U2 are an Irish band. That may sound like an obvious statement about the biggest rock band in the world, but just because it’s obvious doesn’t make it any less vital. The fact that U2 are Irish is precisely what makes U2 what they are— the biggest rock band in the world. Yes, they’ve grown into that. They could grow out of it again. But they are, always were, and always will be an Irish band. That will never change.