Bono is pleased that the U2 was handed a high award right in the White House

Bono is pleased that the U2 was handed a high award right in the White House

The Irish rock band U2 are among the artists awarded the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors for their lifetime of contributions to American culture.

While U2’s contribution on the U.S. culture began with its amazing catalogue of music dating back to its first release in 1980, they have also made a major impact as activists for non-profits and social justice causes both as U2 and as individuals.

Like he has on stage and in the recording studio, Bono led the band as it accepted the honor with his devoted wife of 40 years, Ali Hewson, by his side in a striking red gown.

The day’s event included a White House reception for band members, Bono (vocals), The Edge (guitar, vocals), Adam Clayton (bass) and Larry Mullen Jr. (drums), as well as fellow honorees actor-director George Clooney, composer Tania León, singer Gladys Knight and singer Amy Grant.

President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and their respective spouses were all in attendance for the pre-gala festivities at the White House.

From the East Room, Mr. Biden shared a few words on each of the honorees, highlighting some of their accomplishments that are worthy of the recognition from The John F. Kennedy Center For The Performing Arts.

Recalling his love of Irish poets, the President proceeded to call U2 ‘four sons of Ireland, poets in their own right’, all while declaring that their music ‘has changed the world,’ according to the Associated Press.

‘We would do well to remember today at a moment when there’s too much hate, too much anger, too much division here in America, and quite frankly, around the world,’ Biden said. ‘We have to remember today, as their song goes: “We are one but we’re not the same. We get to carry each other,”‘ he added, in a reference to their classic song One, off of their studio album Achtung Baby (1991), that was released as a benefit single with proceeds going towards AIDS research.

One is often used by the group to promote human rights or social justice causes, and the track lends its namesake to Bono’s charitable organization, the ONE Campaign, which was founded to fight extreme poverty and preventible diseases.

The formation of U2 in the 1970s is not unlike a lot of rock bands coming up and trying to make a name for itself, in the wake of the punk explosion spearheaded, in part, by Sex Pistols and The Clash, who are considered heroes by the members of U2.

Mullen Jr., then 14 and living in Dublin, posted a note on his school’s notice board in search of musicians for a new band, that caught the eyes of Clayton, The Edge (born David Howell Evans) and Bono (born Paul David Hewson), and a few others.

But while their formation is a familiar story for many musicians, their long and storied careers to superstardom is far from typical.

Using subjects ranging from love and heartbreak, to politics, war, and social injustice, U2 has released 14 studio albums, and has since become one the world’s best-selling music artists of all time, selling an estimated 150–170 million records worldwide.

And they paved their road to superstardom, which includes 22 Grammy Awards, with the same four original members for 45 years and counting.The prestigious Kennedy Center Honors are awarded to those in the performing arts for their lifetime of contributions to American culture

Founded in 1978, five honorees are celebrated each year, culminating with a gala held at the Kennedy Center Opera House in Washington, D.C. in December.

While the awards are primarily given to individuals, it has occasionally been given to couples or musical groups, which is the case with U2, as well as to one Broadway musical and one television show.