New Book Set to Chronicle U2’s First Gig

A forthcoming book, Becoming U2 by Brian O’Connell, revisits the band’s first official performance under the U2 name at a 1978 battle of the bands in Limerick, where the young Dublin group won £500 and an opportunity to audition for a recording contract despite mixed audience reactions. The event marked an early turning point for Bono, Larry Mullen, Adam Clayton and The Edge, who had previously performed as Feedback and The Hype. U2 later established a major U.S. chart presence with 34 Billboard Hot 100 entries, including six top-10 hits and two No. 1 singles from 1987’s The Joshua Tree. The band has also earned eight No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 and a record 22 Grammy Awards among groups. In 2026, U2 has continued releasing music ahead of a planned album, with new songs and a Pogues cover adding to the band’s U.K. singles-chart appearances.