<p id=”par-1_44″><a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/tag/classic-rock/”>Classic rock</a> begets more classic rock. <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/bono-reacted-hatred-u2s-rattle-and-hum.html/?swcfpc=1″>U2’s <em>Rattle and Hum </em>became controversial</a> for the way it tried to connect the band to earlier groups like The Beatles. Bono was surprised by the reaction to U2’s cover of The Beatles’ “Helter Skelter,” and rightfully so.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-u2-s-rattle-and-hum-attempted-to-rewrite-the-narrative-of-the-beatles-helter-skelter”>U2’s ‘Rattle and Hum’ attempted to rewrite the narrative of The Beatles’ ‘Helter Skelter’</h2>
<p id=”par-2_58″>During a 1988 interview with <a href=”https://www.hotpress.com/music/happy-birthday-bono-revisiting-a-classic-interview-from-1988-22905048″ target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Hot Press</a>, Bono discussed the reaction to U2’s <em>Rattle and Hum</em>, one of the most divisive albums of the 1980s. “What I was disappointed in — in both the praise and the criticism — was the lack of insight into the LP, lyrically, in what it said about us, U2,” he said. </p>
<p id=”par-3_58″>“There’s so much in there, so many heavy things — it has a beginning, middle and end in its own ragged way. And that people didn’t question the idea of why we did ‘Helter Skelter’ other than ‘Why are they doing a Beatles’ song?’ — that people didn’t think further than that, I must say … amused me.”</p>
<p id=”par-4_50″>“Helter Skelter” is one of The Beatles’ most storied records. Some fans feel it’s the first heavy metal song or a forerunner of punk rock. On top of that, <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/charles-manson-felt-the-beatles-honey-pie-message.html/”>Charles Manson believed that the track</a> predicted an apocalyptic race war — an interpretation that partly inspired the Manson murders. </p>
<p id=”par-5_43″>For that reason, any cover of “Helter Skelter” becomes loaded. When U2 performed it, Bono said, “This is a song Charles Manson stole from The Beatles, and we’re stealing it back.” U2 did their best to rid the innocent tune of its baggage.</p>
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<iframe title=”Helter Skelter (Live)” width=”925″ height=”694″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/InTBgzAZOLg?feature=oembed” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” referrerpolicy=”strict-origin-when-cross-origin” allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-some-of-the-issues-surrounding-u2-seem-silly-now”>Some of the issues surrounding U2 seem silly now</h2>
<p id=”par-6_55″><em>Rattle and Hum</em> became controversial because some critics felt U2 prematurely tried to insert themselves into the pantheon of rock gods. The record includes covers of songs by The Beatles and Bob Dylan, as well as a guest appearance from B. B. King. “That was maddening because the intention was the exact opposite,” Bono asserted. </p>
<p id=”par-7_92″>Rather, the band was trying to highlight the fact that they were rock fans. “I mean, <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/bono-said-1-classic-rock-song-broke-rules-pop-music.html/”>rock ‘n’ roll</a> is a great tradition, and we are part of it — and maybe you’ll think this is funny — but we thought it was, kind of, the most humble thing to do,” he said. “This was a record made by fans — we wanted to own up to being fans. And we thought rock ‘n’ roll bands just don’t do that — we all know they are, but they don’t do it.” </p>
<p id=”par-8_25″>In the end, U2 became one of the biggest rock bands of all time, so it doesn’t seem out-of-place that they rubbed elbows with King.</p>
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<iframe title=”U2 – When Love Comes To Town (Official Music Video)” width=”925″ height=”520″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/_TGU35i8czo?feature=oembed” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” referrerpolicy=”strict-origin-when-cross-origin” allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-critics-couldn-t-stop-the-success-of-rattle-and-hum”>Critics couldn’t stop the success of ‘Rattle and Hum’</h2>
<p id=”par-9_75″>Regardless of the controversies surrounding <em>Rattle and Hum</em>, the record was still a great success. It topped the <a href=”https://www.billboard.com/artist/u2/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Billboard 200</a> for six weeks, lasting on the chart for 39 weeks in total. The record produced two modest hits. The first, “Desire,” reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and charted for 17 weeks. The other top 20 single from the album was “Angel of Harlem,” which reached No. 14 and charted for 15 weeks.</p>
<p id=”par-10_21″><em>Rattle and Hum</em> might not be the best record of U2’s career — but you couldn’t keep a good band down.</p>