Recognized as one of the most commercially lucrative music acts in the world, U2 is an Irish rock band that emerged in 1976 with a sound firmly rooted in post punk. After the release of its 1980 debut album, Boy, the band reinvented its style multiple times before cultivating its own characteristic sonic aesthetic with elements of pop sewn with rich guitar textures and the forthright, oftentimes politically charged lyrics of front-man Bono. From the avant-garde rock leanings of 1984's The Unforgettable Fire to the American roots-driven record The Joshua Tree from 1987, U2 has successfully traversed an ever-changing musical landscape over a decades-long career with an unbridled enthusiasm and its original lineup still intact.
