U2 LEADS, OTHERS WILL FOLLOW!

U2 is a difficult band to pigeonhole. They did not arrive on our shores from their native Ireland bearing slogans, political platforms, or even a new fashion trend or hairstyle. They do not have an easily mass-marketed visual image, if they can be said to have any visual image at all. And whats more, their music doesnt sound much like anyone elses—at least not anyone youd ever hear on your local Conforrnity-Oriented-Radio station (Im talking about the Great Midwestern Radio Desert here, but chances are its only marginally better where you live.)

Given all this, how in the hell did U2s first album Boy end up on the local FM playlist almost as soon as it was released? (You know, ...that was Van Halen, and well have some J.Geils up in a minute, but first heres something from U2...") What is it that has earned U2 acceptance where hundreds of equally worthy and talented new bands are routinely ignored?

Lead singer Bono Vox is as mystified on this point as I am, and he assures me that it isnt the case everywhere. Talking over tea and pecan pie a la mode in a Michigan Big Boy restaurant, Bono goes on to explain how, if anything, U2 expected to have to fight for acceptance in this country.

Its really weird, because the U.S. has gone through its period of privileges—the invention of the fridge, the jukebox, the automobile, sending people to the stars— now theyre being very cold, very conservative, very Ëœlets hold on to what weve got.

I talked with a radio programming person whos in charge of 75 stations," Bono recalls, and he was being very honest with me and he said Ëœlook, these are conservative times—people dont want to change. He said hes not in the business of teaching people or being as condescending as that. Hes in the business of playing what people want, and he says that people do not want new things—they are frightened of new things! He says Loverboy are selling this year because they sound like Journey who sold last year who sound ike so-and-so, etc. And he said ËœThats sad, isnt it?"

Its more than sad—its pathetic, actually —but as long as occasional new, fresh, and exciting bands like U2 can make a go of it there may still be a glimmer of hope. Come to think of it the hope, optimism, and sheer joyful exuberance that radiates from U2s music may be the X Factor that is breaking them in this country. In other words, they may be new and different, but they are definitely not threatening, angry, and cynical like so many of their peers.

I think Ëœpunk rock may have left a bit of a bad taste in peoples mouths," Bono agrees when I confront him with this notion. The fact that the Sex Pistols turned out to be an idea rather than a real band—and they were an idea, they were part of Malcolm McLaren and not that into what they were doing—combined with the trendiness and faddism that is associated with modem music. ,.I think it made a lot of people nervous.

Music should be able to break down barriers, not build them," he asserts. Its like that in England at the moment—Ëœpunk rock has really turned into a bit of a monster. The ethic of 76 which I really believed in was the realism, the passion. The bands now seem more posed and are more star-oriented than the bands people tried to tear down in 76. Its got worse, and its become so cliqued—ËœI am this, I am into this type of music, I dont like your type of music, because it would be top low for me to like your type of music...

I kinda feel that U2 are a part of breaking down that, because we havent got a strong image as being a Ëœpunk band or an Ëœart band. And I like playing in this country for that very reason, because there arent very many movements over here in music. When we play people seem to react on instinct rather than saying Ëœthis band is fashionable, so I like them."

U2s debut LP Boy certainly turned a lot of heads when it was released a little over a year ago. Combining the stark musical intensity of Joy Division with an uplifting, take-on-the-world confidence, Boy had critics lining up for a chance to give it rave reviews. Here was a band that was aggressive but not arrogant, innocent without being coy, combining angular basslines and pounding drums with the crystalline guitar-work of The Edge (We even call his Mum ËœMrs. Edge!") and topped off with Bonos unique emotiondrenched voice. Add to this a'handful of distinctive rockers like Stories For Boys," Out Of Control," and I Will Follow," tie it all together with an epic Steve Lillywhite production job, and the result was hard to beat.

Intensive touring followed the albums release, and the band even made an appearance on the .Tomorrow show. When I mention that I had seen that show Bono laughs and breaks into a series of wickedly accurate Tom Snyder impressions.

We wanted to take him with us!" he announces, obviously relishing the memory. Take him in a flight case—put a metal tube through the case so he could breathe and you could feed him...Actually, I really like the man—hes a pleasant buffoon. And one thing youve got to say about Tom Snyder—he allowed bands on

his show."

Music should he able to break down barriers, not build them. It's tike that in England at the moment~ Ëœpunk rock* has turned into a bit of a monster.

U2 barely had time to catch their breath when they were back in the studio again to record their follow-up LP October. Although similiar in sound to Boy, (almost too similar—the dreaded Second Album Syndrome) October shows evidence of musical maturation and a move away from the adolescent introspection of Boy.

It was very uncomfortable," says Bono in reference to the timing of the record, but we chose to do it that way. The record company would have preferred to put out the album in January or February, and the reason were having to fight very hard against the Rod Stewarts in the stores now was that we wanted to release the album in October, when Boy finished. So we demanded the pressure that we put ourselves under, if you like.

We had three weeks to prepare for the record. We had all these ideas in our heads from touring Europe and the U.S., and a lot of it was put together under this pressure. And Steve Lilly white did remarkably well under the strain—lyrics were written on the microphone, and at 50 pounds an hour that freaked a lot of people out, including me. But theres a sort of peace and strength about the record, which is very ironic."

The album also has a marked spiritual feel to it, which is readily apparent in songs like the rousing opener, Gloria" (as in in excelsius deo, not the Van Morrison tune).

Thats real in my life and it came out on the microphone," Bono explains. Its not a rock n roll thing, is it? People are frightened of it—it doesnt fit in. But it makes our music very real and strong."

Not content to rest yet, Bono and the band already have plans for the next phases in U2s creative evolution.

Our next record will be different. The first two records had a sort of cinema sound, a cinematic panavision feel, the broad, big sound we wanted fot U2.1 want to change our minds sound in some respects—Id like to put some spikiness into the sound. Now that weve done the cinema sound Id like to make it a bit rougher^H

The two levels of U2 will probably separate next year. One is into a soundtrack to a film—Im very interested in that sound and will continue in that theme. By the way, October" from the album is being used at the moment in a French film, which we found ironic because we felt that it was a film piece. Were looking for the right soundtrack to the Film Thats Never Been Made!

The other side is the rawness—bareboned rock n roll—thats what I want to get into. Well probably do the rock n roll one first."

While Boy and October may have a Cinerama feel on record, the songs done live are pure rock n roll. The rhythm section plays with a ferocious power that is barely captured on vinyl, and surprisingly enough even the most delicate of The Edges echoed guitared lines come off on stage. Bono, meanwhile, pours himself into his songs like theres no tomorrow, radiating youthful energy and enthusiasm and building the crowd up as the bands music pours in and out like waves.

Its a kind of washing effect when it works," he offers. People come from different points of view, theyre nervous of the other people in the audience, but by the end the music seems to have broken down those barriers—people are relaxed and bumping into each other and walking home talking loud. That makes me feel very proud."

Lots of people want us to be mouthpieces for different things" he admits soberly, but I figure I can only be a mouthpiece for myself. It is saddening, though, the things that are going on in my country. Fifteen miles from where I walk the dog there is craziness and murder being committed in the name of God—in the name of lots of issues. Its bad—very, very bad. It makes no sense to me. ËœTomorrow was an attempt to look at that situation or a certain situation around that."

In keeping with that, Tomorrow" starts off with a burst of traditional Irish pipe music, and this brings up the question of musical roots and comparisons with another of Irelands musical exports, Van Morrison. Bono assures me, however, that even Van The Man had strong R&B influences, while U2s music seems to come from someplace else.

Sometimes I have a guilt complex about our roots," he admits. Where are our roots? We dont have funky black roots. We dont have white rock roots. Our music almost doesnt seem to have roots. Its like totally our own." Hi)