"I think Paul McGuinness and U2 created the Irish music industry. It certainly wasn't there before that"
- Van Morrison
About this Quote
Van Morrison is describing the success of U2 and their manager Paul McGuinness in producing a feasible music market in Ireland. Before U2, there was no real facilities for Irish artists to make a living from their music. U2 and McGuinness altered that by producing a platform for Irish artists to be effective and make a living from their music. They attained this by developing a strong fan base, exploring thoroughly, and finalizing with a major record label. This permitted them to reach a much larger audience and get the acknowledgment they was worthy of. U2 and McGuinness likewise provided a platform for other Irish artists to follow in their steps and develop an effective music market in Ireland. They set the requirement for what was possible and revealed that Irish musicians might be successful and make a living from their music.
"If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away"
"We worked very hard to make the lyrics suit the music. I can't, like Elton John, for example, compose by lyrics. Elton has a great talent for that. Whatever you give him, including your questions, he composes in half an hour and makes a great song out of it"
