U2 (EP)

{{Short description|Negativland EP}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox album | name = U2 | type = ep | artist = Negativland | cover = U2 Negativland Album.jpg | border = yes | alt = | released = 1991 | recorded = 1989–91 | venue = | studio = | genre = Sound collage, experimental | length = 13:01 | label = SST (272), Seeland | producer = Negativland | prev_title = Helter Stupid | prev_year = 1989 | next_title = Guns | next_year = 1992 }} {{Album ratings | rev1 = AllMusic | rev1score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/u2-mw0000272341|title=U2 - Negativland|website=AllMusic|last=Carruthers|first=Sean|date=March 10, 2025|access-date=March 10, 2025}}</ref> }}

'''''U2''''' is a withdrawn EP by Negativland, released on SST Records in 1991.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2016/07/that-time-negativland-trolled-u2-into-suing-them.html|date=July 5, 2016|title=That Time Negativland Trolled U2 Into Suing Them|first=Eddie|last=Brawley|work=Vulture}}</ref> The EP and the band gained notoriety when lawyers representing Island Records sued Negativland over the EP's unauthorized sampling of the U2 song "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" and misleading artwork.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/1995/01/negativland/|first=Colin|last=Berry|date=January 1, 1995|title=The Letter U and the Numeral 2|magazine=Wired}}</ref> The EP's two tracks and related material were later collected on the compilation ''These Guys Are from England and Who Gives a Shit''.

==History== {{Unreferenced section|date=March 2009}} The two tracks on ''U2'' are parodies of U2's "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" which sample the original recording and a bootleg tape of radio DJ Casey Kasem's outtakes, including his evaluation of U2: "These guys are from England{{Sic}} and who gives a shit?"

U2's label Island Records sued Negativland following the release of the EP, claiming that the music and artwork constituted copyright infringement. Island Records also claimed 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After ''U2'' was withdrawn and deleted, it was replaced with the EP ''Guns''. The incident would be chronicled in the magazine/CD release ''The Letter U and the Numeral 2'' (later re-released in expanded form as ''Fair Use: The Story of the Letter U and the Numeral 2'').

== 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

== References == {{Reflist}}

Category:1991 debut EPs Category:U2 Category:Negativland EPs Category:Sampling (music) controversies Category:SST Records EPs