U2 Released Their 2nd Album ‘OCTOBER’ Today 45 Years Ago
Significant longplayers from yesteryear
12 October 2026
Irish rock jumbos released their 2nd album, named
OCTOBER on 12 October 1981, today 45 years ago.
The album was lyrically inspired by the memberships of Bono, the Edge, and Larry Mullen Jr. in a Christian group called the Shalom Fellowship, and consequently it contains spiritual and religious themes. Their involvement led them to question the relationship between the Christian faith and the rock and roll lifestyle, and threatened to break up the band.
Bono: “I remember the pressure it was made under, I remember writing lyrics on
the microphone, and at £50 an hour, that’s quite a pressure. The ironic thing about
October is that there’s a sort of peace about the album, even though it was recorded
under that pressure.
I think October goes into areas that most rock ‘n’ roll bands ignore.
When I listen to the album, something like ‘Tomorrow,’ it actually
moves me.”
TUTV: I’m a sizeable U2 fan but
this album is somehow a bit too
bombastic for my liking.
Singles.
– GLORIA –
– FIRE –
ALBUM