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What's helped propel rockers U2 to the very top of the pop heap?

Never doing what any record company has ever told them, says the band's superstar lead vocalist, Bono.

"Our music is truly independent--we've never had a record label ever tell us what to do," the singer recently told Yahoo! Music. "We once had a record executive come [into the studio] in our early days to a recording. We played him 'Sunday Bloody Sunday.' And he said, 'Great song, could we lose the "bloody?"'

"And so we never invited anyone back."

Getting some personal time with U2 is by no means an easy task, but Y! Music was fortunate enough to catch up with the band recently when they were in the L.A. area following the release of their latest album, No Line On The Horizon.

In fact, the interview came after an extraordinary amount of high-profile appearances by the Irish quartet, starting with a conspicuous opening slot on this year's Grammy Awards show, a once-in-a-lifetime command performance during the week of President Obama's inauguration, a week-long stint of appearances on Late Night With David Letterman, and an early morning gig on Good Morning America.

Good humored and genial, Bono, the Edge, and Adam Clayton sat down with us on the balcony of a suite at Hollywood's famous Chateau Marmont hotel, as traffic buzzed on Sunset Boulevard below and the crisp wind provided a clear view of the L.A. skyline. Many topics were discussed, and between the three of them, the band members showed an intelligence and warmth that was wonderful to witness.

Joked the Edge midway through the interview: "Our world view is such that, really, no one should disagree with us. Anyone who does, it's their problem."

Here's the first of a three-part interview with three well-balanced and fun loving men who--in their spare time--play music in the biggest rock ‘n' roll band in the world.