I know the song Keep the faith and big part of the album were inspired by big riots in the US somewhere between 90-92. I think it was in Seatlle but not sure about that....

Then there are of course the known stories about Bed of Roses and Dry county for example

I dont see how KTF was influenced by U2, especcially around that time, it doens't sound anything like Achtung or Joshua and U2 were doing dance/pop back then, or at least a attempt to