U2 releases its cinematic debut Boy

U2 : I Will Follow

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On October 20, 1980 U2 released their debut album Boy. You can hear the early influences on a band that would influence so many bands of the 1980's. I can hear the guitars of the Buzzcocks, the anthemic lyrics of The Clash, the energy of The Skids and the propulsion of Joy Division. The members of the Irish band were all still under 21years of age and under the influence of Steve Lillywhite who would produce the first three albums.

Bono told BP Fallon:

For the LP we wanted a more cinematic sound.We wanted this big screen Panavision feel. There was a lot of little music about at the time. A lot of underground bands making little noises: beep beep and squeak squeak and they were doing it all in the name of art. And we felt we should stamp on this music. That we should develop a big and a broad sound.

 

The result is an album full of energy and grandeur, a sound that would propel U2 through the decade. The debut paved that way, especially among the critics. Red Starr of Smash Hits sums it up"

Smash Hits

Right from the start U2 had the glory. These are songs that must be played loudly and in front of large crowds. U2 may have been young but they seemed to know exactly what would it take to be the biggest band of the 80/s.

This U2 band might have a chance

U2 : Out of Control

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In March of 1980 NME featured U2 in an article with the headline "U2 Can Make It In The Rock Business".  Paul Morley calls the band "naively passionate', writing :

 "Now that The Boomtown Rats have disclaimed the tiny island and been disclaimed, Bono's U2 are indisputably Ireland's finest; recent winners of  a host of Hot Press awards; recent chart toppers with "Out of Control"...

"Bono and the group are warily preparing to leap from Irish success--a literally poor type of success; sales of 20,000 merits a Gold disc in Ireland and entertainers like the Pope win those--into British obscurity, and wondering how to grab attention, scythe through the settling collection of old values, scatter the old tribal narrow-mindedness

"Even over here," tuts Bono, "we get people coming up to us and saying 'Well, I like you ...but I don't really like you because I'm a mod and you're not!"

Even in Ireland.

 "I'm not fully in control of my own performances," Bono confesses. "I'm not sure which way it's going to go when I hit the stage. It could go any way. There have been times when I have been really frightened and could hardly sing. I hardly looked up. Like when I can't get anything out of the hall, the audience, I turn into myself, close my eyes and try to find something there."