U2 The Definitive Biography

 U2 The Definitive Biography John Jobling

We all love U2. Everyone has since maybe the late 80s. So it’s time to crack a book about this little beat combo from Dublin, Ireland. The claim on the cover is a big one. This is not just any ordinary biography but it is the DEFINITIVE biography no less. 

Words have meaning and while meanings are malleable you can’t use a word when it just doesn’t apply. John Jobling's work on U2 is certainly not definitive. Mr. Oxford Dictionary suggests “(of a book or other text) the most authoritative of its kind.”. Is this the most authoritative of its kind? Nope . . .

 After reading this, I am convinced there are better biographies of the band out there. The basics are covered but I just felt that something was missing. Maybe it's the writing style, maybe it was the feeling of the book. 

Yup, different books can feel differently, whether it’s the binding or the paper or whatever it might be all books have a feeling. For a quick example I give you the Steven Tyler autobiography, it feels like a school textbook ( go check it out and it's a fun read). The feeling from this book, the paper especially, felt kind of cheap. But that’s just me. Your mileage may vary.

If you are looking for cool pics of the band. Maybe something more intimate or unusual. Sadly, no. the existing pics are not as special as you might have hoped. 

I almost get the feeling a lonely intern did a quick Google search for U2 images at 2 am.  Of course, this poor intern has never heard of U2 - not even the spy plane. So they quickly snatch a few that seem ok and moved on to the next project, likely finding pictures for a Noel Gallagher biography (what a task that would be). It doesn’t feel as though much thought or effort went into the picture selection.

As a fan, I never read too much into the biblical references in their songs but religion is explored at length here. In fact, when I first think of this book the very first thing that pops into my head is its discussion of religion and the band.

 Many books will leave one impression on me when I think back on them. Sometimes I think of drugs, booze, or sex. You know, the normal things about rock and roll. This book is about religion and the band or at least that’s what I have taken away from it.

Maybe the band did mean more by the religious imagery than I managed to glean from it. I either missed it or, as is more likely, I just dismissed it all as fodder for some cool lyrics. U2 has almost always had cool lyrics

This is an unforgettable fire of a book. It’s not a complete dumpster fire but close. Mr. Jobling has no love for Bono. There is the claim that at an aftershow party Bono was so freaked out about appearing next to Bruce Springsteen that he decided to wear high heels to hide the height difference. Apparently, these were red high heels that Mr. Vox decided to try and cover with extra long pants legs. Oh, boy!

Then there is the heroin allegation. . . that’s better left unspoken of because it’s hard to prove. We all love the sex and drugs part of rock and roll but that usually comes after the band admits it. Usually though not always. 

I hate to suggest that this is a hit piece but it kind of is. Mr. Jobling has pretty much nothing good to say about the band. He attacks Bono for his height and weight insecurities while providing almost nothing to counterbalance the information. 

Jobling attacks the band for seeming to not know what they’re doing. He makes the claim Larry Mullens jr. isn’t a very good drummer. On and on it goes.

That’s really too bad because Mr. Jobling could have spent more time writing about an amazing pop band. U2 has released one of the most important albums of the late 20th century. That was all missed. This is a perfectly passable passel of papers . . . nothing more.