Most bands would consider five decades together a remarkable achievement. U2 are approaching that anniversary with another distinction: the group will be honored as the 2027 MusiCares Persons of the Year for both their music and their humanitarian work.
The honor covers all four members — Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. — and will be presented at a Grammy Week benefit gala at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. MusiCares announced the selection in September.
What an award like this recognizes
U2 met in Dublin as teenagers in 1976. Over the years they built an unmistakable sound, from the ringing guitar work of The Edge to Bono’s enormous, searching vocal performances. The music expanded from post-punk urgency to stadium rock, and their songs became part of the soundtrack of several generations.
The band has also made public commitments that reach outside music. Bono’s work with ONE and (RED) is associated with campaigns on global health and poverty. The Edge helped establish Music Rising after Hurricane Katrina to support musicians and music programs affected by the disaster. Clayton has backed recovery and mental-health initiatives, while Mullen has contributed to work concerning dyslexia and learning differences.
MusiCares is itself a practical organization, offering assistance to people who make their living in music. Its work includes support related to health, addiction recovery, mental health and emergencies. Money raised through the Persons of the Year event helps fund those services.
The crew behind the stage lights
That purpose is worth paying attention to. Audiences tend to associate the music industry with celebrity, but a touring production depends on scores of people who may never be recognized by the public: sound engineers, stagehands, drivers, instrument technicians, local staff and countless others.
When a concert is canceled or an illness makes work impossible, not everyone has the savings or protection of a global star. The best argument for a high-profile benefit is that it uses public attention to support a community much larger than the people whose faces appear on the posters.
The 2027 gala will include tribute performances honoring U2’s catalog. Details about the artists taking part will be available through the Recording Academy and MusiCares as the event approaches.
Source: MusiCares / Recording Academy.
