U2 – Irish Rock Celebs Released Their Debut Album ‘BOY’ 45 Years Ago Today
Significant longplayers from yesteryear
20 October 2025
U2 released their debut longplayer,
named BOY on 20 October 1980,
today 45 years ago.
It was produced by Steve Lillywhite who worked with legendary artists
such as XTC, Big Country, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Simple Minds, Ultravox,
Psychedelic Furs, Toyah, David Byrne, Talking Heads, and Kirsty MacColl.
The ‘boy’ on the LP’s cover is Peter Rowen, the younger brother
of Guggi then a member of the Virgin Prunes and close friend
of Bono.
It (only) got to #52 in the UK and #63 in the US, but kept on selling many copies
over the years once the band got more an more famous with every release.
Sounds (former legendary British music weekly) wrote: “U2 achieve
a rare mixture of innocence and aggression. There’s an overall feeling of
loving care and energy intertwined with simplistic and direct hooks and
chords”.
BONO: “God’s Spirit moves through us and the world at a pace that
can never be constricted by any one religious paradigm. I love that.”
Turn Up The Volume: The first signs of messianic stadium rock.
Bono has found what he was looking for by now, with or without
you, on the streets with no name. Hallelujah, it’s a beautiful day
when we are all ‘one’.
Key singles: I Will Follow / Out Of Control
– I WILL FOLLOW –
– OUT OF CONTROL –
(Stunning live version)
ALBUM