Tom Dunne: U2 at 50 is a reminder of what an incredible year 1976 was

Larry Mullen's placement of an advert on his school noticeboard was one of the most significant moments in Irish music history. I'm glad I was around to plug into the buzz of that era

U2 are marking 50 years since they first formed. Picture: Viviane Sassen

Wed, 23 Sep, 2026 - 21:30

Tom Dunne

Tom Dunne is a music-lover extraordinaire who, as well as presenting radio and TV shows, can also be seen in the wild as the lead singer with Something Happens.

U2 at 50. Somehow I didn’t see that coming. I knew this year was a year of anniversaries — punk, Sex Pistols etc., — but I’ve always placed U2 firmly in 1979.

That was the year of their first release U2 3, the Dandelion Market and all that. I’d forgotten they had their own John meets Paul moment. Putting U2’s formation into the events of 1976 makes that year read even more like the script of an unlikely Disney movie.