U2 (EP)

Infobox Album
Name = U2 E.P.
Type = ep
Artist = Negativland


Released = 1991
Recorded = 1989-91
Genre = Sound Collage
Length = 13:01
Label = SST Records
Seeland Records
Producer = Negativland
Reviews =
Last album = ""
(1990)
This album = "U2"
(1991)
Next album = "Guns"
(1992)

"U2" is an EP by the experimental music and sound collage band Negativland, released in 1991. The EP and the band gained notoriety when lawyers representing Island Records, the record label of the band U2, sued over misleading artwork and the use of unauthorized sampling.

History

After "Helter Stupid", Negativland's next project was the infamous "U2" EP, with samples from "America's Top 40" host Casey Kasem. In 1991, Negativland released this EP with the title "U2" displayed in very large type on the front of the packaging, and "Negativland" in a smaller typeface. An image of the Lockheed U-2 spy plane was also on the cover.

The songs within were parodies of the group U2's well-known 1987 song, "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For", including kazoos and extensive sampling of the original song. The song "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For (Special Edit Radio Mix)" features a musical backing to an extended profane rant from well-known disc jockey Casey Kasem, lapsing out of his more polished and professional tone during a frustrating rehearsal which had gone out to many stations as raw feed and was taped by several engineers, who had been passing it around for a number of years. One of Kasem's milder comments was "These guys are from England and who gives a shit?" U2's members are in fact from the Republic of Ireland.

U2's label Island Records quickly sued Negativland, claiming that placing the word "U2" on the cover violated trademark law, as did the song itself. Island Records also contended that the single was an attempt to deliberately confuse U2 fans, then awaiting the impending release of "Achtung Baby".

After "U2" was withdrawn and deleted it was replaced with another EP, "Guns".

Track listing

# "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For (1991 A Capella Mix)" - 7:15
# "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For (Special Edit Radio Mix)" - 5:46

Personnel

*Mark Hosler - tapes, electronics, rhythms, Booper, clarinet, organ, viola, loops, guitar, etc.
*Richard Lyons - tapes, electronics, rhythms, Booper, clarinet, organ, viola, loops, guitar, etc.
*David Wills - synthesizer, voice, tape
*Peter Dayton - guitars, viola
*W. M. Kennedy - guitar
*U2 - Sound samples
*Casey Kasem - Sound samples