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The interview comes just after the 20th anniversary and 2024 reissue of U2’s ‘How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb’, now titled ‘How to Reassemble an Atomic Bomb’. This reissue includes a second “shadow album” of previously unreleased tracks which had been left on the cutting room floor. Fans reacted enthusiastically, especially to the song ‘Evidence of Life’ which harked back to the post-punk sound of their first three albums.

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The award winning podcast explores how some of the most famous musicians go about recording, and their creative processes. On themes and concepts, The Edge said “sometimes it’s sonic, sometimes it’s lyrical. But we’re always looking for that thing we can use as our North Star.” 

The episode also touched on the band’s six-month residency at the Las Vegas Sphere, which comprised 40 shows and grossed over $100 million, breaking various records in the process. Evans described the experience as “fantastic,” though he regretted not having the opportunity to take the show on the road and see the world. The show was a critical success as well as a commercial one, with USA Today’s Melissa Ruggieri saying “It’s fair to wonder if such a gargantuan production eclipses a band. Not this [band]”. 

The residency marked U2’s first major live performances without drummer Larry Mullen Jr., who was recovering from surgery. Bram van den Berg, drummer of Krezip, stood in for Mullen. In a November interview with The Toronto Star, The Edge confirmed that Mullen is recovering and has already participated in recent recording sessions. “Larry’s feeling good, and he’s playing well.” 

Exploring U2’s storied career, The Edge acknowledged their evolution from politically charged punk roots to the experimental sounds of albums in the 90s, but failed to mention ‘The Joshua Tree’. The 1987 release, often hailed as their greatest work, was heavily influenced by producer Brian Eno’s soundscape work and explored themes of mythical America, and along with ‘The Unforgettable Fire’, moved them away from the sound of their early albums.

Their last album of original material, ‘Songs of Experience’, was released in 2017, and their last live show in the UK was in 2018. While The Edge’s comments aren’t exactly an official announcement, they have sparked excitement among fans. Discussions on the U2 subreddit suggest high hopes for a potential release, though some caution against momentum being lost if a single isn’t followed by an album or tour.

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This news comes just days after Bono was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Biden. Bono, whose real name is Paul Hewson, was recognised for his contributions to charitable causes, with his efforts focused on poverty in Africa, and HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment.

With The Edge hinting at new U2 music, fans are left speculating about what the next chapter holds for a band that has been recording together for nearly half a century, and will be excited to hear more about this upcoming release.

The Medal of Freedom, established by John F. Kennedy in 1963, honours those who have made outstanding contributions to US national interests, world peace, or cultural and humanitarian efforts. While Kennedy would collate a list of nominees, he would never award the medal himself.

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Biden’s awards have been noted for their balance, recognising civil rights activists and charity leaders. Previous British and Irish recipients include Margaret Thatcher, Tony Blair, Stephen Hawking, and Mary Robinson – the last Irish recipient in 2009. Bono joins a list of celebrated musicians such as Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, and Bob Dylan.

Bono’s recognition stems from his activism, particularly through organisations like ONE and (RED). ONE focuses on fighting poverty and preventable diseases, recently addressing COVID-19 misinformation. (RED), meanwhile, raises funds for HIV/AIDS programmes through partnerships with major multinational companies like Apple and Nike.  

The White House statement noted Bono’s ability to unite politicians, citing his role in the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). This programme, launched under George W. Bush and supported by then-Senator Biden, has saved millions of lives.

Walls really do tumble. But the cause of freedom is a call to action for each new generation, Bono writes. https://t.co/s2idn143rD — The Atlantic (@TheAtlantic) January 4, 2025

In a piece published the morning of the ceremony, Bono said in The Atlantic: “Freedom is a word that turns up with embarrassing frequency in rock-and-roll songs, but if we’re honest, the freedom musicians are most interested in is our own. The reason I am climbing on this slippery soapbox called “freedom” today is that I’m being given a presidential medal by that name—an honour I’m receiving mainly for the work of others, among them my bandmates and our fellow activists.”

Bono’s connection to Joe Biden is stronger than some may expect. Their relationship began nearly 25 years ago during Bono’s debt relief campaign, when the senator impressed him with his Seamus Heaney quotes and passion for the cause. More recently, Bono attended Biden’s 2023 State of the Union address as a guest of First Lady Jill Biden, in recognition of his HIV/AIDS advocacy.

It’s a beautiful day to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom! Congratulations Bono! https://t.co/v7AoUqwC9Z

— U.S. Embassy Dublin (@USEmbassyDublin) January 4, 2025

While the US Embassy in Dublin celebrated Bono’s achievement with the post, “It’s a beautiful day to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom!”, reactions from fans in the US were more varied. Fans joked on Reddit: “The nation is finally forgiving him for putting an album on everyone’s phone in 2014.”

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Bono’s accolades extend beyond his new medal. In 2007, he was made a Knight Commander of the British Empire – though, being Irish, he cannot use the title “Sir”. He has also received honours in France and Portugal, with recognition for his music and humanitarian efforts.

This latest recognition highlights Bono’s legacy in more than one field. While his music remains iconic, it is his activism that may define his impact in the years to come. As Bono himself said, “Freedom must be re-won by each generation.”

The widely acclaimed singer has been described as a vital guide for today’s music, and was known for his unique sound that combined jazz and folk, with huge artists such as Eric Clapton, Portishead and U2 citing him as a influence in their own music. Over his four decade career, Martyn released a whopping twenty three albums, his most well known being ‘Solid Air’, and received an OBE award in 2009, only a few weeks before his passing. He is now survived by his second wife, Theresa Walsh, and his three children.

Alongside selling Martyn’s instruments and equipment that he used for recording and performing, the auction will also include personal items, such as pieces of clothing worn by Martyn.

The project aims to preserve the musical heritage of the city by amassing a collection of visual memories in the form of concert tickets, thereby allowing both us in the present and those in future generations to resonate with and relive live music performances by some of the world’s greatest artists.

One of these is Bruce Springsteen, whose performance with The E Street Band in July 2013 inaugurated the First Direct Arena. Such a massive moment in the musical history of Leeds is now documented, visually in the form of an actual physical ticket, in the archive for others to enjoy and celebrate. A show by the iconic Irish rock band U2 is another among the remarkable performances recorded on the platform. They played Elland Road on July 1st 1987, where tickets were £14 and Special Guests were promised.

The archive also remembers Sir Elton John’s 1984 gig at The Queens Hall during his European Express Tour. The ticket reminded a commenter on the archive post about their experience at the gig as they stated, “I was at this gig! Elton played at the now demolished Queens Hall (tram shed) and it was truly one of the best gigs I’ve ever been to!“.

Louise Birch, the senior librarian at Leeds Libraries, recounts how the project came to be, saying, “The project came about as I was going through some of my own ticket stubs that I’d collected over the years, and I realised that many venues don’t actually issue physical tickets anymore.

“Leeds has hosted some of the biggest names in music over the years along with a thriving local gig scene and some incredible venues that have become a huge part of the city’s story.

“Every single one of these tickets also represents a unique memory for the person who went to that gig and what we really want is for people to share those memories and experiences and help us build a living, constantly evolving archive of live music in Leeds.”

The librarians who run the archive are actively trying to increase the collection and are on the lookout for particular gigs, including Jimi Hendrix at The Odeon in 1967, The Sex Pistols at Leeds Polytechnic in 1976, Nirvana at The Duchess in 1989 and Oasis at The Duchess in 1994.

The Leodis archive can be accessed here: https://www.leodis.net/.

Watch “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” – 1987 Version

Watch – “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” – Version 2023, Performed at the Sphere in Las Vegas

Interestingly, “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)'”was not included in U2’s live/studio album Rattle and Hum, but the band did release a video of their captivating performance of the track from November 1987. Despite not being listed on the official setlist, U2 made sure to rehearse the song during soundcheck before the show, ensuring that their rendition would be flawless and memorable.

The surprise performance of this holiday classic came as U2 extended their residency at the Sphere, adding an impressive 11 extra dates to their already extensive run. With this addition, the band’s total number of shows at the Las Vegas venue now reaches an impressive 40. This residency has allowed U2 to captivate audiences night after night, showcasing their incredible talent and timeless music to fans from all over the world.

Tickets for the FINAL FOUR U2:UV Achtung Baby shows are on sale today, along with @vibeepresents VIP and Hotel packages. Visit https://t.co/KuHopvHH1u for more information. #U2UVSPHERE pic.twitter.com/Ky35gexGPP

— U2 (@U2) December 8, 2023

Listen to U2’s latest single “Atomic City” played at the Sphere, Las Vegas show 2023.

U2’s surprise rendition of “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)'”not only delighted their fans but also showcased the band’s versatility and ability to breathe new life into beloved classics. It was a truly special moment for both the band and their dedicated audience, reminding everyone of the enduring power of U2’s music and their ability to create unforgettable live experiences.

NME recently gave U2’s inaugural performance at a lavish venue a glowing five-star review. The review praised the band’s captivating stage presence and musical talent, as well as the venue’s magnificence. The writer also expressed excitement for U2’s ongoing residency in the city, known for its vibrant music scene.

In other U2 news, bassist Adam Clayton revealed in late November that the band’s progress in producing new music relies on the recovery of drummer Larry Mullen Jr, who has temporarily taken a break for the first time in four decades to undergo surgery.

Meanwhile, frontman Bono reassured fans that the band’s upcoming album will be a “unreasonable guitar record” that may not conform to practical expectations. Previously, the singer had described the album as “noisy” and “uncompromising.”

The single had been heard briefly when the band were shooting the music video at their surprise concert earlier this month (September 16th) at the Plaza Hotel in Las Vegas, where up to 250 fans and extras congregated in the city’s Fremont Street for the special occasion. An apt setting for the music video to take place, as “Atomic City” is Vegas themed song, with lyrics such as “I’m free, so unexpectedly. I’m free from what’s in front of me!” and “I’ve got the key to the cages, waiting for my dice. I came here for the fight/I’m front row in Las Vegas. And there’s a big one on tonight”.

The new single was produced by Jacknife Lee and Steve Lillywhite and recorded at Sound City in LA, and as Bono told the audience at the band’s surprise Las Vegas show, “This is the world premiere of ‘Atomic City,’ a rock’n’roll 45-inch tradition of late 70s post-punk if you are interested…Blondie, The Clash.”

The song’s title is also a direct nod to the famous Nevada city, as ‘Atomic City’ was a nickname for Las Vegas in the 1950’s due to how close it was to the Nevada Test Site – dedicated to the testing of nuclear devices.

“Atomic City” was dropped on the same day (September 29th) U2 begin their very special residency at Las Vegas’ brand new MSG Sphere venue, where, throughout their run of shows, the Irish rockers will be performing their 1991 album Achtung Baby in full. U2’s residency will be the first shows played on the new Vegas stage.

In addition to U2’s residency at the MSG Sphere, the band also launched the immersive ‘Zoo Station: A U2:UV Experience’ recently on September 28th. The experience is a fan portal that aims to help fans gather a deeper understanding of Achtung Baby.

It is not yet known whether “Atomic City” will feature on U2’s as of yet unannounced upcoming album, however the band’s guitarist The Edge has created excitement around their new music as he shared with Guitar Player magazine “I’ve been working a lot on new guitar music, and I’m very excited about it. It’s at that prototype stage where … who knows?. I’m finding myself for the first time in a little while getting very excited about the electric guitar again. Maybe it’s something to do with the lockdown, having the time to not do very much.”

The Irish quartet took to the stage for a surprise show in front of the Plaza Hotel in Las Vegas on Saturday 16th September. During the show, the band played a brand new Vegas-themed song, “Atomic City”, and filmed a music video. The band, fronted by Bono, played through the song repeatedly in a downtown area of the Nevada city.

“Atomic City,” is the song, all about #VegasVille … A first look @U2#Vegas#RJNow@reviewjournalpic.twitter.com/OVkPyHNn65

— John Katsilometes (@johnnykats) September 17, 2023

“Atomic City” is set to be released before U2 embark on their upcoming residency at the new MSG Sphere in Las Vegas. The band are scheduled to start their shows at the Sphere, which will be the first shows ever played at the venue, on Friday 29th September.

The upcoming shows are titled “U2:UV Achtung Baby Live At Sphere”, and will see four-piece perform their 1991 album Achtung Baby in full.

Despite being present at the surprise Las Vegas show and music video recording, drummer Larry Mullen Jr is not performing with the band for the first few shows of the residency while he recovers from surgery.

In an interview with the Irish Mirror, bassist Adam Clayton said “The whole band and I’m sure the audience are going to be very sad and miss Larry. He wants to come back, he wants to be able to have a long career and continue his drumming so he’s taking care of those injuries.”

Clayton also explained that whilst the U2 drummer is recovering, Krezip drummer Bram van den Berg will be filling in throughout the first portion of the “U2:UV Achtung Baby Live At Sphere” tour. A decision the band came to together after having Larry Mullen Jr’s blessing.

In addition to the Las Vegas Residency tour, U2 have announced an immersive experience for fans ahead of their upcoming shows.

‘Zoo Station: A U2:UV Experience,’ the immersive fan portal, opens at The Venetian in Las Vegas on September 28.

Explore ‘Achtung Baby’ through interactive experiences – Zoo TV Cinema (curated by The Edge), the Anton Corbijn Gallery, limited-edition merchandise, VIP lounges,… pic.twitter.com/35GlOxw81n

— U2 (@U2) August 30, 2023

Opening on September 28th, “Zoo Station: A U2:UV Experience” is an immersive fan portal designed to help U2 fans to gain a deeper understanding of the Irish rocker’s 7th LP, 1991 acclaimed album Achtung Baby.

Following Songs of Surrender, U2’s acoustic, stripped down project released in March 2023, The Edge has professed an excitement to return to electric guitar. Speaking to Guitar Player on his perspective on electric guitar, he said, “I know the answer to that. I’ve been working a lot on new guitar music, and I’m very excited about it. It’s at that prototype stage where… who knows? But the answer to the question is ‘yes.’ I’m finding myself for the first time in a little while getting very excited about the electric guitar again.”

Aside from sharing an enthusiasm to return to electric guitar-based music, The Edge hasn’t given much away on what fans can expect from the U2’s new work yet. But, speaking on U2’s goal as a band, he shared, “Our challenge was always to get to that guy at the back of the room, somebody who isn’t really a fan or isn’t paying attention.”

Speaking on the thought process behind Songs of Surrender, The Edge said, “There was always an intense pitch to our music early on. So my thought here was, ‘Let’s take minimalism to the nth degree, if it’s appropriate.’ And on a lot of these songs, it worked. We left just the bare skeletons of the original arrangements in terms of themes and hooks, taking things down to a really light touch.”

Despite The Edge giving little away on the band’s musical plans moving forwards, frontman Bono has shared his thoughts on the direction that U2 had been moving in recently, and where they want to go from there.

Bono reflected, “We all make mistakes. The progressive-rock virus gets in, and we needed a vaccine. The discipline of our songwriting, the thing that made U2 — top-line melody, clear thoughts — had gone.”

He continued, “With the band, I was like, this is not what we do, and we can only do that experimental stuff if we have the songwriting chops. So we went to songwriting school, and we’re back and we’re good! Over those two albums, ‘Songs Of Innocence and Experience’, our songwriting returned. Now we need to put the firepower of rock ‘n’ roll back.”

Speaking on his plans for U2’s next rock project, Bono said, “I don’t know who is going to make our fuck-off rock ‘n’ roll album. You almost want an AC/DC, you want Mutt Lange. The approach. The discipline. The songwriting discipline. That’s what we want.”

U2 had been promoting the release of Songs of Ascent, an album that has been in the works since 2009. Bono shared in 2022 that this album is nearly complete, however its release has been put on hold in favour of releasing a “a noisy, uncompromising, unreasonable guitar album” first.

Stream U2’s newest album, Songs of Surrender, here:

The brilliant outcome of the video announcement was portrayed as a Sphere-like UFO, lingering over different cities, which proceeded to snatch random fans of the band whilst playing U2 tunes modestly. The final scene, based in the middle of the desert, appeared to be a baby within the massive screens of the Sphere saying: “There is room for everybody… Achtung”. A clear confirmation what the shows were going to be showcasing, the bands 1991 renowned album Achtung Baby.

This will be U2’s first live tour since 2019. The series is set to be spread out over a number of gigs throughout the Autumn, however, the dates are still to be announced. This is not like any other live show or tour announcement. As well as the band coming back to showcase one of their best albums of all time Achtung Baby, it is the launch of one of the biggest live music and entertainment industry shifts we may come to experience.

The so called MSG Sphere has been in construction since 2019 and, due to covid, has been delayed in its progress so is set to finish this year. It is a 1.9 billion dollar project located just off the Las Vegas strip, east of the Venetian and Palazzo. It will be such a groundbreaking point for the industry because of many factors. It is the largest spherical construction to have ever been built, containing 17,500 seats, standing room for 2,500 guests and 23 VIP suites which comes to a total of a 20,000 person capacity building.

Not only is its spherical structure and immense dimensions an extraordinary insanity, but, the interior screen is said to be larger than the area of three football pitches wrapping around the audience in a circumferential manner and, if that’s not enough to dazzle anyone from their seat, the screen has the highest resolution ever to be seen at 19.000 by 13,500 pixels. To put the latter into context, this means the screen comes in 100 times clearer than the best TV’s in the market to this day. Not to mention, for those who turned out unlucky or unsuccessful in acquiring tickets for the inside experience, the exterior part of the dome will have 60.000 square feet of programmable lighting powered by just as high definition LED lights, making the outside show experience just as spectacular.

The Irish band will be the first to host an event at the MSG Sphere, making it a historical moment for both the band and Las Vegas.

The festival’s lineup and event schedule span an impressive ten days, ticketholders are able to obtain access to a varied offering of events and activities. Representing the music aspect of the festival is an impressive lineup of acts spanning from various genres and eras.

CHELTENHAM LITERATURE FESTIVAL LINE-UP REVEALED

From 7 to 16 October, we’ll be taking over the town for #CheltLitFest

Check out our brochure: https://t.co/Sl7Ve5VqjS

And keep your eyes peeled at 10am when you can head to our website and start creating your wishlist pic.twitter.com/AKZNHSEBWl

— Cheltenham Festivals (@cheltfestivals) August 11, 2022

Billed to appear on the festival’s first day 7th October 2022 is Mel C, the former Spice Girl will be in discussion with Cathy Newman during the Cheltenham Literature Festival. The pair’s back and forth will be live broadcasted via The Ladder, Newman’s Times Radio show. A description of Mel C’s appearance states, “Mel C reveals all about the good and bad times of her fame and life with The Spice Girls in her long-awaited memoir Who I Am: My Story,”

Set to take the stage on 14th October 2022 is Nick Cave, the iconic musician will be speaking with Sean O’Hagan, a journalist for the Observer and a friend of Cave. The creative pair will be discussing their recent collaboration, Faith, Hope and Carnage. The book charts six years of Cave’s life and draws from over 40 hours of interviews between himself and O’Hagen.

Scheduled to be released on 20th September 2022, a synopsis provides further details concerning the book, “Faith, Hope & Carnage promises to be a thoughtful book about Cave’s inner life over the last six years, a meditation on big ideas including, faith, art, music, grief and much more, It is a project prompted by lockdown, and one that sits comfortably alongside Cave’s weekly mailing list The Red Hand Files. It is at once borne of and in some sense a tribute to the stillness – and imperative period of reflection – wrought by a global pandemic.”

The next day on 15th October 2022, British icon Jarvis Cocker will be appearing at the Cheltenham Literature Festival, the former Pulp frontman will be discussing his book and “reveal secrets from his early life in Sheffield”. The singer’s memoir Good Pop, Bad Pop was originally released in 2020 and was named as BBC Radio 4’s Book of the Week. A synopsis of the book states, “From a Gold Star polycotton shirt to a pack of Wrigley’s Extra, from his teenage attempts to write songs to the Sexy Laughs Fantastic Dirty Joke Book, this is the hard evidence of Jarvis’s unique life, Pulp, 20th-century pop culture, the good times and the mistakes he’d rather forget. And this accumulated debris of a lifetime reveals his creative process – writing and musicianship, performance and ambition, style and stagecraft.”

On the festival’s last day 16th October 2022, U2 frontman Bono will make an appearance at the event’s The Times & The Sunday Times forum. During his slot, the “With Or Without You” singer will be discussing and reviewing his upcoming memoir. Entitled Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story, the book has been given a publication date of 1st November 2022 via publishing house Alfred A. Knopf.

Tickets for Cheltenham Literature Festival are not yet available for purchase, Cheltenham Festivals Members will be able to access the sale on 31st August and general ticket release will open on 7th September 2022.

Click here to purchase tickets.