Biography of U2

In 1976, four Dublin schoolboys started the band that, under the name U2, would dominate rock music in the late '80s. Consisting of lead singer Bono (born Paul Hewson, May 10, 1960), guitarist The Edge (born David Evans, Aug 8, 1961), bassist Adam Clayton (b.Mar 13, 1960), and percussionist Larry Mullen, Jr. (b.Oct 31, 1961), U2 has helped to open up the doors for many other Irish bands.U2 started out as a Dublin pub band and began earning recognition after the band won a talent contest sponsored by Guinness in 1979. This led to the Irish release of a three-track EP, U2-3, that topped the charts in Ireland and won them quite a following. They were signed by the Island label in 1980 and released their debut album, Boy, later that year. Unfortunately, Boy and the band's 1981 follow-up, October, did not gain much recognition outside of Ireland (where the band was playing soldout concerts). It was not until the 1983 release of the critically acclaimed album, War, that U2 began to get a taste of success. War was the band's major breakthrough in the U.S., going platinum although the first two albums had never made it into the Top 40. Under a Blood Red Sky, a live concert album from the War tour, was released in 1983, followed by The Unforgettable Fire in 1984; both went platinum in the States as well.With the release of The Joshua Tree (1987), U2 became one of the world's leading rock bands. Entering at number one on the U.K. charts, The Joshua Tree went platinum within 48 hours. The album also spent nine weeks at number one on the U.S. charts, and "With or Without You" became the band's first number one single in America, followed by "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For." As the new rock sensation, U2 appeared on the covers of Time, Musician, and Rolling Stone and won two awards at the 1988 Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year. In 1988, the band went on to release a full-length concert film, Rattle and Hum, and an album of the same name. Their latest album, Achtung Baby, released in late 1991, proved to be quite a departure from their previous work.U2 could arguably be called the greatest rock band of the '80s. Out of sheer determination (or cockiness), they have avoided the musical ruts that stardom can produce and have gone out of their way to experiment with new sounds and musical ideas. It is this musical growth and exploration that make U2 a truly great rock band. ~ Iotis Erlewine

Biography of Leonard Cohen

Although he played music during his college years, Canadian poet, novelist, and singer/songwriter Leonard Cohen did not turn professional until he was in his 30s. A graduate of McGill University, he published several books of poetry starting in the '50s and two novels, The Favorite Game and Beautiful Losers, in the '60s. After his songs had been recorded by Judy Collins, Cohen turned to singing and released his debut album, Songs of Leonard Cohen, in 1968. It contained such typical material as the highly poetic "Suzanne," which had been a singles hit for Noel Harrison. Cohen continued to write and record albums (though less and less frequently) throughout the '70s and '80s, all of them featuring his deepening voice and lyrics that were by turns depressing, comic, and erotic. His 1977 album, Death of a Ladies Man, was a collaborative effort with eccentric producer Phil Spector. By the '80s, Cohen's music was being celebrated by the school of doom-rock performers led by Nick Cave and others (resulting in the tribute album I'm Your Fan, 1991), but Jennifer Warnes's all-Cohen album Famous Blue Raincoat (1987) was a more accessible sampler. The artist himself made one of the best albums of 1988 in I'm Your Man. ~ William Ruhlmann

Biography of Leonard Cohen

Although he played music during his college years, Canadian poet, novelist, and singer/songwriter Leonard Cohen did not turn professional until he was in his 30s. A graduate of McGill University, he published several books of poetry starting in the '50s and two novels, The Favorite Game and Beautiful Losers, in the '60s. After his songs had been recorded by Judy Collins, Cohen turned to singing and released his debut album, Songs of Leonard Cohen, in 1968. It contained such typical material as the highly poetic "Suzanne," which had been a singles hit for Noel Harrison. Cohen continued to write and record albums (though less and less frequently) throughout the '70s and '80s, all of them featuring his deepening voice and lyrics that were by turns depressing, comic, and erotic. His 1977 album, Death of a Ladies Man, was a collaborative effort with eccentric producer Phil Spector. By the '80s, Cohen's music was being celebrated by the school of doom-rock performers led by Nick Cave and others (resulting in the tribute album I'm Your Fan, 1991), but Jennifer Warnes's all-Cohen album Famous Blue Raincoat (1987) was a more accessible sampler. The artist himself made one of the best albums of 1988 in I'm Your Man. ~ William Ruhlmann