jick
Refugee
U2 have made great music until now that is why they still sell and are still relevant.
But to me, one underrated reason why they haven't graduated to being a dinosaur band is that they still look very good at their age.
Other bands already have pot bellies and look old. Watching Rush in their Rush In Rio dvd, their guitarist and drummer have gained considerably. Saw a TV performance of Eddie Money and he was struggling and looked like an old man. Or even the Eagles in Hell Freezes Over - Don Henley had the pot belly. I also saw a recent cure performance. Or best yet, check out the full BBC Band Aid Documentary - Tony Hadley (Spandau Ballet) and Boy George quickly come to mind among the aging and bloating pop stars.
Other bands don't really get pot bellies but they're too skinny because of too much drugs perhaps or they just prefer to look unhealthy - The Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, and Iggy Pop are the predictable suspects.
Also, since Bono has been wearing sunglasses since 1991 - he has been able to conceal his aging. He still maintains the same "sunglasses look" and it masks from people the more lines and wrinkles in his face. It is also a good thing because Bono got associated with sunglasses and it has been a trademark to make him more recognizable.
The Edge, who has lost his hair since the late eighties has cleverly conceals his baldness with his beanie hats. And since he is quite fit, he still maintains the youthful look.
Clayton and Mullen have always been quite fit and haven't lost any hair. Mullen has even maintained his youthful look for quite sometime.
This is the MTV era. No one just listens to music anymore. There has to be a visual that corresponds with the music. Peple watch music nowadays. If Edge never wore a hat (which will show his age), and Bono did not wear sunglasses (to reveal his wrinkles) or did not tint his hair (to reveal his graying hair) then the younger MTV generation wouldn't care about U2 and quickly dismiss them as a dinosaur band who look old enough to be their daddies. If U2 did not stay fit and drugged themselves to be reed-thin and all wrinkled up, or grew their pot bellies and double-chins -- then they wouldn't be exactly where they're at now.
As crazy as this seems, I believe that one of the secrets to U2's longevity is avoiding the pot belly and looking good. Nowadays, sounding good is not enough for commercial success.
Cheers,
J
But to me, one underrated reason why they haven't graduated to being a dinosaur band is that they still look very good at their age.
Other bands already have pot bellies and look old. Watching Rush in their Rush In Rio dvd, their guitarist and drummer have gained considerably. Saw a TV performance of Eddie Money and he was struggling and looked like an old man. Or even the Eagles in Hell Freezes Over - Don Henley had the pot belly. I also saw a recent cure performance. Or best yet, check out the full BBC Band Aid Documentary - Tony Hadley (Spandau Ballet) and Boy George quickly come to mind among the aging and bloating pop stars.
Other bands don't really get pot bellies but they're too skinny because of too much drugs perhaps or they just prefer to look unhealthy - The Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, and Iggy Pop are the predictable suspects.
Also, since Bono has been wearing sunglasses since 1991 - he has been able to conceal his aging. He still maintains the same "sunglasses look" and it masks from people the more lines and wrinkles in his face. It is also a good thing because Bono got associated with sunglasses and it has been a trademark to make him more recognizable.
The Edge, who has lost his hair since the late eighties has cleverly conceals his baldness with his beanie hats. And since he is quite fit, he still maintains the youthful look.
Clayton and Mullen have always been quite fit and haven't lost any hair. Mullen has even maintained his youthful look for quite sometime.
This is the MTV era. No one just listens to music anymore. There has to be a visual that corresponds with the music. Peple watch music nowadays. If Edge never wore a hat (which will show his age), and Bono did not wear sunglasses (to reveal his wrinkles) or did not tint his hair (to reveal his graying hair) then the younger MTV generation wouldn't care about U2 and quickly dismiss them as a dinosaur band who look old enough to be their daddies. If U2 did not stay fit and drugged themselves to be reed-thin and all wrinkled up, or grew their pot bellies and double-chins -- then they wouldn't be exactly where they're at now.
As crazy as this seems, I believe that one of the secrets to U2's longevity is avoiding the pot belly and looking good. Nowadays, sounding good is not enough for commercial success.
Cheers,
J
