U2-Y
U2-Y follows the design story of one of the biggest bands in rock and roll history.
It aims to celebrate a unique relationship; The creative partnership between designer/art director Steve Averill and the band U2.
This collaboration thrived and endured for over four and a half decades.
Before the sleeves, before any poster or visual ephemera, came the name itself. Steve gave them this name.
'U2'. A letter and a number. We will explore how the name itself became a monolith of design, whether it’s use is dominant or invisible.
Just the 2ofUs.
Steve is guided through the story of his career by his son, giving the series a unique and personal tone.
‘In recent years, I became fascinated by the idea of this creative collaboration enduring for such a long time', Gareth Anton Averill says.
The relationship that my father had with U2 was unique. I recognise this as being one of the longest-running creative relationships in music history, if not any creative or cultural industry.
I believe this is worth exploring and celebrating and asking the question, 'Why?’.
Alongside Steve's personal story, U2Y delves deep into design specifics. Topics discussed include the process of the pre-digital age, early computer-aided design, the advent of the Compact Disc and the explosion of promotional materials.
In essence, U2-Y tells the story of one of the biggest bands in the world from a different perspective; the record sleeve.
From Punk to Pop.
The story begins in 1977 with the Cultural explosion that was punk. Ireland's first punk group, 'The Radiators From Space', founded and fronted by Steve (Rapid), was the catalyst for his connection with U2.
The U2-Y Podcast will examine an album per episode. It begins with the invention of the name, 'U2' itself. It then journeys through each major campaign, up to and including the hyper-vivid years of the Pop album and Pop-mart tour.
Out now:
Episode 1 - Introduction
Episode 2 - Boy
Episode 3 - October
Coming Soon:
May 8th - Episode 4 - War
May 15th - Episode 5 - Unforgettable Fire
May 29th - Episode 6 - The Joshua Tree
TBC - Episode 7 - Achtung Baby
TBC - Episode 8 - Pop
U2's catalogue appears courtesy of Universal Music Publishing.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Update frequency
- every 5 days
- Average duration
- 47 minutes
- Episodes
- 14
- Years Active
- 2023
Bonus - Typesetting, Advertising and Liquid Lights
A short bonus episode, taken from an outtake from our very first conversation about Steve's early days as a young man in Ireland, obsessed with rock and roll and design.
Chapter 10 - Epilogue Part 2
The second of two parts that bring the U2-Y podcast to a conclusion.
Here in the final episode, Gareth and Steve look back across the the series and talk generally about the later stages of Steve's r…
Chapter 10 - Epilogue Part 1 - Q&A
The first of two parts that bring the U2-Y podcast to a conclusion.
Here in part one, Steve answers questions as submitted by you, the listener.
NEWS: Steve's store is now live, featuring limited edi…
Chapter 9 - Pop
U2's 9th full length release and possibly their most provocative to date, sees the boundaries pushed even further than before.
What U2 could look like and what they could sound like was challenged ye…
Chapter 8 - Zooropa
Vorsprung durch technik .. or 'Advancement through technology'.
'Zooropa', U2's 8th record, is effectively a companion release for 'Achtung Baby' that sprung out of the Zoo TV and Zooropa tour.
This …
Chapter 7 - Achtung Baby
Bono has said that 'Achtung Baby' is the sound of four men chopping down the Joshua Tree.
For graphic designer and art director Steve Averill, he would also take part in this ritualistic creative evo…
Bonus - Death Valley '86
Steve Averill and Marc Coleman in conversation in 2017 about their trip to Death Valley in 1986 to shoot the iconic cover sleeve for The Joshua Tree with photographer Anton Corbijn.
Steve and Marc add…
Chapter 6 - The Joshua Tree
In 1986, a small crew embarked on a three day journey across the stunning landscape in the deserts of California.
This was the photoshoot for the upcoming 5th album from U2, then known by its working…
Intermission - The Night The Hype Became U2
We're taking a short break this week, but found something very interesting in Steve's archive and are briefly revisiting the night of March 4th 1978 ..
Normal service resumes next week.
Hosted on Ac…
Chapter 5 - The Unforgettable Fire
As U2 forge a hugely successful creative-partnership with production duo Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois on The Unforgettable Fire, the sleeve for the fourth LP brings a set of challenges.
The result is …
Chapter 4 - War
In the 4th episode of U2-Y, we discuss the album that closes the first trilogy of releases.
'War', released in 1983, was a highly respected record, with the design work itself netting Steve a Music We…
Chapter 3 - October
In the 3rd episode of U2-Y, we focus on the difficult second LP, 'October'.
This record, both from a sonic and visual point of view, has become the least celebrated of all U2's releases, notably by th…
Chapter 2 - Boy
In the second episode of U2-Y, we explore Steve's initial design work with the band, paving the way for their debut LP, Boy.
The bold and effective sleeve for 'Boy' was widely praised for it's minimal…
Chapter 1 - Introduction
In this introductory episode of U2-Y, we trace Steve's relationship with U2 back to it's origins.
We also explore how before there was any notion of Steve doing design-work for the band, he was given …