Who is the originator?

[jfalk68]

Influences get thrown around like blow at a porno convention. That said, what do you think is the leading influencerof U2?

 

[HelloAngel]

I've read the Clash was a major influence.. as was Elvis, Frank Sinatra and The Beatles.

 

[Red Ships of Scalla-Festa]

***** and nickelback these days.

bsb and nsync in the 90's.

bon jovi, slaughter and warrant in the 80's

back in the 70's when they were just getting started, id say john cafferty and the beaver brown band.

 

[u2popmofo]

Hmmm, their sound has a lot of obivious influence from Television.

 

[Strato Edge]

The Clash, especially the beginning. Just listen to "London Calling" and "Sunday Bloody Sunday"

 

[Strato Edge]

Van Morrison, probably more so Bono, as was Sinatra.

 

[U2Kitten]

The Ramones were a big influence. Also T Rex and Bowie, Television, Joy Division, Velvet Underground, and they have mentioned The Who as an inspiration.

For the record Beaver Brown Band did not exist until the 80's.

 

[U2Kitten]

Oh and Patti Smith group.

 

[yertle-the-turtle]

Television's guitarist Tom Verlaine was a major influence on Edge's guitar style, according to the beanied one himself.
the Ramones and the Clash also seem to be influences, and Bono has talked about loving the Velvet Underground and I think the Stooges before, so perhaps you could count those in. Nowadays they're listening to BRMC and stuff, so who knows...

actually there was that Zoo Radio thing which I thought was interesting - Edge, Adam and Larry playing their favourite songs. Of course, favourite don't necessarily mean influences, but...

 

[jfalk68]

I was watching Zeppelin's live DVD set the other day (which is pretty amazing, btw ->ledzeppelin.com) and I couldn't help but wonder if they had any impact on U2 - after all, they've influenced just about everyone else!

 

[A Maaaaaaan]

The Clash, The Ramones, David Bowie and The Beatles.

Many more ...

 

[MrBrau1]

T.Rex
Sex Pistols
Rory Galagher

 

[Elvis Presley]

I agree with The Ramones and Sex Pistols, wish they sounded more that way now sometimes...

 

[jfalk68]

I'd really like to know who inspired The Edge's style of guitar playing.

 

[A Maaaaaaan]

Television's guitarist Tom Verlaine was a major influence on Edge's guitar style, according to the beanied one himself.

 

[KhanadaRhodes]

The Ramones were a big influence. Also T Rex and Bowie, Television, Joy Division, Velvet Underground, and they have mentioned The Who as an inspiration.

it's worth pointing out for those who don't know that when they went in the studio to record their single 11 o'clock tick tock, they sought producer martin hannett. why? he was joy division's producer.

 

[jfalk68]

Has anyone else watched the Zeppelin DVD, btw?

 

[Reggie Thee Dog]

I've watched it and it rocks. I'm not sure that Led Zep influenced U2 as much as some of the other bands mentioned in this thread.

I'd like to point out that U2 'sound' or 'style' is very much their own (duh!) and that I don't believe one or even three bands had that much of an impact. Bono throws around influences like leaves in a wind storm. They were influenced by the time and music that was around when they formed. During the Joshua Tree period they found Blues and Country and Western, so that blows any theory that the Clash, Bowie, the Pistols were and continue to be dominating factors. U2 hear a new sound and/or music and tend to adapt that sound/music to their style. Whether it be Zeppelin, the Who, the Beatles, the Clash and Nirvana. Throw in Sinatra, Nina Simone and Marc Almond too!

 

[Tip Top Prince]

Blondie.

 

[arw]

Has anyone ever watched the documentary From A Whisper to a Scream...the History of Irish Music? It was made just a few years ago. If you're looking to see who inspired U2, Bono and Edge will tell you themselves in the documentary.

 

[Jack In The Box]

umh... The Ramones, The Clash, David Bowie, The Who (maybe), The Beatles, Television, Sinatra and Presley...

and a little of NIN (90s)