MusicRadar

Dublin band The Hype changed their name to U2 in 1978. 31 years ago they’d yet to play outside Ireland.

Now they’re bringing their enormous U2 360 shows to Wembley Stadium (14 and 15 August).

Love them or hate them, U2 are a rare band - four individuals who have remained together for 30-plus years, and still get bigger and bigger.

Here, MusicRadar delves into the archives to bring you the career of The World’s Biggest Band in pictures.

Warning: this gallery contains guitar porn, photos of Adam Clayton’s ‘banana’, and The Edge with hair.

Next page: 1978, and U2 are born