heatherbermingham's review
5.0
I read this many years ago but recently came across it while (finally) unpacking boxes of books and found myself reading it again. Bill Flanagan followed U2 pretty closely for a 2-3 year span starting with the recording of Achtung Baby and through the Zoo TV tour and recording of Zooropa. Definitely one of the best singer/band books I've read. Flanagan was fortunate to capture a really interesting time in the band's career, he got incredible access to them and the people around them, and all 4 members of U2 were incredibly open and honest with him about themselves and each other. I especially enjoyed, both on my first read and again now, hearing more from Larry and Adam who generally stay out of the spotlight a lot more than Bono and Edge. Reading this now, almost 30 years after its publication, knowing that U2 is still together is pretty fun and honestly, kind of sweet. Whatever you may think of their recent music, that alone is some kind of achievement.
thebeardedpoet's review
4.0
U2 at the End of the World covers the history of the band in the early 1990s. My favorite material in this book is about the bro-mance between Bono and Frank Sinatra. (Yeah, you read that right!) Sinatra is a major character in the second half of the book.
Flanagan also provides an up close view of the making of two albums "Achtung Baby" and "Zooropa." I enjoyed the descriptions of how songs were built up in the studio with the creative nurturing of Brian Eno.
Embedded with the band throughout the two years of their Zoo TV tour around the world, Flanagan details the strange change in perspective experienced by a band on tour for months at a time--in particular how difficult it is to acclimate to being home when it's all over.
The book provides some suggestion of how the Christian faith of three of the members affect their art, life on the road, and their big decisions. However, their faith is not front and center during this era of their career. I was struck most by how Bono interacted with strangers, in particular women who either suggested or explicitly offered to have sex with him. Bono stuck to conversation every time. The author observes this is Bono's way of maintaining fidelity to his wife: if he sees a woman whom he finds attractive, he talks her up until he finds out why it would never work out. Bono comes across as a person who works hard to do the right thing and to maintain morality even when there are risks or costs. Still the band is a rock band touring out in the secular world, so they recognize that they are sometimes distant from God and pushing the boundaries of what Christians and perhaps even Christ himself might consider holy.
The book really deals best with the group dynamics of U2--how they function as collaborative artists and equal business partners. There was much discussion about how they financially divide all earnings equally, even though the Edge and Bono are the primary song writers. Flanagan explores the tensions caused by the arrangement and speculates on the outcome of future renegotiations.
Flanagan also provides an up close view of the making of two albums "Achtung Baby" and "Zooropa." I enjoyed the descriptions of how songs were built up in the studio with the creative nurturing of Brian Eno.
Embedded with the band throughout the two years of their Zoo TV tour around the world, Flanagan details the strange change in perspective experienced by a band on tour for months at a time--in particular how difficult it is to acclimate to being home when it's all over.
The book provides some suggestion of how the Christian faith of three of the members affect their art, life on the road, and their big decisions. However, their faith is not front and center during this era of their career. I was struck most by how Bono interacted with strangers, in particular women who either suggested or explicitly offered to have sex with him. Bono stuck to conversation every time. The author observes this is Bono's way of maintaining fidelity to his wife: if he sees a woman whom he finds attractive, he talks her up until he finds out why it would never work out. Bono comes across as a person who works hard to do the right thing and to maintain morality even when there are risks or costs. Still the band is a rock band touring out in the secular world, so they recognize that they are sometimes distant from God and pushing the boundaries of what Christians and perhaps even Christ himself might consider holy.
The book really deals best with the group dynamics of U2--how they function as collaborative artists and equal business partners. There was much discussion about how they financially divide all earnings equally, even though the Edge and Bono are the primary song writers. Flanagan explores the tensions caused by the arrangement and speculates on the outcome of future renegotiations.
timhoiland's review
5.0
As the story unfolds, we find U2 on the last flight into East Berlin before the wall comes down. Five years and 500 pages later, the book ends near the midway point in U2's weirdest, most polarizing decade. What happens in the early '90s is nothing less than a full-scale reinvention: the earnest rock band that gave us Joshua Tree morphs into the (supposedly) shallow, image-conscious, electro-infused group of performance artists who brought us MacPhisto. Endlessly entertaining and surprisingly astute, Flanagan's insider account of that time is a joyride 25 years later. It's crazy to think of everything that has happened with U2 in the years since – the further reinvention of Pop, the post-9/11 halftime show, the activism of DATA and ONE, ubiquitous iPod ads. For all the reinventions, it occurs to me, U2 has remained surprisingly steady in its ambitions, its values, and its craft. The world needs a sequel, Bill Flanagan; just make sure it doesn't automatically "download" to our bookshelves.
ericschlipf's review
5.0
In telling the story of 1990-1994, Flanagan also dives into all of U2’s past, putting appropriate time in all eras of the band. I’ve read U2 by U2, and Bono’s “in conversation” biography, and I prefer this one to both of those. Flanagan provides a generally positively-focused portrait of the band that is honest about their flaws without being too gushy about their more admirable parts.
Flanagan describes scenes that, if the band were to describe, would come across as too arrogant or self-aggrandizing. Hearing an outsiders perspective gives the book a bit of arms-reach honesty that is compelling and refreshing.
I’ve never read a rock biography that captures what the day to day is like for the subject so well, in this case in the context of the Zoo TV tour.
Flanagan describes scenes that, if the band were to describe, would come across as too arrogant or self-aggrandizing. Hearing an outsiders perspective gives the book a bit of arms-reach honesty that is compelling and refreshing.
I’ve never read a rock biography that captures what the day to day is like for the subject so well, in this case in the context of the Zoo TV tour.
dieslaughing's review
4.0
Easily one of those most compulsively readable rock bios ever penned. Love 'em or hate 'em, the juxtaposition of their individual personalities, their history together, and the craziness of being (arguably) the biggest rock band in the world, is never less than fascinating.
trin's review against another edition
5.0
This is such a fantastic rock bio. Flanagan's writing is incredibly engaging, and he does a great job of exploring the thornier issues from every angle. He really captures the zany wonder of a rock tour, with fabulous descriptions of the cities the band visits (I love the section on Tokyo) and tons of great quotes. The members of U2 are wonderful and worthy subjects, and Flanagan more than rises to the task of telling their story. I wish he'd write a sequel with some of their more modern adventures!
I recommend this to anyone who's interested in rock & roll or band dynamics, whether they're U2 fans or not. I really can't convey how hilarious and vibrant and awesome and inspiring this book is. It's possibly my favorite non-fiction book of all time.
I recommend this to anyone who's interested in rock & roll or band dynamics, whether they're U2 fans or not. I really can't convey how hilarious and vibrant and awesome and inspiring this book is. It's possibly my favorite non-fiction book of all time.
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