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Podcast: Slate History
Episode: Hit Parade: With or Without U2 Edition Part 2
Description: U2 have millions of admirers—and haters: from the fans who regard them as rock’s conscience, to the cynics who blanch at lead singer Bono’s self-importance. Here’s the thing: U2 want to play to both crowds. They know why the haters can’t stand them. After a decade of earnestness in the ’80s, Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen called BS on themselves, rebooting their sound and image for the ’90s age of irony.This shouldn’t have worked. Instead, U2 became as big as ever, and kept scoring hits. Then, when...