HTDAAB is an amazing album and will probably turn out to be the Album of the decade. Its fantastic that they they are a perfect 8 for 8 with the nominations for this album including album of the year for the first time in 18 years.
These guys are really nice and down to earth, and anyone who has met them will attest to that fact.
Here is a little piece of history that some may have forgotten or never new about. This appeared in the Evening Press, a Dublin newspaper on Monday March 20, 1978
Dublin Boys Top of Pops!
The Evening Press, March 20, 1978
Four Dublin schoolboys carried off the top prize at the Limerick Civic Week Pop '78 Competition on Saturday night.
Sponsored by The Evening Press and Harp Lager Guinness, the competition was to find the most talented and entertaining pop group or showband.
The Dublin boys who attend Mount Temple Comprehensive, and are known as U2 Malahide, headed 36 groups from all over the country and won for themselves £500, plus a trophy.
In second place was Rockster, also from Dublin, and the Limerick group Village were third. The only all-girl group in the contest, Harmony, from Tallaght, Co. Dublin, who got an enthusiastic reception, were unplaced.
The other finalists were East Coast Angels, Dublin, Graffiti, Clondalkin, Co. Dublin, Dragster, Charleville, Co. Cork and Doves, Athenry, Co. Galway.
The adjudicators were Billy Wall, Head of Light Entertainment, RTE, Jackie Hayden, CBS Records, who will select one of the groups for a recording test, Paul O'Brien, President, Junior Chamber, Limerick and Disc Jockey Mike "Rave" McNamara.
The Mayor of Limerick, Cllr. Frank Prendergast, presented the trophy to the winners, and the cheque for £500 was presented by Mr. Colm Clarke, Limerick area representative for Guinness.
Mr. Harry Roycroft, also of Guinness, presented the trophy for the runners-up, and Mr. Alan Maxwell, Sales Promotion Executive in Irish Press Ltd., presented the trophy to the third placed group. Co-ordinator of the event was Mr. Eamon Walkin of Limerick Junior Chamber.
The Mayor, Cllr. Prendergast, said it was the ambition of the Civic Week Committee to cater for as many tastes as possible throughout the week in the city and all competitions were very successful.
He thanked The Evening Press and Guinness for their sponsorship and CBS Records who "definitely had some groups in mind for recording."
Mr. Colm Clarke of Guinness and Mr. Alan Maxwell for The Evening Press replied. Mr. Maxwell said Civic Week was a tremendous effort.
Mr. Jackie Hayden from CBS, a spokesman for the jury, said the standard was a credit to the musicianship.
"U2 Malahide," the winning group, was made up of 16-year old Larry Mullen, of Rosemount Ave., Artane, an Intermediate Cert. Student at Mount Temple, Dave Evans (16), of St. Margaret's Park, Malahide, Adam Clayton (17), of Ard na Mara, Malahide, a Leaving Cert. student, and Paul Hewson (17), of Cedarwood Rd., Ballymun, who is also doing his Leaving Cert.
The group are just a year together and progressed from country music to "doing our own stuff." Paul Hewson said: "This means we can solve our money problems in a big way, particularly with regard to equipment. Now we hope to be able to buy a van."
The boys had to promote themselves. "No one in Dublin was interested in us and we came down here as a last resort," said Adam Clayton, group leader.
All the boys had praise for their school, which encouraged them, and gave them facilities to practise. In particular, they appreciated the help of Mr. Donald Moxham, History Teacher, and Mr. Albert Bradshaw, Music Teacher, at the school.
They appeared on RTE three weeks ago and they came to Limerick with the financial help of their parents -- the trip cost them £60 -- and the support of their fans who travelled with the group to see them triumph.
© The Evening Press, 1978. All rights reserved.
cough cough:...how they can still kick ass at the grammys....how they thank there fans alot...there not scared to go all out.....they give me soo much happiness just by being them....how ive met so many great people cause of them and how they made me feel every time i hear them..and that is why i love u2
