KEY POINTS:
Hamish Gee
(the feelers)
I met Bono at the airport in Christchurch and I asked him for a cigar and he told me to F-off. He was semi-kidding but he just went, "Nah. [expletive] off". The first U2 show I went to was at Lancaster Park in 1989 and that's what got me thinking, "Right, I need to do that for a job". I've been to about three U2 concerts since then.
You could say the Eagles are the biggest band because their Greatest Hits, as far as I know, is the biggest-selling album ever. But in numbers at shows it's got to be U2 and the Rolling Stones. I think they deserve it because I still like them after all these years.
Hollie Smith
I love the idea of a band being together for that long because anyone who can do that is ridiculously cool. I'm not a crazy fan of the music. It's more of a respect thing and the idea of what the band has achieved and what Bono has achieved on a personal and political level, that's what I'm high-fiving.
Without a doubt, them and the Rolling Stones are the biggest, because anyone who can stay in a band and stay positive for more than 20 years of being with the same people every day deserves mad respect.
Chris Knox
I'm not a U2 fan although I liked a few things I heard on Zooropa and Pop when they went a little more bent, and there was one track that made me think maybe they'd been listening to Tall Dwarfs. But then as soon as they went back to their epic stadium rock I forgot them again. And I also think Bono is a self-righteous, smug and uppity little Irishman ... well-meaning no doubt, but you know.
I can't think of anyone bigger. But there should be someone way bigger than them who'd be better.
Peter Urlich
(Th' Dudes)
What a career. Great songs. And how many millions of records have they sold? If anything, Bono can be a bit annoying. He means well and he's trying to use his position for higher things, but I tend to ignore that side of it. I saw them very very early in a crammed pub in Shepherds Bush when they were just breaking. You just knew they would do well. I remember [Bono] doing that salute that he still does. I saw them later and even though by that stage it was stadium rock I still enjoyed it.
Damian Alexander
(Blindspott)
I don't own any U2 albums. I think I just missed it because I remember my cousins were all a bit older than me and they were fully into U2. I was into the AC/DC-era, like the Razors Edge-era.
For middle of the road pop-rock, yep, sure they're the biggest, but there are other bands out there who are just as big in their own right and their own genres. They're pretty huge though, man, they fill stadiums. But I'm more, like, Metallica's the biggest band.
Matt Saunoa
(NZ Idol winner)
It wasn't playing in our house when I was growing up but I know a few songs like Where the Streets Have No Name, which I've had a couple of jigs with on the karaoke. It's a cool song, and Vertigo isn't bad either.
In the music industry if there's one thing that's going to stick out, it's longevity and they've been in the business for a long time so they deserve that label. Few bands can hold on to all their members. If there's one thing I can aspire to it's their longevity.
Jason Kerrison
(Opshop)
They're right up there with my five favourite bands of all time. They're up there with the Beatles and Nirvana. They are arguably the most influential pop-rock band of our time, and I love the spirit they have in their songs. I've always loved the fact they have a social conscience and they're not just about writing music to become rich and famous
I saw them play the Love Comes To Town gig [in 1989] and wasn't even a fan really. I don't know why Dad thought I might like a U2 ticket for my birthday but he did, and I've been a big fan ever since.
I don't know whether they deserve the world's biggest band tag, but it's just a fact.
