2011 A Landmark Year for U2

London played host to the GQ Men of The Year Awards on Tuesday night. The UK edition of the men's lifestyle magazine collects together inspirational figures in the public eye each year and promises equal measure of style and excitement. And 2011's ceremony didn't disappoint.

U2 were awarded the 'Best Band' gong, topping a year which has seen the Irish band become even more colossal. Prior to 2011, the band has already been inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2005) and Rolling Stone Magazine has named them one of the '100 Greatest Artists of All Time'.

But 2011 saw the band's 360 Degree tour became the highest grossing tour in history, which began back in 2009. The tour travelled to Europe, North America, South America and Africa.

The impressive stage for U2's 360 Tour

All too often, awards are handed out to bands without considering why they received it. In this case, U2's global appeal have inspired people all over the world, since the 1980s.

Fellow musician Chris Martin (from Coldplay) recognised this. Writing for Rolling Stone, he discussed the significance of U2:

'There are only a few people around brave enough to talk out... who use their fame in a good way. While everyone else was swearing at George Bush, Bono was the one who rubbed Bush'd back and got a billion dollars for Africa.'

'When the time came for Coldplay to think about fair trade, we took his lead to speak out regardless of what anyone may think. That's what we've learned from U2: You have to be brave enough to be yourself.'

Taking action is a prominent feature of The Wild Geese Irish Whiskey Collection*. Patrick Sarsfield and The Wild Geese had the courage to be themselves. Our Collection celebrates this and serves as a reminder that Men of Action can be found in the modern day world.

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