u2 tour 2024 rumors

Unveiling the U2 Tour 2025 Rumors: What’s in Store for Fans?

U2 fans worldwide are buzzing with excitement as rumors swirl around the much-anticipated U2 Tour 2025. Speculations are rife about the band’s upcoming tour, and supporters are eager to uncover what surprises the legendary Irish rock band has in store for them. From potential new album releases to spectacular stage productions and thrilling setlists, the anticipation is at an all-time high. Join us as we delve into the latest rumors surrounding the U2 Tour 2025, dissecting what fans can expect and how this tour might shape up to be one of their most unforgettable experiences yet.

Introduction: Setting the Stage

As the music industry gears up for another exciting year, fans of the legendary band U2 are abuzz with rumors of a potential tour in 2025. With speculation running wild and anticipation at an all-time high, it’s time to delve into what the future might hold for U2 enthusiasts around the world.

Exploring the U2 Legacy

Before we dive into the rumors surrounding the 2025 tour, let’s take a moment to appreciate the lasting impact that U2 has had on the music scene. Formed in the 1970s, this Irish band has consistently captivated audiences with their powerful lyrics, electrifying performances, and philanthropic efforts.

Known for hits such as “With or Without You” and “Beautiful Day,” U2 has solidified their place as one of the greatest rock bands of all time.

Speculations and Excitement

With whispers of a potential U2 tour in 2025 gaining momentum, fans are eagerly awaiting confirmation from the band’s camp. Will Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr. hit the road once again to deliver unforgettable live experiences to their loyal fanbase?

As the year unfolds, all eyes are on U2 as enthusiasts speculate on possible tour dates, setlists, and special surprises that the band may have in store.

The Beginnings: How the Rumors Started

As we step into 2025, the excitement among U2 fans is palpable, fueled by the swirling rumors of an upcoming U2 tour. Speculations started making rounds online and at fan gatherings, hinting at a potential tour in the near future. The buzz began with cryptic social media posts from the band members themselves, hinting at something big on the horizon. Fans’ anticipation skyrocketed as snippets of information leaked through various channels, igniting a frenzy of excitement.

The Social Media Teasers

The band’s official Twitter and Instagram accounts became abuzz with cryptic messages and nostalgic throwback pictures, leaving fans deciphering every post for hidden clues. U2 enthusiasts around the world started connecting the dots and piecing together the possibility of a monumental tour in 2025. The band’s mysterious online presence added fuel to the fire, igniting widespread discussions and speculations among the fan community.

Community Speculations and Insider Insights

Amidst the online frenzy, die-hard fans and industry insiders began sharing their insights and predictions, further propelling the rumors. From leaked setlists to whispers of potential locations and concert dates, the U2 tour rumors gained momentum, captivating fans with the prospect of experiencing the iconic band live once again. As fans eagerly awaited an official announcement, the chatter around the potential tour only intensified with each passing day.

Speculations and Predictions: What Fans Can Expect

Excitement is building as the U2 Tour 2025 rumors continue to swirl around the band’s upcoming tour plans. Fans can expect an electrifying experience with legendary performances and surprises in store. The anticipation is palpable, with speculations running rampant in fan communities.

Possible Setlist Surprises

Speculations suggest that U2 may include a mix of classic hits and lesser-known gems in their setlist to cater to long-time fans and newer audiences alike. Anticipation is high for rare live renditions of fan-favorite tracks.

Innovative Stage Design

With each tour, U2 is known for pushing the boundaries of stage design and technology. Fans can expect a visually stunning production that immerses them in the music and enhances the overall concert experience.

Possible Tour Dates and Locations

As fans eagerly anticipate the U2 Tour 2025, rumors are circulating about potential dates and locations for this highly anticipated event. While no official announcements have been made yet, speculations suggest that the band may kick off their tour in early summer, with the possibility of multiple legs spanning across continents.

Potential Starting Point

The U2 Tour 2025 rumors hint at a grand opening in a major city known for its vibrant music scene and enthusiastic crowd. This could set the tone for an exciting series of performances that fans worldwide are eager to witness live .

Likely International Stops

Among the speculated locations for the U2 Tour 2025 are iconic venues in Europe, North America, and Asia . The band’s history of global tours suggests that no corner of the world is off-limits, promising a diverse range of experiences for fans.

• 1. Dublin, Ireland
• 2. New York City, USA
• 3. Tokyo, Japan
• 4. London, UK

Exciting Features and Surprises in Store

As the anticipation for the U2 Tour 2025 reaches a fever pitch, fans can expect a host of exciting features and surprises in store. From new stage designs to innovative technology integration, this tour promises to be a one-of-a-kind experience.

New Stage Designs

Prepare to be mesmerized by bold and dynamic stage setups that will elevate the concert experience to new heights. The band is known for their visually stunning performances, and this tour is expected to push the boundaries even further.

Interactive Fan Engagement

Get ready for an interactive experience that will bring fans closer to the action than ever before. Whether through virtual reality enhancements or exclusive fan meet-and-greets, U2 is committed to creating unforgettable moments for their loyal supporters.

• Virtual reality experiences
• Exclusive meet-and-greets
• Interactive concert apps

Official Announcements: Separating Fact from Fiction

When it comes to the highly anticipated U2 Tour 2025, distinguishing between legitimate updates and baseless rumors is crucial for fans eager to stay informed. With the digital age facilitating the rapid spread of misinformation, it’s essential to rely on official announcements for accurate details about the upcoming tour.

The Importance of Reliability

Amidst a sea of speculations and fake news, relying on verified sources is paramount to avoid falling for misinformation. Fans should prioritize announcements directly from the U2 management team or official band channels to ensure the authenticity of details.

Spotting False Narratives

It’s common for rumors to circulate wildly on social media platforms, often leading to confusion among fans. By fact-checking information and cross-referencing announcements with credible sources, individuals can separate fact from fiction and gain accurate insights into the tour’s developments.

Behind the Scenes: Insights into Tour Preparations

As the anticipation builds around the U2 tour 2025 rumors, fans are eager to get a glimpse behind the curtain to see what goes into preparing for such an iconic event.

Planning the Setlist

One of the crucial aspects of any tour is setting the perfect setlist to keep the audience engaged throughout the show. U2 is known for its dynamic performances, so the band meticulously curates the songs for each concert, balancing fan favorites with newer releases.

Logistics and Stage Design

Creating a visually stunning experience involves intricate stage design and flawless logistics. The 2025 tour is rumored to feature cutting-edge technology and innovative stage setups, promising an unforgettable spectacle for fans.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is U2 going on tour in 2025?
• There are rumors circulating about U2 going on tour in 2025, but nothing has been officially confirmed by the band at this time.
• What can fans expect from the U2 Tour 2025?
• While specifics about the U2 Tour 2025 are not confirmed, fans can anticipate an exciting experience filled with classic hits and possibly new music from the band.
• Will the U2 Tour 2025 include international locations?
• It is possible that the U2 Tour 2025 may include international locations, but the official tour itinerary has not been announced yet.
• How can fans stay updated on U2 Tour 2025 announcements?
• Fans can stay updated on any U2 Tour 2025 announcements by following the band’s official social media accounts and checking their website for tour updates.

Final Thoughts: Embracing the U2 Tour 2025 Rumors

As we unravel the speculations surrounding the U2 Tour 2025, one thing is clear – fans are in for an electrifying experience. The anticipation and excitement for what the legendary band has in store for their followers are palpable. Whether it’s new music, innovative stage setups, or surprise collaborations, the possibilities seem endless.

While we await official announcements, one thing remains certain – the enduring appeal and impact of U2 on the music industry. The rumors have only heightened the eagerness of fans worldwide, showcasing the band’s enduring ability to captivate audiences with each new tour. So, stay tuned, for the U2 Tour 2025 promises to be a memorable journey for all music enthusiasts!

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U2 Tour 2024 Rumors: Unveiling the Exciting Possibilities

U2 Tour 2024 Rumors: U2 is planning a full tour in the back half of 2024, and details regarding the Las Vegas show are still unclear. The Edge has not ruled out the possibility of touring, and fans eagerly await further announcements from U2 and The Sphere Entertainment CEO, Jim Dolan.

Credit: variety.com

Potential Tour Locations

For U2’s rumored 2024 tour, there is speculation that they may explore several North American cities. One potential destination is Austin, Texas, United States , known for its vibrant music scene. Another possibility could be Las Vegas , which has recently seen acts like Phish perform at the MSG Sphere . While details are unclear, this could be an exciting location for U2 fans.

Europe is always a popular touring destination for U2, and the 2024 tour could be no exception. Cities like Dublin , London , and Berlin have been top choices in the past. U2 has a strong fan base in these cities, and the band’s energetic performances are well-received.

U2 is known for taking their tours worldwide, so there may be other global destinations on the horizon. Countries in South America, Asia, and Australia have all seen U2 shows in the past, and it wouldn’t be surprising if they were included in the 2024 tour itinerary.

Credit: www.facebook.com

Speculations And Expectations

There has been a lot of buzz and speculation surrounding the U2 Tour 2024. Fans all around the world are eagerly awaiting news and updates about what to expect from this highly anticipated tour. One of the major topics of discussion is the setlist and special performances. Fans are excited to know which songs will be included in the setlist and if there will be any surprise performances or collaborations with other artists. Another aspect that fans are curious about is the stage design and visual effects. U2 is known for their elaborate and visually stunning stage setups, and fans are eager to see what they have planned for this tour. While there is no official information available yet, the rumors and speculations are keeping the excitement alive among U2 fans.

Frequently Asked Questions On U2 Tour 2024 Rumors

Where will u2 perform in 2024.

U2 will be performing a full tour in the back half of 2024. The location of their performances is yet to be announced.

Who Is Playing In The Sphere In 2024?

U2 is scheduled to play in the sphere in 2024. The exact dates and details of the tour are yet to be announced.

Will U2 Extend Vegas Residency?

U2 has not announced an extension of their Vegas residency yet. Stay tuned for updates.

Does U2 Plan To Tour Again?

Yes, U2 plans to tour again in 2024. There will be a full tour in the back half of the year.

2024 looks like an exciting year for U2 fans as rumors of a full tour continue to circulate. With the possibility of the band hitting the road in the latter half of the year, anticipation is building. While details are still scarce, the recent announcement by Sphere Entertainment CEO, Jim Dolan, about forthcoming acts has only added to the excitement.

As fans eagerly await more information, it’s clear that the U2 tour in 2024 is shaping up to be a must-see event for music lovers everywhere. Stay tuned for updates and get ready to experience the magic of U2 live in concert.

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U2 (formed in 1976) is a highly-successful Irish rock band, formed of Bono, The Edge, Larry Mullen, Jr. and Adam Clayton, hailing from Dublin, Ireland.

Formed in 1976 after Larry Mullen, Jr. posted an advertisement on the bulletin board at Dublin’s Mount Temple Comprehensive, the band soon began practicing regularly and exploring their musical interests. Initially performing under the moniker The Hype before switching to the name of an American spy plane, the band’s popularity grew in Ireland through a string of independent releases.

The band signed to Isalnd Records and released their debut full-length “Boy” in 1980, followed the year after with the LP “October”. Thanks to American radio play and notoriously impressive live shows, U2 soon made name for themselves a procured a swelling fan base. U2’s subsequent release “War” in 1983 highlighted and cemented the band’s political conscious approach, documenting the unrest in Northern Ireland. The album which debuted at No. 1 on the British chart, spawned the politically-apt singles “Sunday Bloody Sunday” and “New Year’s Day”. Following another whirlwind worldwide tour in 1983 U2 released the live EP “Under a Blood Red Sky” recorded at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado, U.S.

U2 went on to release “The Unforgettable Fire” in 1984, the fruit of a collaboration with Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois, despite Island Records’ reluctance. Again the band supported the release with historic arena performances including Live Aid and were even named Rolling Stone’s “Band of the ‘80s”.

By the mid-1980s U2 had become highly revered musicians, however did not become rock superstars until their 1987 album “The Joshua Tree”. It became the band’s first No. 1 U.S. hit and their third consecutive UK album to reach the top spot, certified platinum within 28 hours. The album’s success was due in part to the smash hits “With or Without You” and “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”. Following the release the band explored their fascination with American roots music including blues, soul and folk and delivered the album “Rattle & Hum” in 1988.

The ‘90s brought a novel-sounding U2 and a collection of albums to boot including 1990’s “Achtung Baby”, the Bowie inspired dance and electronic album, “Zooropa” the 1993 techno dance influenced album, and the collaborative album “Original Soundtracks, Vol. 1” with Brian Eno in 1995. The same year U2 renewed their contract with Island Records for an estimated $170 million.

Fan disgruntlement at U2’s new self-conscious, postmodern and dance approach did little to alter the outcome of their subsequent album “Pop”, and ultimately became fan’s least favourite album. With such criticism the band teamed up again with Eno and Lanois in 2000 to record and release “All That You Can’t Leave Behind”. The album was a rock effort and considered one of their best, led by the singles “Beautiful Day” and “Walk On”.

The band followed the release up with the No. 1 album “How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb” in 2004, which led to the second highest grossing tour ever with $389 million. U2’s twelfth studio album “No Line on the Horizon” arrived in 2009, followed by "Songs of Innocence" in 2014, downloaded automatically to users of apple products.

U2 have sold more than 150 million records worldwide, have been awarded 22 Grammy Awards, have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility and are ranked by Rolling Stone 22nd on their list of “100 Greatest Artists of All Time”.

Live reviews

What makes a U2 concert so special? What is it about a U2 show that compels us to travel hundreds and thousands of miles to see virtually the same concert over and over?

A U2 show is more than just the songs in the concert. It is the feeling you get when you hear those songs. Whether they lift you up or remind you of a special time in your life, either way, the feeling you get when you hear U2 songs is euphoric. But a U2 concert is more than just those euphoric songs that are played. It is 80,000 people singing those songs together. The fact that each person at that show is feeling the exact same excitement you are. It is a sense of community and belonging. More than just the U2 concert itself, it is the whole experience. The traveling and hanging out with fellow U2 fans. The day of the U2 concert is a great time for U2 fellowship since we arrive at the stadium in the early afternoon either to line up in the GA (general admission) line or to wait for Bono, Larry, Edge and Adam to arrive. With many hours to kill before the concert begins, U2 fans share their U2 experiences, such as favorite songs, albums and concerts.

My favorite U2 concert, of the 75 I have seen, was on the Elevation Tour in Providence, Rhode Island on October 31, 2001. It was my favorite U2 member's 40th birthday, drummer Larry Mullen Jr. It was the night Larry and I shared a drink. The morning of the show, I woke up outside around 8am – pretty good sleeping outside in 30 degrees for five hours. I went up to the warm hotel room until about 10am, then had some breakfast. I stayed in the GA line all day without leaving, except to take a shower around 3:30. I got everyone in the GA line to sign the big orange birthday card I made for Larry. I put my name and email address on the back just in case. The band didn’t arrive until after we were inside. Wearing our Larry Mullen Band shirts, we got our spots at the rail up front and center between Bono and Adam.

I held up my birthday card for Larry as they walked on stage, but he didn’t notice it. There were many, many signs including one saying, ‘Bono let Larry sing.’ During Elevation, Bono sang, ‘ Celebration’ then said, ‘Happy Birthday.' After "Stuck in a Moment," Larry’s 40th birthday celebration began. We sang "Happy Birthday" to Larry. A birthday cake was brought out, and Larry pretended to throw it out into the audience. Larry took the mic and came to the front to talk while Bono sat behind the drums. Larry said, "Bono can’t play drums. It took me 40 years to get up front. I’m glad I’m spending my birthday with 18,000 of my closest friends. I feel like I could borrow money from you." Then Bono asked for a bottle of champagne, which he shook up a la ZooTV and sprayed the audience. Edge took a swig, then Larry drank and continued to drink for the next few songs.

After "Kite," Larry got off the drums and made a B line for me. I got my card and shirt in hand so I could give it to him, but that’s not why he was there. He gave me the champagne bottle – with champagne still in it. I drank some and shared it with my friends. Larry wanted to share his birthday with ME! He wanted ME to have a drink on his birthday. I was SO excited I didn’t even realize they played "Wild Honey," which they rarely play. After "Pride," Larry came back over to me so I could give him the birthday card and Elvis tee shirt. I said, "Thank you. Happy Birthday." He smiled and said, "Thank You." Later on, Bono noticed our Larry Mullen Band shirts, shook his head and smiled.

I doubt there will ever be another U2 show like that night in Providence. Granted it was Larry’s 40th Birthday, and I love Larry, but also for the rarities U2 played that night. "Slow Dancing" was played for the first time on the Elevation tour, and only the 11th time ever. "Party Girl" and "Wild Honey" were played for the first time on that leg of Elevation – and I’ve only heard those songs a couple of times ever. There was just a great energy in Providence that night. I still have that champagne bottle that Larry gave me on his 40th birthday.

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Acompanho a Banda desde 1985, na época dos disco long play ou compacto e meu primeiro álbum, o primeiro disco que comprei foi "War". Sempre soube o posicionamento social e político do grupo, penso ser o que me chamou a atenção e cativou desde o princípio.Mas aqui no Brasil, vivemos tempos difíceis, de beligerância e intolerância de diversas formas, racial, social,religiosa. Uma sociedade apolítica, mas que fundamenta suas crenças no que a imprensa local determina.

Acredito que essa é a melhor Tour em que estive, visto ser minha segunda vez num show do U2. Estive em 2006, em Vertigo e mesmo passando por um momento delicado, pois estava tomando medicação para síndrome do pânico e depressão, saí do estádio 90% melhor do que quando cheguei.

A atual turnê, é de uma dos melhores, se não a melhor, assim como o álbum do grupo e se pudesse iria em todas, Setilist fantástica, iluminação e palco minimalista e remetendo a uma simplicidade do inicio dos shows da Banda. Amei!!!!Parabéns e que venham muito mais........

...............................................

Good Morning,

I accompany the band since 1985, in the days of long or compact disc and my first album, the first record I bought was "War". I have always known the social and political position of the group, I think it is what caught my attention and captivated me from the beginning. But here in Brazil, we live in difficult times, of belligerence and intolerance of diverse forms, racial, social, and religious. An apolitical society, but that bases its beliefs on what the local press determines.

I think this is the best Tour I've been on, seeing it as my second time at a U2 show. I was in Vertigo in 2006 and even going through a delicate time, since I was taking medication for panic syndrome and depression, I left the stadium 90% better than when I arrived.

The current tour is one of the best, if not the best, as well as the group's album and if it could go in all, fantastic Setilist, minimalist lighting and stage and referring to a simplicity of the beginning of the bands shows. Congratulations and many more ........

Let me begin with, "U2 is the greatest band in the universe!" I have a strong connection with the band as the Joshua Tree tour was the first concert I ever attended back in 1987. 28 years later, they are still the best live band. I have been very fortunate to have seen them for most of their tours, Elevation, Vertigo, 360 and now ie. I was a broke college student during Zoo and PopMart.

U2 has a very loyal fan base. You will meet people that have seen 50-400 of their concerts. I am fortunate to have seen them 4x already during this tour.

The live experience during the ie tour is very personal and intimate. Bono shows such strong emotion during Iris which makes you want to cry. I heard Out Of Control at the 2nd Phoenix show and I had tears of joy rolling down my cheeks as that was the one song I have been waiting to hear since Elevation. LA 4th show they played 40 which made me cry......."How Long To Sing This Song......." Such a great tribute to the late Dennis Sheehan. Bono is the perfect frontman, always introducing the band as if we are meeting them for the first time. (Brandon Flowers never introduces the other Killers) Bono always has crowd interaction from shaking hands, kissing women's hands, bringing up a lucky fan for the Meerkat live stream and singing to a lucky fan (like me during Beautiful Day in the 2nd night Phoenix show) I'm still on cloud 9!!! Larry, The Edge and Adam also interact with the crowd. I know first hand as I got an air kiss from Adam. The Edge smiled at my friend. Larry shakes hands with people at the e stage.

I can go on and on how U2 is the perfect band. No other bands compare to them. What band has loyal fans waiting all night thru rain and hail to see them? What band always mentions how they tour for the music and the fans?? I sure don't think they need the money.

I will continue to see them until they tour no more. I ❤️ U2

Great show, very basic staging, which is a nice change of pace for U2 recently. It allowed you to focus on them as a band, 4 guys playing music together.

As a tour kick off, there will be some glitches and bugs, the worst of which is when The band and Bono totally flubbed the entire song With or Without You!!! The band was out of sync right from the start and that must have rattled Bono because he false started the first verse, got the lyrics wrong, then just stood there silent while the crowd sort of tried to chime in with the vocals. It was actually pretty awkward, and Bono didn't acknowledge it except by saying "you guys can sing this one".

It was so great to see them actually play Joshua Tree straight through, track by track. I wasn't sure that's how it would really play out. As an album about the greatness, and hardships, of America, with inspiration from American music, landscapes, and especially politics, there was no way to get through the set without nods (mostly subtle - for U2) to the current leadership in America. The opening 8-9 songs before actually launching into Joshua Tree were pretty telling about the bands politics and values of freedom, truth, and fulfilling the American dream. The fact that opening night coincidentally fell on the 60th anniversary of the Martin Luther King "Give Us the Vote" speech gave more weight to lyrics referencing King's assassination in "Pride (In the Name of Love)".

Finally, totally unrelated to Songkick or U2, but I have to say how HORRIBLE Levi's Stadium is and the whole process of getting there (unmanaged traffic), getting into the venue (no purses bigger than a cell phone allowed and no mention of that fact anywhere), getting food (seemed like only 25 people trying to sell hot dogs to 50,000!). Will never see another show there again no matter who the act is.

This show needed to start and finish in darkness to concentrate the mind on the amazing imagery and truly iconic music.

The lead in through tracks from Unforgettable Fire set the pace and raised the pulse rate to a crescendo at the onset of Where The Streets Have No Name where it remained at rates which would have set off many a hospital vital signs alarm until the end of the a play through of the entire Joshua Tree album.

Had this concert finished there it would have sad to depart - and U2 knew this so included a further array of some of their finest tracks from the last 30 years.

This was the trickiest period of the gig however, as not all of the next 35 - 40 minutes could match the standard set down by some of the best music of the 20th century. Moments of oddness crept in, as is Bono's way, and momentum was lost - not gained - towards the end.

Ultimately, an incredible visionary onslaught and a truly mammoth rendition of One lifted the gig back to the heights of its earlier euphoria.

This could easily have been the best concert I have ever seen, but on balance it dropped short. I would not have missed this for the world and I am sure I will look back in years to come and feel so pleased that I was there and saw what was a true moment in musical history. As it stands right now I have a mixed emotion... but there is no denying that of the many hundreds of concerts I have been to in the last 40 years this was right up there at the very pinnacle - a top ten bucket list moment.

U2 at Arrowhead Stadium in KC was a musical memory I'll put in my Top 10...so far. We got parking lot passes from Ticketmaster beforehand to save $$ & make navigating the throngs of traffic manageble. We got to the lot about 5:30 p.m. People had been there tailgating & the lot attendants were very organized, flagging us in to our spot. We immediately headed in to the Stadium so we could check out the U2 merchandise. Entering was a breeze, even with security, because we had checked online to see what could or couldn't be taken into the Stadium. The restrictions make lines move much quicker, even with entering through metal detectors. Walking up the ramp to our seat level was easy. U2 had merchandise areas set up at more locations, so lines there were less. The concession places had very friendly attendants. The stadium seats were very comfortable. Security was there in abundance & were also helpful & friendly. Concert acoustics for an open stadium were amazing. The only downside was the placement of the

audio towers or whatever they were, but they were necessary to provide the incredible U2 audio & visual experience. After the concert, we waited for an hour on purpose before exiting to avoid sitting in traffic, idling. Again, smooth exit. So I highly recommend seeing U2 for their musical talent, their political message & celebrating the 4th anniversary of the Joshua Tree album. ENJOY!

U2 are a band who have conquered the globe and are considered iconic by fans of most genres. With such staggering reputation it is obviously quite difficult to form a live show of equal stature. Luckily, Bono and co obtain a form of bravado that is required of any iconic band.

The key component of their gigs is that they understand how important and dear the audience hold tracks such as 'With Or Without You' and the intense sincerity in which they perform could not be more appropriate. There is an ethereal state when thousands upon thousands are singing along to 'The Streets Have No Name' whilst four musicians command the entire crowd.

There is no denying Bono performs with the same level of self-assuredness that he conducts himself in daily life yet when the opening bars of 'Pride' begin, this level of bombast is required to tackle these gargantuan anthems. They have an impossible amount of hits to choose from, yet the setlist feels well calculated and not simply a 'greatest hits' compilation. The use of snippets of their own music and classics by the likes of Bowie turned their gig from a concert into a musical celebration.

The concert was awesome but the venue was absolute crap!!!!! Paid $264.00 x 2 & a tower was blocking the view depending where the band was standing on the stage. So view blocked. Support act Noel Gallagher couldn’t hear him speak, don’t know what he was saying & sound not too good at all.

U2 came on & could hardly see them. GA would have been better & cheaper & from what Ive heard, they had the best place to hear.

SCG is not a good venue for a concert & we were so totally disappointed with what we paid, seating & going to ground & trying so squeeze through the line ups for toilets & good to get to the Merchandise shop. Then trying to get back up to level 5.

Please never put a concert there again, unless you our stage in centre, so everyone can see. You shouldn’t charge extreme prices for crap seating.

U2 was awesome as always but couldn’t always see them & at times hear them, the sound got better as the night went on.

Definitely very disappointed with SCG

Amazing concert as always. Lot of security at the entrances so it was a little bit slow everything and I was afraid because maybe I couldn't watch Noel Gallagher but organization was clever and started one hour later more or less. Really it was very difficult to be there at 19 with that security level. But everything was perfect. Noel played lot of Oasis songs with classics like Wonderwall, Little by Little or Don't Look Back in Anger. Then with less than 20 minutes delay, U2 came on stage. Larry Mullen started alone in the middle of the scenario situated at the center of the stadium and it all began... Thanks for allow us to remember a great album like Joshua Tree! All the songs in order, side A and side B if you like more the vinyl. And the last part... Amazing with songs like Elevation or Vertigo. And one last surprise... We could listen a new song from the upcoming album, Songs of Experience. No more to say: GREAT AS ALWAYS U2. We love you!

Best concert I've ever seen and probably will ever see save for another U2 show. No seat was a bad seat as they had a massive 'screen' that spanned roughly half the length and a third of the height of MSG. The screen could be lowered and raised and there was a catwalk inside of it as well as under it on the floor for the band members to move around on. Animations and live videos of the band members playing were projected onto the screen and could be interacted with inside of the screen. I've never seen anything like it.

They had a great mix of classic U2 songs and new ones all while using mixed media to create much more than a music concert. This was a retrospective art show, film screening, advocacy platform, etc. A final treat was Bruce Springsteen coming on near the end of the show trading mics with Bono to sing Where the Streets Have No Name. You have got to see this band live.

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Most played:

• London (108)
• Dublin (102)
• New York (NYC) (81)
• Los Angeles (LA) (71)
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Is This $2 Billion Orb the Future of Live Music?

By Andy Greene

Andy Greene

Ever since the Beatles first crossed the Atlantic, in 1964, major concerts have largely taken place at venues built for sports, even though that often means poor sight lines for many fans, and less-than-optimal sound for most everybody. But a new era of live entertainment begins in late September, when U2 christen the “Sphere” in Las Vegas. The 366-foot-tall, 516-foot-wide geometric shape near the Venetian hotel completely reinvents every aspect of the rock-concert experience from the ground up, and is the culmination of seven years of work, with a budget that reportedly swelled beyond $2 billion.

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“This will be a quantum leap forward in the sense of what a concert can be,” says U2 guitarist the Edge . “It gives you the opportunity to bring people back in time, and to worlds that are completely computer-generated, but completely believable. It’s a new genre of immersive experience, and a new art form.”

Without giving any thought to what was technologically feasible, Dolan drew a sketch of an enormous geometric structure, essentially a spherical IMAX theater on steroids. Its central purpose would be to house arena-size concerts, but it could also be used for movie screenings and other events. “We had literally no idea how we were going to do it,” says Dibble. “We had no staff. It was just Jim Dolan and me.”

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The idea of experiencing virtual reality without cumbersome headgear, which also hinders the communal aspect of attending an event with other people, is what really got the Sphere rolling. “We thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be great to have VR experiences without those damn goggles?’ That’s what the Sphere is,” says Dibble.

“VR without the goggles” essentially became the elevator pitch, though they faced a lot of naysayers in the early days, especially in the world of audio. “They all said, ‘No, no. You can’t do audio like this in a big bowl. That’s the worst possible environment for it. It’ll be a caco-phony, just a trash heap of sound,’” says Dibble. “We went, ‘OK, thank you for your input. We appreciate that.’”

The patented technology they created allows them to beam waves of sound wherever they want within the venue in stunningly precise fashion. This would allow, for example, one section of an audience to hear a movie in Spanish, and another side to hear it in English, without any bleed-through whatsoever, almost like fans are wearing headphones. “It can also isolate instruments,” says Dibble. “You can have acoustics in one area, and percussion in another.”

The 16K-by-16K-resolution screen that fills up the ceiling and walls of the Sphere is equally impressive, and required designers to create an entirely new kind of camera to capture images. According to reports, Darren Aronofsky is at work on the first Sphere-only film. “We’re working with a very well-known Hollywood name right now for our first attraction” is all that Dibble is willing to say at the moment. “All that footage we’ve seen that comes back from the field, straight off the camera into the dome is, dare I say it, breathtaking.”

The venue can seat 17,600 fans, and 10,000 of them will be in specially designed chairs with built-in haptics and variable amplitudes: Each seat is essentially a low-frequency speaker. There’s also the option to shoot cold air, hot air, wind, and even aromas into the faces of fans. “There’s a noise-dampening system that we used in the nozzles of our air-delivery system that NASA found really interesting,” Dibble claims. “They were like, ‘Do you mind if we adapted that for the space program?’ We went, ‘No, knock yourself out.’”

Construction began in 2018, just as Dolan and Dibble began imagining using the Sphere for video-game tournaments, corporate events, conferences, and movie premieres. But booking a major rock band to open the venue became a major priority. U2 quickly came to mind because of their long history of incorporating new technologies into their stage show. 

The U2 show is still in its early days of production, but they know they’re going to play their 1991 masterpiece, Achtung Baby, straight through, in addition to other songs from their catalog. “Unfortunately, because of the amount of time and expense in creating some of these set pieces visually, it’s quite hard to be as quick on our feet and spontaneous as we might have been on other tours,” says the Edge. “But we still are determined that there will be sections of the show that will be open to spontaneity, and it will vary from night to night.”

U2 have committed to 25 shows between Sept. 29 and Dec. 16. There’s a chance they will add a handful more, but the Edge says the schedule is unlikely to bleed into 2024. At that point, a new headliner will take over. No names have been announced yet, and a report in the New York Post says the venue is having trouble finding one. “Many acts are balking at the idea of producing splashy visual spectacles that might overpower their music, a source close to the situation said,” the Post reported. “‘They’ve spoken to a lot of acts who are not interested,’ the source told the Post .”

Dibble claims this isn’t true and disputes the notion that bands will be burdened with the task of creating visuals for the show. “We work very, very closely with the artist’s community,” he says. “We say, ‘All right, this can be simple or it can be super elaborate. Let’s talk about your vision.’ We won’t need a 25-truck load-in. They can just hand us one terabyte thumb drive with their content on it.”

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For now, the focus is making the U2 shows as spectacular as possible. “We’re finding ways to use the technology that maybe the MSG people hadn’t even considered,” the Edge says. “Because the screen is so high-res and so immersive, we can actually change your perception of the shape of the venue. There’s all kinds of crazy stuff.”

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U2 Confirm New Album in the Works, Possibility of ‘Zoo TV Tour’ Return

by Tina Benitez-Eves November 23, 2021, 11:55 am

“We are firmly locked in the tower of song and working away on a bunch of new things,” said U2’s Edge , while working on a new song with bassist Adam Clayton. Celebrating the 30th anniversary of U2’s seventh album Achtung Baby , the band is already well into a follow-up to their 2017 release, Songs of Experience .

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“I’m just having so much fun writing and not necessarily having to think about where it’s going to go,” said Edge in a recent interview. “It’s more about enjoying the experience of writing and having no expectations or limitations on the process.”

Still in the early stages of the process, the band has yet to land on a producer for the new album, but Edge added that he enjoyed working with Dutch DJ Martin Garrix on the UEFA Euro 2020 song “We Are the People.”

“I hope to work with him in the future,” Edge said. “But we haven’t made any firm decisions on what the next thing will be in terms of personnel.”

The band recently shared the song “ Your Song Saved My Life ,” off the soundtrack for the upcoming animated featured Sing 2, which also features singer Bono in a starring role as the voice of the rock star lion Clay Calloway. 

“That’s not a thing that U2 normally does, but it’s in the of spirit of mixing it up, keeping people guessing, and trying different things,” said Edge of the animated film. “It felt like a worthy thing. And also, it’s a movie about great songs and we we felt very comfortable in the company that we were keeping there.”

Reflecting on the 30th anniversary of the Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno-produced Achtung Baby, recorded in 1990 at the famed Hansa Studios in Berlin, Edge hinted at a possible return of returning to the multimedia-immersive Zoo TV Tour that supported the album.  

“I would love that and I couldn’t rule it out,” he said. “I think [Zoo TV] is such a current thought. Back then, we were we’re dealing with the overload and kind of the whiplash of 24/7 news cycles, which hadn’t been known before. It was the overload of cable TV and hundreds and hundreds of channels. And little did we know that that was just the beginning of this avalanche of channels to kind of draw your attention.”

Edge added that the production team from that tour is still working with the band, so it’s something they wouldn’t rule out for an upcoming tour. The band’s last tour was in 2019, commemorating the 30th anniversary of their fifth album The Joshua Tree . “I think Zoo TV could absolutely come back and be just as relevant,” added Edge, “but we haven’t actually got to the point of doing anything more than this kind of talk, but I wouldn’t rule it out again.”

Off tour for the past two years, and following the pandemic, Edge said that the band need some time off after being either in the studio or on the road for five consecutive years. “As much as momentum is your friend, there’s a moment where you stop getting fed by momentum and it starts to drain you,” said Edge. “That’s because you need those moments of inactivity just to listen to music. We’re all enjoying that right now.”

Photos by Anton Corbijn.

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Darlene Love says U2’s cover of her Christmas classic is best around

Darlene Love’s classic tune Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) has spurred numerous covers over the years, but to the singer herself, only one stands above the rest, she recently revealed. Speaking on the podcast Behind the Table, Love, 82, said U2’s rendition of her hit Christmas song is the best cover. “I have a connection […]

Bono says U2’s new album will be “an unreasonable guitar record” with “big choruses”

U2 frontman Bono has shared a further update on their forthcoming new album, reiterating that it will be “an unreasonable guitar record”. It comes over a year after he previously expressed his desire to release “a noisy, uncompromising, unreasonable guitar album”, citing AC/DC as an influence. Now in a new interview, he has also said […]

Watch U2 Perform “Seconds” For The First Time Since 1985

While Achtung Baby is the centerpiece of U2’s game-changing Las Vegas residency, the band have been using the Sphere to revisit long-forgotten songs from their catalog. That continued Friday night as Bono and company dug out “Seconds” for the first time live since 1985. “A great Adam Clayton bassline that he has not played for […]

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U2 found what they were looking for in a duet partner Wednesday night at Sphere in Las Vegas, as Lady Gaga joined the group for duets on one of her songs, “Shallow,” and two of theirs, “All I Want Is You” and “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.” LADY GAGA & U2 🫶🏻 […]

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Into 2024 – More Dates for ‘U2:UV Achtung Baby Live At Sphere’

From U2.com: Following overwhelming demand after the opening shows of ‘U2:UV Achtung Baby Live At Sphere’, Sphere Entertainment Co. and Live Nation today announced an additional 11 dates for January and February 2024. U2.com subscribers can submit ticket requests from today with general onsale beginning next Wednesday, October 25. The additional dates are: FRIDAY, JANUARY […]

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Within a giant, $2.3BN ball in the Nevada desert, U2 reinvent the rock concert, again. Is this the end of the world tour as we knew it, or even better than the real thing? Surrender collection. And a finale that romps through a brace of U2’s most anthemic ol’ faithfuls (“Elevation”, “Vertigo”, “Where the Streets […]

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  Setlist: Zoo Station The Fly Even Better Than The Real Thing Mysterious Ways One Until The End Of The World Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses Tryin’ To Throw Your Arms Around The World All I Want Is You Desire Angel Of Harlem) Love Rescue Me Acrobat So Cruel Ultraviolet (Light My Way) Love […]

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‘We’d love it’: The Edge on U2 returning with Larry Mullen jnr to the Las Vegas Sphere in 2024

U2’s residency-opening show went ‘way better than i ever could have expected or hoped for’, says the band’s guitarist.

U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere – the Edge, Bono, Bram van den Berg and Adam Clayton on stage in Las Vegas. Photograph: Stufish Entertainment Architects

“Sorry to drag you all the way here to Vegas,” Adam Clayton jokes by the stage of the Sphere, where U2 are kicking off a 25-show residency this weekend. Such a drag, agrees The Irish Times, part of a group of journalists from Ireland who earlier had been taking turns doing impressions of Bono on the Brian Eno-designed turntable stage.

So how was Friday for the band, who anointed the spectacular new auditorium, just off the Strip, with the opening night of U2:UV Achtung Baby Live from Sphere? “Way better than I ever could have expected or hoped for,” the Edge says about a venue that relies heavily on state-of-the-art technology, including 1.2 million LEDS, a gargantuan wraparound screen and an intricate sound system. “It’s a theory until the audience are in, and then you are actually doing it for real ... Everything just kind of connected.”

[  ‘I’ve never experienced anything like it’: U2 fans on the band’s Las Vegas Sphere debut  ]

Clayton is pleased with the feedback about the clarity of the sound and the extraordinary, in some cases dizzying visuals. “A lot of people I spoke to were saying it’s hard to imagine a normal concert now. This has changed it for everyone, and that’s exciting to be the first doing that.”

The Edge says the Sphere is surprisingly intimate. “When you look up from here you can really see people in the top-tier seats. You can pick out individuals. So it’s not like some of these arenas where you can’t see ... The design is very good for communication. And the intimate moments, it’s amazing. Bono can whisper and you can hear it at the top of the venue, which of course is impossible most of the time. We’re still experimenting with that intimacy, and that’s going to be the fun for us over the next few weeks, trying different things.”

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How were their nerves? The Edge says they had to rely a lot on technology that “doesn’t exist anywhere else in the world. There’s always that nagging question: is it going to break down?”

In fact, his guitar equipment had a bit of a malfunction. “I didn’t see it, but my guitar tech was on his hands and knees making my guitar switches for me, which normally I would do if I’m up there ... His system broke down, so he had to crawl out and start doing it,” the Edge says. “It was comedic in a way, when you look at all the technology involved, something so simple.” He also broke a string during Where the Streets Have No Name. “I had to lash down and get a spare, and thankfully it was in tune.”

According to their long-time sound engineer Joe O’Herlihy, from Cork, who first worked with U2 45 years ago, the bespoke sound system means the band had sounded better during the opening night than they ever did. Do they agree? “Right up there,” says the Edge. “I’ll tell you what: there’s no hiding. Every imperfection is audible. We’re having to raise our game.” “It’s the best I’ve heard the Edge,” Clayton says, laughing.

[  U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere in Las Vegas: What the first reviews say  ]

The band launched the venue without Larry Mullen jnr, who is dealing with various injuries. The Dutch drummer Bram van den Berg, of Krezip , took Mullen’s place. How did that feel? “It was pretty scary in so many ways,” Clayton says, adding that their preparation with van den Berg in recent weeks had helped. “He’s got a great attitude. He’ll adapt to whatever I need or the band needs, and he’s great fun to be around.” And, adds the Edge, “he’s a huge Larry fan. He’s not out to reinvent the wheel. He wants to stay true to the spirit of the songs and the arrangements.” “He was probably the least nervous,” Clayton says.

O’Herlihy had speculated earlier that, after U2’s residency here ends, in December, the band might return next year for another go at the Sphere, this time with Mullen. “I wouldn’t rule it out,” the Edge says. “That could happen, and we’d love it if it did.” O’Herlihy had also told us that Clayton was playing the best bass of his life. “Well, he should know. That’s great to hear. Thank you. I think we’re getting better.”

You can win a trip for two to see U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere in Las Vegas. Find out how in Ticket, the Irish Times culture magazine, on Saturday, October 7th

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U2 is teasing their next album, an ‘unreasonable guitar record’.

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LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 12: Irish rock band U2, Bono (2R), The Edge (R), Adam Clayton (L) and ... [+] Larry Mullen Jr (2L), accept the global icon award on stage during the MTV EMAs 2017 held at The SSE Arena, Wembley on November 12, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Dave J Hogan/Dave J Hogan/Getty Images for MTV)

U2 is currently in the midst of their highly successful Las Vegas concert residency, U2: UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere. Originally slated to conclude soon, the band has decided to extend the run into February 2024 due to overwhelming demand and positive reviews. While their focus remains on delivering stellar performances each night, the iconic group is also eagerly anticipating what lies ahead.

For their upcoming album, which lacks a title or release date, U2 is signaling a return to the roots of real, classic, guitar-driven rock. In a recent interview with Mojo , bassist Adam Clayton revealed, “We are turning the amps on.” He added, “I certainly think the rock that we all grew up with as 16- and 17-year-olds…that kind of power is something we would love to connect back into.”

It seems this direction may have started–or at least first been made public–by famed singer Bono. “I announced it, without discussion, as ‘an unreasonable guitar record’,” he commented. At some point, fellow U2 standard The Edge spoke to Bono about the comment, looking for more direction. “How unreasonable?” The Edge apparently asked, to which Bono replied, “As unreasonable as you’re ready to take it.”

The Edge himself appears enthusiastic about this shift towards a more guitar-centric sound. In his conversation with Mojo , he stated, “I think the guitar is coming back. I really feel it. And I would like to be part of that. I’d like to be the vanguard of this resurgence of guitars,” before excitedly adding, “I would love that to be the next U2 record!”

Currently, the prospect of entering the studio to work on the new album is on hold. Drummer Larry Mullen, Jr. is temporarily sidelined due to a health issue, preventing his participation in the Sphere shows. The band has indicated a reluctance to start recording without him, with Clayton noting, “Starting work on new songs is somewhat tied to Larry’s situation.”

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U2's last original material release was Songs of Experience in 2017. Since then, they revisited their catalog with an album of reworked hits titled Songs of Surrender in early 2023. Additionally, the band dropped a one-off single titled “Atomic City” to further promote the launch of their Sphere residency.

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Larry Mullen Jr. Says U2 Tour Is Not Likely for 2023, as He Faces Surgery

By Chris Willman

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Anyone hoping that 2023 will bring a tour from U2 , which last hit the road in 2019, may be in for some disappointment. Drummer Larry Mullen Jr. says in a new interview that if U2 did tour next year, it would be without him, as he faces surgery that he expects to take him out of commission for a while.

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That statement is not elaborated on and the kind of surgery the drummer requires is not described.

This diminishing of touring expectations comes even as the band is described in the article as having two albums in the wings that are either completed or close to it. The album of all-new originals is the long-discussed “Songs of Ascent,” described in the piece as “nearly finished.” The other is the much-rumored “Surrender,” which is said to include 40 stripped-down versions of U2 catalog songs written about in Bono ‘s new memoir of the same name. Of “Ascent,” the article says that “Bono and the Edge aren’t sure when to release it” (and adds, “They aren’t sure about a lot”); neither is any date given for the “Surrender” album.

The story quotes Mullen as saying, “You only do this if you’re having the best time. And not everyone is going to make it because the price is so high. So I think the challenge is for more generosity. More openness to the process. I am autonomous and I value my autonomy. I don’t sing from the same hymn sheet. I don’t pray to the same version of God. So everyone has their limits. And you only do this if it is a great time you’re having, you know?”

It’s not altogether clear whether Mullen is emphasizing these feelings as current, historical or both, as the Post piece is largely a retrospective one that looks at all the hurdles U2 faced in staying together in decades past, leading with “an almost-breakup story” set in 1990, as they switched approaches and began to find a new footing with the making of “Achtung Baby.”

“We come close to breaking up much more often than you’d think,” Bono told the Post. “Usually after the really good albums, because they cost you in personal relationships because you’re pushing each other and get really at your elastic limit.”

(Amusingly, Jimmy Iovine describes the album that preceded “Achtung,” “Rattle and Hum,” as his own personal career tipping point. “I stopped producing recordings because ‘Rattle and Hum’ almost put me in a box,” the producer-turned-mogul tells the newspaper.)

The sound of “Ascent,” which Bono and the Edge were describing as a work well-in-progress a year ago, is further characterized by the singer as “this unreasonable guitar record that we all want to make,” and possibly harder-edged than other late-period records in U2’s career. He also admits that the importance of the album format itself has lessened. “I don’t know if you can capture people for a whole album. But what if it was just an EP or just one song that could burst through? We don’t need it on the pop charts. We don’t. But we need people to pass it around.”

Bono has stayed busy during band hiatuses, not only releasing the highly acclaimed “Surrender” book but doing a very limited number of solo tour dates behind it, in which he recites passages while acting them out and sings snippets of relevant songs backed by a three-piece band. His U.S. one-nighters in small halls recently wrapped up, and the singer is doing a European leg now. Bono says in the story he has no interest in a solo album.

U2’s last new album, “Songs of Experience,” came out almost exactly five years ago — on Dec. 1, 2017. Following the tour for that album, the group’s most recent outing in 2019 was themed as a retrospective “Joshua Tree” tour.

After being filmed this weekend, the Kennedy Center Honors show in which U2 is being celebrated will air on CBS Dec. 28.

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Or your own Stratocaster, designed by Edge for Fender? Two of the special prizes in an auction to support critical health care services in LA.

From 1997's Pop album, this is the third remastered single in the series of digital Deep Dives and B-Sides.

Playing This Friday for subscribers: audio of final U2:UV show at Sphere plus extended video interview with band. (Streaming all weekend)

Beautiful Day provides the soundtrack for a new campaign by the World Wildlife Fund.

Second in the series of digital Deep Dives and B-Sides. (Plus Atomic City for Record Store Day.)

On Friday, Adam is a guest on BBC's Gardeners World.

The final show from U2:UV in Las Vegas, broadcasting in 12 countries around the world.

Kiss The Future will premiere on Paramount+ in the US and Canada on May 7th.

Twelve remastered singles for digital release.

Hear the last U2:UV show and exclusive interview on U2 X-Radio thru April 17

Hear the final U2:UV show on U2 X-Radio this Sunday.

U2:UV was like no other show - here's what it was like every night.

It was a Beautiful Day. All forty of them. Thank you Las Vegas.

'How long to sing this song?' 

A rapturous Sphere reception when Bono invited Larry to take a bow at last nights penultimate show in Vegas.

….and this is 'Beautiful Day', to close night 38 at the Sphere.

A 'magnificent moustache' that is…  just like Adam's.

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Brazil makes huge U2 wish after Madonna’s record-breaking Copacabana show

After Madonna's record-breaking show at Copacabana Beach, Brazil wants to court U2.

Andrew Korpan

Hot on the heels of Madonna ‘s record-breaking Copacabana show, Brazil wants to court other high-profile names such as U2 , who just wrapped up their Sphere residency in Las Vegas.

On May 4, Madonna played her biggest show ever. The free concert at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro drew a crowd of 1.6 million. That's an impressive feat for an artist who has done it all.

Eduardo Paes, the mayor of Rio de Janeiro, is now lobbying for U2 to play in Brazil after Madonna's show.

“There are a lot of people asking for Beyoncé, asking for Michael Jackson's show in Las Vegas with a hologram, there are all kinds of requests, strong pressure,” Paes said (via O Globo). “But I just want to express that my lobby will be for U2.”

This would be monumental for the band. They have played Glastonbury and Slane Castle before, but the Copacabana Beach is a whole new game.

It has also been years since U2 last played in Brazil. Per U2Gigs, their last show took place on October 25, 2017, on their “Joshua Tree” anniversary tour. The band played four shows in São Paulo, Brazil, to close out the 2017 tour. Previously, they had visited Brazil on their “PopMart,” “Vertigo,” and “360” tours.

U2 has since embarked on the “Experience + Innocence” tour in 2018, another leg of the “Joshua Tree” tour in 2019, and the Sphere residency since their last shows in Brazil. The country is overdue for a visit from the band.

Who are U2?

U2 is a legendary rock band known for their iconic hits such as “Pride (In the Name of Love),” “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” and “With or Without You.” In their legendary career, the band has won 22 Grammys. They have been nominated for a grand total of 46 throughout their career.

Recently, they have been on the road a lot. Since 2015's “Innocence + Experience” tour, U2 has embarked on three concert tours and a concert residency. The 2017 and 2019 leg of the “Joshua Tree” tour went international including U2's Brazil shows.

Their Sphere residency began on September 29, 2023. U2 played 40 shows at the high-tech venue in Las Vegas through March 2, 2024. Larry Mullen Jr. is still recovering from health issues, so he did not play with U2 at the Sphere. Bono, The Edge, and Adam Clayton were joined by Bram van den Berg.

The residency was centered around their 1991 album, Achtung Baby. For the first time ever, the band played the album in full for the first time. As a result, the band dusted off deep cuts such as “So Cruel” and “Tryin' to Throw Your Arms Around the World” for the first time in decades.

U2 also released their fifteenth studio album in 2023, Songs of Surrender. The album tied in with Bono's memoir, Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story.

It features 40 songs from the band's back catalog that were re-arranged and re-recorded for the album. Songs of Surrender marks the first time U2 recorded an album made up of non-original songs.

Andrew Korpan is the lead entertainment editor and film critic for ClutchPoints. Residing in Philadelphia, Andrew is an award-winning journalist with previous bylines at Collider, Above the Line, and Below the Line.

Where do Kendrick Lamar and Drake go from here?

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After a weekend that saw two of hip-hop’s biggest stars trade increasingly ugly accusations of domestic violence and child sexual abuse, it’s all but official: Kendrick Lamar has triumphed over Drake in what many have deemed the most significant rap beef of all time.

The verdict was handed down early Monday by the self-appointed internet scorekeepers whose investment in the battle — as witnessed across YouTube, TikTok and every other form of social media given to feverish take-making — did as much as that of the rappers themselves to fan its flames.

But if Lamar can be said to have won, where does his victory leave him at age 36, a decade and a half into a career about which he’s sometimes seemed ambivalent? How does Drake’s defeat at 37 reshape the perception of invincibility he’s been building since the late 2000s? And what does it all say about hip-hop at a moment when the genre’s commercial dominance appears to be slipping?

There’s no doubt that Kendrick versus Drake — a long-simmering rivalry that exploded in late March when Lamar dropped a surprise verse on Future and Metro Boomin’s song “ Like That ” — has been good for rap’s position in a crowded attention economy. Countless stakeholders in the form have expressed anxiety lately regarding hip-hop’s slowing growth: Last year, for instance, only four rap LPs — by Travis Scott, Metro Boomin, Drake and the duo of Drake and 21 Savage — finished 2023 among the year’s 25 most-consumed albums. (Throw in records by SZA and Bad Bunny and hip-hop was still far outweighed on the list by pop and country thanks to blockbusters by the likes of Morgan Wallen , Taylor Swift and Zach Bryan.)

Before “Like That” debuted atop Billboard’s Hot 100 and logged three straight weeks at No. 1, the last rap song to spend that long of an unbroken streak there was “Rockstar” by DaBaby featuring Roddy Ricch way back in the summer of 2020.

Now, songs by Drake and Lamar occupy half of Spotify’s U.S. Top 10 and are widely expected to turn up in the upper reaches of next week’s Hot 100; not only that, but the beef put hip-hop back at the center of the pop-cultural conversation — see the sketch from this past weekend’s “Saturday Night Live” in which Dua Lipa plays a woman attempting to explain the intricacies of the feud to a pair of smiley morning-television hosts.

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In a mind-share sense, at least, Kendrick versus Drake has also been a boon for the two men individually, both of whom have watched in recent years as they’ve been slowly (and naturally) pushed from hip-hop’s center by the generation coming up behind them. To put it in rock terms, these guys are approaching the status of a U2 or Bruce Springsteen : popular and well-respected legacy acts long since past their most important music. Yet this fight made their work feel newly alive; it made you believe those legacies are still being written.

Which of course is the tricky part. The beef began along familiar lines in “Like That,” with Lamar — the cerebral Compton native who won a Pulitzer Prize in 2018 for his musings on family, religion and Black heritage — taking objection to the idea that the more pop-oriented Drake belongs in the same league as him. (You can trace that notion back to J. Cole’s verse in a song from Drake’s 2023 “For All the Dogs” album in which he described himself, Drake and Lamar as “the big three” of modern hip-hop.)

But the feud quickly went deeper and more personal: In his song “ Push Ups ,” Drake mocked Lamar’s small physical stature and his supposedly being taken advantage of in business; he followed it up with “Taylor Made Freestyle,” which employed artificial intelligence to emulate the voices of Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dogg as hip-hop OGs goading Lamar into responding to Drake’s insults. Lamar did so in a track called “ Euphoria ” in which he called Drake a “scam artist” and accused the Canadian rapper of appropriating elements of Black American culture. Then, on Friday, everything went haywire as Lamar dropped another diss track, “ 6:16 in LA ,” with the suggestion that someone on Drake’s team was leaking info to him. That led to Drake’s firing back hours later with “Family Matters,” in which he alleged that Lamar “beat on” his longtime romantic partner, Whitney Alford; almost immediately, Lamar released “ Meet the Grahams ,” the darkest chapter yet in the story: a six-minute catalog of Drake’s alleged misdeeds, including Lamar’s assertion that his foe has an 11-year-old daughter he’s kept secret from the world.

Before Drake could respond, Lamar dropped again Saturday with “Not Like Us,” a slick and festive — and instantly viral — party record that climaxes with what might be Lamar’s single most pointed criticism of a hip-hop artist whose enormous success is inseparable from his ability to identify ascendant styles and talent: “You not a colleague / You a f— colonizer.” (He also calls Drake and his crew pedophiles.) Weariness clearly audible in his voice, Drake finally came back late Sunday with “ The Heart Part 6 ,” a gloomy track in which he rebuts Lamar’s claims about his history with young women and says that Lamar had fallen for the fake story Drake himself had planted about his having a daughter.

So: Grim stuff, almost all of it unverifiable by any of those who’d tasked themselves with adjudicating the beef. But if it’s hard to say how (or whether) any of this information aligns with either man’s real-life existence, the way each of them dispensed it seems likely to reshape our understanding of their musical personas.

“Meet the Grahams” revealed a level of spite we’ve never quite heard from Lamar, who framed his most recent album, 2022’s “ Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers ,” as an extended therapy session; “Not Like Us” shows he’s not finished (as the knotty “Mr. Morale” might have suggested) with catchy rap songs geared to the club.

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Indeed, it says something that the biggest commercial smash to come out of this feud is almost certain to be a Lamar song rather than one by Drake, whose hitmaking instinct recently carried him past the Beatles as the act with the most Top 5 singles in Hot 100 history. Key to Drake’s run on the charts has been his strategic mind and his flair for reading a room; nobody’s proven himself more skilled at anticipating what listeners will want before they even know. Yet the messiness of his approach in “The Heart Part 6” — his apparent misapprehension of an earlier Lamar lyric about sexual abuse and his insistence that he couldn’t possibly have preyed on girls because he’s “way too famous” (!?) — unsettles his image as the ultimate operator.

How, then, do Lamar and Drake — the latter of whose home in Toronto was the site of a shooting early Tuesday in which a security guard was injured, according to police — move on from this? Do they make new work within the parameters of what we’ve learned about them? Or do they treat the beef as a kind of off-the-record exhibition game, as Lamar says in “Meet the Grahams” he initially intended?

And what about the audience? Social media, where these diss tracks crash-landed into the discourse, has fundamentally changed the way we relate to pop stars; it’s what enabled the mindset by which fans feel as though they have a stake in their idols’ careers, be they rappers roasting each other or Taylor Swift roasting an ex. Like “ The Tortured Poets Department ,” Kendrick versus Drake has offered up an abundance of lore to chew on, to get behind, to divvy up into shards of parasocial identity. The problem with getting what you want, though, is that you might end up getting more.

More to Read

Shooting near Drake’s mansion wounds security guard, sparks police investigation

May 7, 2024

Kendrick Lamar responds to Drake in new diss track ‘Euphoria’

April 30, 2024

It’s another all-Taylor Swift edition of the Hot 100 chart this week

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Mikael Wood is pop music critic for the Los Angeles Times.

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