When does someone decide they want to be a musician? For me, it was when I saw U2 as a second grader. Leaving the venue a spark was ignited that has driven me for nearly two decades. This is the legacy of U2. A band that inspires.

One of history’s most successful rock bands, U2 formed in Dublin, Ireland, in 1976 while they were still in high school. Originally going by Feedback and then The Hype, their musicianship improved as their reputation for passionate performances grew. Nevertheless, it took them years to finally sign a record deal. In 1983 their second album, War, reached #1 on the UK charts.

The following year marked the beginning of a long relationship with producer Brian Eno. The US populace initially disliked their new sound, but this introspective rock-n-roll lead to the Grammy-Award-winning album, The Joshua Tree and solidified U2’s legacy as a preeminent voice in rock.

In the 90s U2 explored dance rock. In the 2000s they returned to more conventional rock. In 2011, the U2360° tour became the highest-grossing tour of all time - earning $736 million over two years.

U2 has consistently interwoven philanthropy and activism into their music. With a focus on addressing poverty, disease and social injustice, the band has participated in benefits globally for decades. Bono, U2’s frontman, co-founded ONE (a campaign that has saved millions of lives addressing extreme poverty and preventable diseases) and RED (an organization that has raised over $600 million to fight AIDS in Africa). The band has performed at countless disaster relief concerts and have consistently spoken out against social injustice.

Part of U2’s ingenuity comes from their unique sound. Following an era of distorted blues rock and wild vocals, U2 had a unique focus on repetitive guitar licks, surprisingly beautiful rock vocals and introspective/socially conscious lyricism. All this while honoring the legacy of the music that came before them.

They are the longest lasting band with original members in history. Having released 14 studio albums, sold 170 million records, and won 22 Grammy Awards, this Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band is one of the greatest of all time. Influenced by iconic acts like the Who, the Clash, the Beatles and the Ramones, U2 passed the inspiration forward to inspirit the songwriting and sound of Coldplay, Oasis, Radiohead and Arcade Fire (to list a few).

The same year I first saw U2, the song “Miracle Drug” was released. A true story of a paraplegic boy whose mother believed he could understand what she was saying. She taught him from home. Eventually a drug was created that allowed him to talk through the movement of his neck. He had been writing poetry for years in his mind and was a genius. This is my favorite song of all time.

Music is so powerful. Thank you U2. Spread the love and share the inspiration.

Jack Gaffney is a local musician and piano teacher. He can be reached at JackGaffney.com.