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U2: 30 Years On and Going Strong

Despite the fact that former President George W. Bush thinks Bono “used to be married to Cher,” most of the rest of the world knows the truth about U2's front man. An Irishman born Paul David Hewson, Bono is one of the leading activists who also doubles as a rock star. The latter position affording him a platform to reach the masses as well as the ear of world leaders.

Since U2's early days, Bono has handled the band's pen, composing potent lyrics that speak to issues of import be they spiritual, political, or social. There are no throw-away tunes in the U2 stable, no fluff, no candy. Even the songs centered around personal themes have gravitas befitting their author(s).

The opening strains of “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” from 1983's War, are some of the most recognizable in U2's catalog. Set against a militaristic drum rhythm, the song describes the January 30, 1972 Bloody Sunday events in Derry (Northern Ireland) where British troops shot 26 unarmed civil rights marchers, killing more than a dozen of them.

Another cut from that album, “New Year's Day,” speaks of the Polish Solidarity movement. The following year, “Pride (In the Name of Love),” was written about Martin Luther King, Jr. Continue scanning song titles and the points are hard to miss: “Bullet the Blue Sky,” “Red Hill Mining Town,” “One,” “Peace on Earth.”

Such commitment to addressing the issues that plague our times is a rare and beautiful sight. But Bono doesn't just talk the talk – or sing the song, as it were. He walks it, too. In a 1986 interview, Bono explained from whence his activism comes: "I saw 'The Secret Policeman’s Ball' and it became a part of me. It sowed a seed..."

From that time on, U2 has been involved with groups like Amnesty International and Live Aid. Bono has also helped spearhead original campaigns and projects such as the ONE Campaign, EDUN, and Product Red. ONE's mission revolves around increasing international aid funding with focus areas of extreme poverty and AIDS, whereas EDUN aims to move the conversation and action away from aid and into trade. The Red initiative is all about raising money for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.

All of this do-gooding is not without its controversies, though. Critics have called Bono and his ilk "mythomaniacs, people who wish to convince the world of their worth." They have also been called out for "[ignoring] the legitimate voices of Africa and [turning] a global movement for justice into a grand orgy of narcissistic philanthropy.”

Bono's 2005 tribute to Pope John Paul II and his meetings with President Bush have also been called into question, as detractors see the moves as Bono selling his soul to various devils. For his part, Bono seems to think consensus building is key to solving the world's woes.

Activism aside, U2 – with Bono at the helm – continues to be a musical pioneer even 30 years on. No matter what anyone thinks of the politics, that's a fact that's impossible to dispute.