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U2: The Road to Pop
Carter Alan tracks the U2's incredible rise in America. Alan, a freelance writer and music director for WBCN Boston, one of the country's most important modern rock radio stations, has traveled extensively with U2 and hosted several syndicated radio specials with the band. Using material from years of exclusive interviews with the group and its management, he explores the chemistry between U2 and its American audience.
Illustrated with photos of the group in concert and behind the scenes, The Road to POP charts U2's progress from the fledgling performance at the tiny Paradise nightclub in Boston through 1985's legendary Live Aid appearance to the alien landscapes and technological reinvention of the band in the 1990s. Alan considers the price U2, whose aim has always been to connect with its audiences, has paid for its popularity as well as the need to challenge itself artistically while still writing music fans adore.
Illustrated with photos of the group in concert and behind the scenes, The Road to POP charts U2's progress from the fledgling performance at the tiny Paradise nightclub in Boston through 1985's legendary Live Aid appearance to the alien landscapes and technological reinvention of the band in the 1990s. Alan considers the price U2, whose aim has always been to connect with its audiences, has paid for its popularity as well as the need to challenge itself artistically while still writing music fans adore.
- GenresMusicNonfictionBiography
256 pages, Paperback
First published October 31, 1994
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 30, 2012
This is the updated and released book formally known as Outside is America: U2 in the U.S. For some reason a lot of hard-core U2 fans hold luke-warm feelings when it comes to The Road to Pop. I happened to have enjoyed reading this book. It was a very easy novelesque read for even the casual fan. I will say that the author does interject his own theories behind certain aspects in the bands history. In the end I would recommend The Road to Pop to a casual-big fan of U2.
February 3, 2013
As much as I love U2, I just could not get into this one. I've read a ton of books about my favorite bands, but this one just couldn't keep my focus for long at all. Luckily there are plenty of books on U2 to choose from. I will move on to one of those :)
December 21, 2020
It occurred to me while reading this that U2 is a stellar example of reality versus fan headcanon: the band is indeed amazing and even their more scattershot albums (such as Pop and No Line On the Horizon) still contain absolute gems...however, thanks to rabid fandom and exceedingly high expectations from critics, it becomes harder and harder for the band to measure up to it all. Thus the fans will always find fault. [If you assume I say this in an underhanded way to point out that the Innocence/Experience albums are in fact brilliant but unfortunately clouded by petty critics and fans hating it before a note has been dropped, then yes, you are correct.]
Carter Alan is a DJ that was there from the beginning and never gave up on the band, even when he was not directly involved with them for any length of time; he's a trusted friend of the band and understands who they are as regular people rather than caricatures or heroes. This is a wonderful book that covers a uniquely American view of the band and how the country helped break them into the big time, from their early days up to 1997's Pop. Highly recommended if you are a fan.
Carter Alan is a DJ that was there from the beginning and never gave up on the band, even when he was not directly involved with them for any length of time; he's a trusted friend of the band and understands who they are as regular people rather than caricatures or heroes. This is a wonderful book that covers a uniquely American view of the band and how the country helped break them into the big time, from their early days up to 1997's Pop. Highly recommended if you are a fan.
January 24, 2022
An interesting book but having just finished U2 at the end of the world it falls flat. I would have liked more interaction from the band which Carter just wasn't allowed to have. Perhaps its an unfair judgment and I may feel differently if I ever read it again. If I do I'll make sure to not have read the other one first.
September 1, 2013
carter allen played the first u2 song in the united states. this was on the now non existent wbcn in boston.
back in the day when they weren't a household name, everytime they toured he would host u2 a-z. this was with songs like j swallo, and walk to the water included. sometimes u2 would be there, sometimes not. but carter knows his stuff.
for one thing he knows the lead guitarist name isn't Ed.
back in the day when they weren't a household name, everytime they toured he would host u2 a-z. this was with songs like j swallo, and walk to the water included. sometimes u2 would be there, sometimes not. but carter knows his stuff.
for one thing he knows the lead guitarist name isn't Ed.
Currently Reading
December 13, 2009I bought U2 CDs and listened to them as I read the parts of the book that focused on each CD.
I got Boy, October, War, Under A Blood Red Sky, The Unforgettable Fire, The Joshua Three, and Achtung Baby so far.
I got Boy, October, War, Under A Blood Red Sky, The Unforgettable Fire, The Joshua Three, and Achtung Baby so far.
August 3, 2007
Too bad it ends at Pop... not a very good album.
June 17, 2013
I really really like U2. And I like behind the scenes stories. Great Match
July 6, 2014
Hagiography, reads like a U2 press release or a fan club newsletter.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews