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'U2: The Early Years', a photo exhibition by Colm Henry, is running at Proud Camden from April 14th – June 6th 2010. Take a peak at some of the exclusive, never-before-seen images.
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The exhibit, set to coincide with Bono's 50th birthday, traces the group's history in photographs, beginning with their first gigs and photo shoots.
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Henry, a then-freelance photographer for Irish music magazine 'Hot Press', began shooting the band while they were still unsigned, forming a close relationship with them and resulting in these exclusive pictures.
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Henry says: “We were both learning together really, honing our trades. I was just starting out and so were they. I wasn’t a pushy kind of person, I think they appreciated that. They trusted me to get a good shot.”
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Colm Henry entered photography in the late 1970s and spent more than 10 years serving as the principle photographer to U2. He was the recipient of the “Best of Irish” award in Irish Editorial Photography.
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Bono on stage at Ireland's Slane Castle in 1980, supporting Thin Lizzy on tour.
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Bono and Larry Mullen at the 'With or Without You' video shoot. This exhibit of photographs by Colm Henry captures the band up until the filming of 'Rattle & Hum', U2's album and accompanying motion picture released in 1988.
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U2 recording the video for 'A Celebration' in Dublin in 1981. Stop by the 'U2: The Early Years' photo exhibit to see more of these live, backstage and studio shots of the legendary band.
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Here is U2 with Brian Eno in 1984. The band recorded with Eno and Daniel Lanois for the album 'The Unforgettable Fire'.
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"It covers the period that I worked with them between 1978 and 1990," Henry says. "I didn't really do too much work with them after that and anything I did do, they bought out the copyright. I'm actually the only photographer who maintains his copyright of pictures from that period of the band's history."
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Henry says of his first encounter with the band: "It was in down in The Bagott Inn sometime in 1978. From the very start I knew they were different from the average Irish band. I noticed that they were incredibly driven and incredibly serious-minded people. What they lacked in musical talent, they overcame with the many other characteristics they had."
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Henry claims he worked with U2 so much because Bono was fascinated by his pictures. "I was letting them perform in front of the camera. They were very uncomfortable at the start," he says.
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Henry says of the period he photographed them: "It was their most creative period by a mile. They started out as boys and ended as men."
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This photograph of Bono and Larry in Rome can be purchased for £495.00 at the Proud Camden exhibition.
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Says Henry: "I sometimes feel that they are so worked on now that, at times, it's almost hard to relate to them. But that's the nature of celebrity and fame."
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A shot of U2 waiting at the Rome Airport in 1989. 'U2: The Early Years' is running at Proud Camden from April 14th – June 6th 2010.