AC/DC, Def Leppard, Metallica & U2 Have Achieved This Unique Feat

AC/DC, Def Leppard, Metallica and U2 are four of the biggest rock bands in the world. Each band has its own unique sound, but the four of them have this in common.

Per ChartData.org, these four bands have each netted a top 10 album on the Billboard 200 chart in the past five decades from the 1980s through to the 2020s.

U2 was the latest to accomplish this feat with their latest album, Songs Of Surrender, debuting at number five on the Billboard 200 chart for the week of April 1, 2023. As for their overall chart history, U2 scored two number one albums in the 1980s with The Joshua Tree and Rattle and Hum. In the 1990s, they had three number one albums with Achtung Baby, Zooropa and Pop. The 2000s brought two number one albums with How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb and No Line On The Horizon, while All That You Can't Leave Behind peaked at number three. Finally, the 2010s saw Songs of Innocence peak at number nine while Songs of Experience peaked at number one.

As for the AC/DC, Def Leppard and Metallica, here's a breakdown of their album chart figures. (Peak chart position will be in parentheses.)

-1980s: Back In Black (4), Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (3), For Those About To Rock... (1).
-1990: The Razors Edge (2), Ballbreaker (4)
-2000s: Stiff Upper Lip (7), Black Ice (1)
-2010s: Rock Or Bust (3)
-2020s: Power Up (1)

-1980s: Pyromania (2), Hysteria (1)
-1990: Adrenalize (1)
-2000s: Songs From The Sparkle Lounge (5)
-2010s: Def Leppard (10)
-2020s: Diamond Star Halos (10)

-1980s: ...And Justice For All (6)
-1990: Metallica (1), Load (1), ReLoad (1), Garage Inc. (2), S & M (2)
-2000s: St. Anger (1), Death Magnetic (1)
-2010s: Metallica: Through the Never (9), Hardwired...The Self-Destruct (1)
-2020s: S&M2 (4)

U2 has been one of the biggest bands of the past 50 years and for good reason: Their catalog is a prime example of a band evolving and growing up before the eyes of the world.

So far, U2 has released 14 studio albums. Their catalog also features live releases, box sets, compilations and more. In total, they have sold over 175 million records worldwide.

The legend of U2 had humble beginnings. Its four members -- Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. -- were all students at Mount Temple Comprehensive School in Dublin.

One day in 1976, Mullen Jr. put a flyer on the school's bulletin board searching for musicians to start a band. He was only 14 at the time. Among the people who responded were Bono (16), The Edge (15) and Clayton (16). The band's first practice was on September 25, 1976 in the kitchen of Mullen Jr.'s childhood home.

Who would've thought all of this success started with a just simple post on a bulletin board and a practice in a kitchen?!

U2's list of accolades is nothing short of insane. They've won 22 Grammy Awards out of 46 nominations. In 2005, they were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The band received the Kennedy Center Honors in 2022.

In addition to those awards, they've been a massive tour draw. Per Pollstar, U2 has sold over 26 million tickets since 1980. Their tours have grossed a staggering $2.12 million. The only other act to make more money on the road is the Rolling Stones with $2.16 million.

With all of this mind, we thought we'd take on the daunting task of ranking U2's best song. Scroll through the list below to see which songs from their vast catalog we think are their 50 best!