having huge popularity and winning awards doesn't mean that something doesn't suck. Whenever anyone uses popularity or awards to prove that something doesn't suck, I kindly remind them that Everybody Loves Raymond won awards and had a huge following.

ha. I have to laugh at your example because ELR scarred me permanently.

Several years ago, my wife and I were staying in the 'Tah with the in-laws. I can't remember the exact facts, but basically all of us were out somewhere, except my FIL. My MIL forgot something back at the house, so my little BIL and I popped back to the house to get something out of my FIL/MIL's bedroom. I open the bedroom door and walk right in and I hear this voice: "HELLO?"

I look over and see my FIL in the bathtub. The tub is filled with bubbles and he is watching an Everybody Loves Raymond DVD on a small TV set in his bathroom.

I won't ever watch Everybody Loves Raymond again.

[MartyFunkhouser]

I think they started to suck somewhere between 130-145 million records sales and right before Grammy Award #22. It's hard to pin it down but somewhere in there. What's amazing is that they still sell out where ever they play inspite of sucking so bad.

Having huge popularity and winning awards doesn't mean that something doesn't suck. Whenever anyone uses popularity or awards to prove that something doesn't suck, I kindly remind them that Everybody Loves Raymond won awards and had a huge following.

[dut99002]

I think they started to suck somewhere between 130-145 million records sales and right before Grammy Award #22. It's hard to pin it down but somewhere in there. What's amazing is that they still sell out where ever they play inspite of sucking so bad.

Are you going to see Spiderman the musical?

[RC Vikings]

I think they started to suck somewhere between 130-145 million records sales and right before Grammy Award #22. It's hard to pin it down but somewhere in there. What's amazing is that they still sell out where ever they play inspite of sucking so bad.

[TripletDaddy]

They're heavily involved with making Spiderman the musical...I kid you not.

http://spidermanonbroadway.marvel.com/#

U2's my favorite band, but I think this whole idea is pretty hilarious.

AWESOME!

lol.

Next up, Bono or the Edge ask for Timbaland's cell phone number.....

[dut99002]

They're heavily involved with making Spiderman the musical...I kid you not.

http://spidermanonbroadway.marvel.com/#

U2's my favorite band, but I think this whole idea is pretty hilarious.

[il Padrino Ute]

There are so many bands that truly suck that I wonder why people bother with hating on U2. Sure, they're not what they used to be but who is after 30 years.

It is irrelevant that other bands suck. U2 has gotten to the point of suckiness on its own.

[SteelBlue]

There are so many bands that truly suck that I wonder why people bother with hating on U2. Sure, they're not what they used to be but who is after 30 years.

[RobinFinderson]

I like to drop names when I can, so I will do so here. When I was working at Frank Gehry's, Bono and The Edge came to the office for a visit. It was pretty cool to have Bono walk up to the model I was working on and do his thing... you know, where it looks like he is sort of standing on a surfboard, he has his fingers splayed and he is gesturing like God trying to create the cosmos between the palms of his hands (or like a stoner trying to explain a really cool head trip). That thing.

He wore is wraparound sunglasses. The Edge wore his The Edge knit cap and kept his hands in his pockets and didn't say much.

I still have a soft spot for U2. I liked all of their early stuff, and I even liked All that you Can't Leave Behind.

Anyhow, they had visited the office to invite Frank to submit a proposal for the design of their new Dublin studio (a big deal, and an indication that they are probably not going to move to NYC or LA any time soon). Frank doesn't 'audition' for projects, so there was a tacit understanding that the office would receive the commission. We worked on the project for about a month, and then we got rejected. There was much swearing in the office. Truly the clash of two gigantic egos. I was a bit disappointed, because I had hoped to see more of Bono and The Edge hanging out at the office.

I still like U2.

[jay santos]

I hate everyone who posted in this thread.

[il Padrino Ute]

U2 started to suck after The Unforgettable Fire.

[Color Me Badd Fan]

Does Bono still pull his pants up over his belly button? He employs some strange methods to try to make himself appear taller.

[MartyFunkhouser]

I read this article where he talked about bands these days need to do more in their concerts. They need to be entertainers and put on these big productions and blah, blah, blah.

I couldn't disagree more with him.

I agree with your disagreement. Concerts for me are all about the musicians ability to improvise and play off each other in the live setting.

[TripletDaddy]

Bono has secretly been replaced by Robin Williams. That's who you actually saw last night.

I watched the beginning of Beautiful Day, then flipped it off -- the expiration label on these dudes was ten years ago.

And I absolutely hated their stage. Concerts are about the music, not the spectacle.

U2 has a great gig.....their name is now basically a brand. They use music to promote the brand. The days of U2 music being relevant are over. They are following the Rolling Stones business model. I would expect to see U2 selling out large arenas every few years for the next 15 or 20 years. They will also continue to put out albums with decreasing relevance.

It is interesting to see the arc of U2. In their early catalog, you have to look at each album as a whole entity. War. Unforgettable Fire. Joshua Tree. With each subsequent release, the album itself ceases to be relevant and attention is diverted simply to specific tracks. With their last couple of releases, each album seems to produce maybe one memorable track. The albums as a whole are entirely forgettable.

A few other things that would not surprise me from U2 in the near future...these things would cement their dedication to their brand:

soundtrack/score for commercially popular children's cartoon/Pixar type franchise movie ($$$)
greatest hits tour (perhaps they have already done this, Im not sure)
one of them moves to NYC or LA
some sort of bizarre foray into crossover music....maybe a U2 rap/hip hop collaboration or a U2 christmas release

[MarkGrace]

I think they formed sometime in the very early 80s. So right around then.

I don't know, some of those early albums where they're just hacking Joy Division are pretty solid.