I found this article very interesting. It compares The Beatles and U2 and I was a bit taken aback when I saw these facts side by side! Its a long (but worth reading) article but here are a few excerpts to possibly intrigue you into reading the rest because I am very curious to get your thoughts on this!
THE EARLY YEARS The Beatles began as four teenage boys from Liverpool, England.
John Lennon, a sarcastic-but-smart troublemaker...
Paul McCartney, an exemplary student...
George Harrison, the youngest of the group, whose musical pursuits were supported by his family, was the most direct of the bunch -- and not a fan of conformity...
Richard Starkey, the eldest of the group, had played in more bands than the other three by the time he joined them.
U2 started with four teenage boys living in Dublin, Ireland.
Paul Hewson, a gregarious-but-intelligent kid...
Dave Evans was a strong student who had plans for higher education...
Larry Mullen Jr., the baby of the group, took piano and drum lessons as a young man. His family nurtured his talent... He didn't care much for conformity.
Adam Clayton, the oldest member of the band, had a more mature knowledge of music -- impressing his mates with words like "gig."
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It was part of the culture in Dublin to call each other by nicknames like Bono (Paul) and the Edge (Dave).
They liked to call each other by nicknames such as Macca (Paul), Lennie (John), Hazza (George), and Ringo (Richard).
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John, Paul, George and Ringo had three band names. First, they were Johnny and the Moondogs, then the Silver Beetles and finally the Beatles. The manager that put them on the map, Brian Epstein, had never before managed a music group.
Bono, the Edge, Larry and Adam had three band names. First, they were Feedback, then the Hype, and of course, U2. Their manager, Paul McGuinness, had never before managed a band.
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Paul McCartney and John Lennon lost their mothers unexpectedly when the band was just getting started. John's mother was killed in a car accident.
Bono and Larry Mullen Jr. tragically lost their mothers in their teenage years. Larry's mother was killed in a car accident.
~~~~ Paul McCartney has been married twice, producing four daughters and one son. John Lennon shared a birthday with his son Sean.
The Edge has been married twice, producing four daughters and one son.
Bono shares a birthday with his daughter Jordan. The articles goes on to compare them politically, lyrically, religiously, their quotable frontmen, etc. etc.
Here it is
8 comments:
I think they're a bit offbase on the politics angle, because the Beatles were generally not overtly political whereas politics runs through the core of U2.
The most important thing that I think the Beatles and U2 share is that both spent their entire career not only reinventing themselves, but reinventing rock music. The constantly pushed forward in ways that left no follower untouched no matte rhow removed their genre might be.
I hate U2!!! The horror of comparing Lennon and Bono!
The Beatles also had the name of the Quarrymen before Johnny and the Moondogs, and Ringo didn't join The Beatles until they finalized the name The Beatles because even when they were named The Beatles, Pete Best was the drummer until later on when Ringo joined. (I said The Beatles way too much, lol)
I think the coincidences are a bit of a stretch but it is interesting.
That is interesting stuff. Both bands are among the greatest bands ever. When I heard the Rolling Stone podcast with Bono, he said that Yoko Ono once told him that he was like John's son.
That picture is not Bono, but a celebrity impersonator.
Natalie, really????? Darn it, I thought that was a good pic of him. Oh well!
Its not a fair comparison. It overlooks several details. But still its certainly an entertaining read.
Hey animesh, thanks for stopping by!
I agree - it was entertaining but you can't really compare any two bands like that...or any two people for that matter.
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