War is the third studio album by
U2, released on 28 February 1983. The album has come to be regarded as U2's first overtly political album, in part because of songs like "Sunday Bloody Sunday", "New Year's Day", as well as the title, which stems from the band's perception of the world at the time; Bono stated that "war seemed to be the motif for 1982."
War was a commercial success for the band, knocking
Michael Jackson's Thriller from the top of the charts to become the band's first #1 album in the UK. It reached #12 in the U.S. and became their first Gold-certified album there.
War has received critical acclaim. In 2003, the album was ranked number 221 on
Rolling Stone magazine's list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time".
Personnel: • Bono – lead vocals, additional guitar
• The Edge – guitar, piano, lap steel, backing vocals, lead vocals on "Seconds," bass and rhythm guitar on "40"
• Adam Clayton – bass, lead guitar on "40".
• Larry Mullen Jr. – drums
• Kenny Fradley – trumpet on "Red Light"
• Steve Wickham – electric violin on "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and "Drowning Man"
• The Coconuts: Cheryl Poirier, Adriana Kaegi, Taryn Hagey, Jessica Felton – backing vocals on "Like A Song...", "Red Light", and "Surrender"