U2 - the band

Never been really into this band but they have a few songs that will always be with me.

I used to feel indifferent to U2, then i hated them, now though i really really dig a lot of their stuff. As my musical palette has expanded, my taste in music has altered somewhat.

They are a solid band that write good music and have an AWESOME live show

I had exactly the same U2 progression as you man. Now I really dig them. I especially love the song 'Lemon'

For me it was a bit different, but I believe I am slightly older than you guys. I remember 'Rattle and Hum' being big when I was in school, but mostly among the Christian students. I believe the drummer or something had said he was religious and then all the Christian kids in my home town (I am from the bible belt of Norway) embraced the band. It was one of few rock acts they were "allowed" to listen to. U2 being embraced by all the Christians made it less edible for the rest of us (it was a highly polarized society -- "you are either a Christian like us, or a Satanist"). But I couldn't deny the quality.

I think as we get older we tend appreciate melodic things more and more

Interesting read on U2 here with Axl Rose mention (!): http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/glastonbury/8598691/Glastonbury-2011-Isnt-it-time-we-learned-to-cherish-U2.html