Which band, originally known as 'Feedback' in 1976 and then 'The Hype' in 1977, has become one of the most successful rock bands?

U2 was formed in 1976 in Dublin, Ireland. The group consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Paul Hewson, better known as Bono, David Evans, aka the Edge, as lead guitarist, backing vocalist and on keyboards, Adam Clayton, bass guitarist and Larry Mullen Jr. on drums and percussion.

They decided to change their name to U2 because of its ambiguity. These four performers have been together since their inception and are able to boast the feat of being one of the few groups to have performed for over 40 years with the same members.

Their first album in 1980, 'Boy', had limited success.

The band's second album, 'October', was released in October 1981 and contained overtly spiritual themes but it received mixed reception and limited play.

Their third album, 'War', was lyrically more political than their first two records, focusing on the physical and emotional effects of warfare. The album included the protest song "Sunday Bloody Sunday", in which Bono lyrically tried to contrast the events of the 1972 Bloody Sunday shooting in Derry, Northern Ireland, with Easter Sunday.

In the 'War' Tour of Europe, the U.S. and Japan, the group's June 1983 concert at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado, was singled out by Rolling Stone magazine as one of the "50 Moments that Changed the History of Rock and Roll".

U2 have released 14 studio albums and are one of the world's best-selling music artists in history, having sold more than 170 million records worldwide to date.