Release of first international single

In May 1980, U2 released ” 11 O’Clock Tick Tock “, their first international single and their debut on Island, but it failed to chart. Martin Hannett , who produced the single, was in consideration to produce the band’s debut album, Boy , but was replaced with Steve Lillywhite . From July to September 1980, U2 recorded the album at Windmill Lane Studios, drawing from their nearly 40-song repertoire at the time. Lillywhite employed an experimental approach as producer, setting up Mullen’s drums in a stairwell and recording overdubs such as smashed bottles and cutlery skimmed against a spinning bicycle wheel. The band found Lillywhite very encouraging and creative; Bono called him “such a breath of fresh air”, and the Edge said he “had a great way of pulling the best out of everybody”. The album’s lead single, ” A Day Without Me “, was released in August. Although it did not chart, the song was the impetus for the Edge’s purchase of a delay effect unit , the Electro-Harmonix Memory Man, which came to define his guitar playing style.