U2 have spoken about how the band’s frontman Bono’s health scare inspired the songwriting process for the highly anticipated new album ‘Songs Of Experience’. U2 are currently readying themselves to drop their 14th album which will be released on 1st December 2017, having recently released their newest single ‘You’re The Best Thing About Me.’
‘Songs Of Experience’ follows their 2014 release ‘Songs Of Innocence’. The bands follow up album release was delayed due to Donald Trumps presidential election win. The band instead decided to concentrate on the 30th anniversary tour of their fifth studio album ‘The Joshua Tree’. Speaking to Rolling Stone magazine, The Edge explained how ‘Songs Of Experience’ was “almost complete”, and then “the world changed”
“Hold on a second – we’ve got to give ourselves a moment to think about this record and about how it relates to what’s going on in the world.” That’s because it was written mostly, I mean, 80 percent of it was started before 2016, but most of it was written in the early part of 2016, and now, as I think you’d agree, the world is a different place.”
However, the band have now revealed that Bono’s serious health scare shifted the direction of the album, with it before being initially expected to be about the changing political climate, yet instead became songs that formed a series of letters to his family and friends. “He had a brush with mortality. He definitely had a serious moment, which caused him to reflect on a lot of things.” Edge told Rolling Stone magazine.
Bono also addressed the situation whilst talking to Q magazine, saying “Edge wasn’t fibbing when he said we had to stop and take account of what was going on in the world, he just didn’t want to mention what was going on in my world.”
“I don’t want to get too into the details of it, for fear of the melodramatic reality TV kerfuffle. A lot of people have these moments, I’ve had a few. Not quite at this level.”
“It’s just one of those moments when nothing else matters, so what do you have to say for yourself? And what do you want to say to the people that you love?”
However, he reassured Q Magazine that he is back to full health. “I’m way better. I’m on top form. I’m singing like a little girl.”
