With the performance "tight" and the production "stunning", the world's biggest band get off to a terrific start in Vancouver.
In Bono’s recently broadcast Today FM interview with the late Tony Fenton, recorded when he was still recuperating in his Dublin home following a cycling accident in NYC, the U2 singer spoke about the alchemy of live performance and the “miracle” of rock ‘n’ roll: “These concrete sarcophaguses are parked on the outside of some city [on] industrial wasteland, suddenly become some kind of…Xanadu.” (In fairness, he immediately blamed the painkilling medication he was taking for his use of the word ‘Xanadu’).
The last time U2 played Vancouver was in October 2009, when they finished the first North American leg of 360 in its world class BC Place Stadium. As the record books show, that was the highest-grossing tour of all time, with its 7.2 million tickets bringing in €653 million in sales as the band played to massive stadium audiences of up to 90,000 all around the planet.
Tonight and again tomorrow night they’re playing literally just across the road from BC Place. Situated in the city’s downtown area, and home to the Vancouver Canucks ice hockey team, the 19,000-capacity Rogers Arena is no concrete sarcophagus. In fact, built just twenty years ago, it’s quite a plain but modern-looking building. The hope, however, is that as the venue for the very first of 70 planned shows worldwide on U2’s iNNOCENCE + eEXPERIENCE tour, it will become some kind of Xanadu before the evening is out.
This will actually be the first time U2 have played indoors in over a decade, but while they’ve scaled down the audiences to suit the more intimate feel of the new songs on their thirteenth studio album,Songs of Innocence, their ambition remains as unchecked as ever.
Personally, I’m not overly optimistic that we’re going to witness a band at the height of their powers this evening. Speaking to Hot Press in a local restaurant last night, Bono admitted that he was suffering from sinusitis and finding it hard to hit the high notes. But it’s not just that. Opening nights are often fraught with nerves, teething problems and technical difficulties anyway (this is the band who found themselves stuck in a giant malfunctioning lemon when the Popmart Tour kicked off), but a lot of other stuff has happened to U2 in the long lead-up to this opening show – much of it negative.
First, there was the online brouhaha following their controversial decision to give Songs of Innocence away as a free iTunes download last September. The unexpected backlash – which was ultimately more against the power and dominance of big tech companies like Apple than the four Dubliners themselves – largely distracted the public from the quality of the album itself. It seemed that most people were too busy shouting about invasion of privacy to actually listen to the songs – though given that more than 30 million iTunes customers have since downloaded SOI, the stunt could hardly be considered a failure.
The door falling off Bono’s private plane in mid-air during a flight home from Germany wasn’t anywhere near as serious as the tabloids made out, but it was hardly a good omen. Soon afterwards came the slightly bizarre bicycle crash in Central Park, which left the singer badly injured – he broke his arm in six places, and fractured his eye socket, hand and shoulder blade - and seriously held up rehearsals for this tour.
Bad shit usually happens in threes, but U2 have always gone one better – or worse. The sad news that Larry Mullen Jr’s elderly father had passed away filtered through on Tuesday. Given that the cover of SOI shows the topless drummer holding tightly onto his own son, Elvis, it seemed particularly poignant.
Larry had to fly home to Dublin for the funeral – during his eulogy he sadly quipped, “Nice one on the timing, dad,” – but arrived back in town this morning. This won’t be the first time the band have had to deal with a death in their extended family before a big show: they played a memorable Slane gig in 2001 just a few days after Bono had lost his own father.
Still and all, long one of the most divisive and hard-necked bands in rock ‘n’ roll, it’ll take more than keyboard warriors, malfunctioning aircraft, bike accidents and personal bereavements to stop these guys. Even with a singer who’s part titanium - a situation that would have at least been appropriate during the futuristic Zooropa tour - and a jetlagged, grieving drummer, U2 can be trusted to put on a good show. But will it be a great one?
It’s actually such a beautiful evening in Vancouver that it’s almost a shame this show is indoors. The Rogers Arena is stuffed to capacity and the sense of anticipation is electrifying. There’s no support act. Tonight is all about Bono, Edge, Larry and Adam – and the 19,000 fans here to see them.
Previous tours have featured psychedelically painted Trabant cars, 40-foot mechanical lemons, giant crowd-straddling Sci-Fi Claws, live telephonic link-ups with the International Space Station, and other technical marvels. In very stark contrast, iNNOCENCE + eXPERIENCE opens with a single swinging oversized lightbulb.
They begin with new album opener ‘The Miracle (of Joey Ramone)’, Bono extending the “oh-ooh” group chants at the beginning before Edge’s crunchy guitar riff slams in. “I was chasing down the days of fear,” Bono sings, “chasing down a dream before it disappeared.” His voice seems absolutely fine, and the sound in the arena is good (though, despite the much hyped Sensurround system, it occasionally seems a little muddy later when he talks).
They follow with ‘Out of Control’ – U2’s first ever single and the song the teenage Bono wrote on his guitar after seeing The Ramones play in Dublin. Songs Of Innocence sees the band largely looking back at their Dublin past, and ‘Out Of Control’ is really where it all started. Midway through, Bono takes a sip of water from a bottle and cheekily spits it at Edge. Back in the punk days, he wouldn’t have been spitting Volvic!
He gets an audience member to count in the “uno dos tres catorce” intro to an energetic ‘Vertigo’ and an equally frenetic ‘I Will Follow’ follows that. His stage moves aren’t quite as fluid as they’ve been on earlier tours, but the man did celebrate his 55th birthday the other day. He does seem to have fully physically recovered from the accident, and actually loosens up more and more as the show progresses. With his hair dyed blonde, he reminds me of Dennis Hopper in Blue Velvet for some reason – this stage character seems slightly sleazy, slightly dangerous.
It’s when they play ‘Iris’ (about his late mother) that the scale of the production begins to reveal itself. There are two stages –a large traditional rectangular one for Innocence and a smaller circular one for Experience – with a long walkway connecting them. Hanging overhead is what looks like some kind of massive cage. As ‘Iris’ begins, the ‘cage’ becomes a screen and shows the old footage of Bono’s late mother in a lemon dress that inspired an earlier song about her, ‘Lemon’.
He really only begins to properly engage with the audience with ‘Cedarwood Road’, explaining that “if you can’t look back at your past, you can find yourself stuck in it.” The screens show us an animated facsimile of his childhood bedroom, with a teenage Bono idling around and dreaming of becoming a rock star, and then the suburban streets of Glasnevin.
It’s hard to know where to look. The visuals are so compelling that it takes a while to realise that Bono has walked to the other stage, leaving Edge, Larry and Adam on the other one. The visuals continue as they segue into ‘Song For Someone’…and then you suddenly see that he’s actually inside the cage/screen, walking around the visuals. It truly has to be seen to be believed.
The choreography is jaw-droppingly superb, and continues that way for the rest of the show. These moves have obviously been seriously rehearsed.
Larry walks between the stages aggressively banging a drum at the start of an acoustic version of ‘Sunday Bloody Sunday’. It’s a powerful rendition that sets up the next song nicely. You can sense the hand of Gavin Friday in the montage of RTE News clips about the 1974 bombings, and quite shocking explosions, that introduce ‘Raised By Wolves’ (he has previous form in the bombing department from the In The Name of the Father soundtrack). The song is overtly political anyway, but the visuals here are explicitly calling for justice for the victims of those cowardly car bombings. It’s powerful enough here tonight in Canada, but that message is going to really hit home in Ireland.
‘Until The End of the World’ wraps up the first half of the show. There’s an interval – a first for U2 – during which a short film about punk and the 1970s is shown. Featuring clips of Lou Reed, Johnny Rotten, David Bowie, Phil Lynott, Joe Strummer and others, it’s compelling enough that few in the audience seem to leave for a pint or a piss.
Because of the choreography required with the visuals, the setlist for the first half probably won’t be changing much during the tour (though Gavin Friday was sitting in front of me furiously scribbling notes throughout).
The second half will be more flexible – especially given the vastness of their back catalogue. Of the ten songs they play here tonight, only two are from SOI. There’s a stripped-down ‘Every Breaking Wave’ (to these ears, one of their greatest moments ever) and a haunting version of ‘The Troubles’ that sees an onscreen Lykke Li doing the backing vocals.
Otherwise, it’s a hop, skip and jump through their impressive back catalogue: ‘Invisible’, ‘Even Better Than The Real Thing’, ‘Mysterious Ways’, Desire’, ‘Bullet The Blue Sky’, and ‘Pride’ all get an airing. There’s no ‘Bad’, and the only sign of ‘One’ is a spooky snippet of a Stephen Hawking spoken-word version that’s incorporated into the intro to the first song of the encore, ‘City of Blinding Lights’.
I can’t seriously fault iNNOCENCE + eXPERIENCE. This was the opening night and, with a lot going against them, the band seriously delivered. It was very much a Bono show (I don’t think another member uttered a single word), but the performance was tight and the overall production absolutely stunning. The Rogers Arena didn’t quite become Xanadu, but it was still a very pleasurable dome. Once U2 get a few more shows under their belt, it’s really going to catch fire.
I’m beyond impressed. They’ve done it again. The keyboard warriors will be incensed…
SET LIST
FIRST HALF
‘The Miracle (Of Joey Ramone)’
‘Out Of Control’
‘Vertigo’
‘I Will Follow’
‘Iris’
‘Cedarwood Road’
‘Song For Someone’
‘Sunday Bloody Sunday’
‘Raised by Wolves’
‘Until The End Of The World’
SECOND HALF
‘Invisible’
‘Even Better Than The Real thing’
‘Mysterious Ways’
‘Desire’
‘The Sweetest Thing’
‘Every Breaking Wave’
‘Bullet The Blue Sky’
‘Pride’
‘The Troubles’
‘With Or Without You’
ENCORE
‘City of Blinding Lights’
‘Beautiful Day’
‘Where The Streets Have No Name’
‘Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For’
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Ahead of the next U2 gigs this weekend, read about Olaf Tyaransen's slightly awkward backstage encounter with Bono and the boys at Paris's exclusive Man Ray Club.
Read More They came from all over the world to see U2 in 3Arena: Here's just a taste of the fans who got to enjoy one of iNNOCENCE + eXPERIENCE TOUR's most incredible nights!
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In the run up to their Irish sojourn, The Edge spoke to Hot Press in an exclusive interview, in which the U2 guitarist gave an extraordinary insight into the band's meticulous approach to their Irish shows, talks openly about the state of the music industry, the bad luck that seemed to stalk the band at the start of the tour cycle and the benefits of that Apple deal - as well as the rise of Donald Trump and repealing the 8th amendment.
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Whoever was privy to U2's gig last night must have been in awe of the incredible show the band put on this time. The designer Willie Williams lifts the lid on conjuring up one of the most captivating shows of the band's career.
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It was a very special sort of homecoming...
Read More Following the tragic events in the French capital 10 days ago, the band were forced to cancel two shows on their iNNOCENCE + eXPERIENCE tour; now, they've announced the new dates for the gigs
Read More The announcement by U2 that €2million from their Irish concerts would be donated to the educational intuitive Music Generation has been followed with a €1million commitment from The Ireland Funds.
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While the countdown to their 3Arena shows is in full swing, we occasionally like to look back at where our fantastic four came from - and some never-seen-before shots in the current issue of Hot Press bring the memories flooding back
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At the SSE Arena in Belfast tonight, Bono, Adam, Larry and the Edge were in scintillating form, mixing classic U2 hits with tracks from the acclaimed Songs of Innocence. But the ultimate show-stopping moment was their performance of ‘Raise By Wolves’. And relax: there was no riot... Report: Edwin McFee
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Barney blew with all its might, but nothing could compare to the hurricane that stormed through Belfast’s SSE Arena tonight. For the first time in almost two decades, U2 were back in town.
Read More The U2 man has spoken of the "direct hit on music" following the mass shootings at the Eagles Of Death Metal gig
Read More The band say they're "devastated by the loss of life"
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As the iNNOCENCE + eXPERIENCE tour finally approaches Irish shores, it's time to once again celebrate U2 - not just the best of Irish, but the greatest rock band in the world.
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In our U2 Special Collectors’ Issue, long-time sound whizz for the quartet reveals some of the secrets of their state-of-the-art show, and explains the challenges of breaking down barriers to create something never seen before
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In today's Hot Press we speak to Edge before the Irish shows and he confirms that work on Songs Of Experience is gathering apace
Read More The new Hot Press (out now) is a Special Collectors’ Edition looking forward to the touchdown of U2’s Songs Of iNNOCENCE + eXPERIENCE tour in Belfast and Dublin.
Read More Former Lord Mayor of Belfast Jim Rodgers had wanted them to drop the song from the SSE Arena set
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Ahead of the band's glorious Irish homecoming, we're celebrating our Fab Four in the new issue of Hot Press, where Olaf Tyaransen talks to Edge and a galaxy of stars celebrate our very own rock gods
Read More In his now-traditional interview with Larry Gogan.
Read More There have been big changes in the show between the opening date of U2’s Innocence + Experience tour in Vancouver, and last night’s show in London.
Read More Their "Experience Bus" at a recent London show allowed you to immerse yourself in 'Song For Someone'.
Read More Fans were treated to double-handed versions of 'I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For' & 'All You Need Is Love'
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Bono's thrilled with recent live reviews, while The Edge promises that immortality will be invented in 27 years...
Read More The band are performing two songs this week on the Chris Evans reboot
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The band’s Swedish appearances may have been disrupted by a security alert, but they turned in four blistering performances in Stockholm, which underlined their status as the greatest rock ’n' roll band on the planet. PHOTO: J. Lundgren
Read More It was back to rock 'n' roll business last night in The Globen
Read More Fans had to be evacuated from the packed Globen arena last night
Read More Tickets appear on online reselling sites with an eye-watering mark-up
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No cash will be accepted for general admission tickets for U2’s upcoming shows in 3Arena, Dublin and the SSE Arena, Belfast...
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Olaf Tyaransen looks forward to the appearance of U2 at 3Arena in Dublin and SSE Arena in Belfast.
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Looking at the various schedules, we're reckoning on a November 22 kick-off in the 3Arena
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Adam, Bono, Edge and Larry have done New York! Rowan Stokes was there the night they were joined by Lady Gaga, in what was a triumphant run of shows, in the heart of the Big Apple...
Read More It really was a beautiful meeting of musical minds!
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Last night Lady Gaga teamed up with U2 for their Madison Square Gardens residency show to perform a duet of their song 'Ordinary Love'
Read More First shows of Madison Square Garden residency wows Big Apple
Read More "Just go if you have the cash," implores the Boston Herald
Read More The 'Song For Someone' promo seriously tugs at the heartstrings!
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Long-time tour manager was found dead hours before LA Forum performance
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The death of the former Led Zeppelin tour manager has rocked the music world. "He was a legend," said Bono...
Read More The U2 singer declared on Saturday: "On this very day we have true equality in Ireland."
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It was the beginning of a long year’s journey into night. Here, Olaf Tyaransen reflects on what U2 mean to him – and how the portents are increasingly positive for the iNNOCENCE + eXPERIENCE tour
Read More ...But the U2 guitarist has shown the world his nasty bruise.
Read More U2 kick off world tour in Rogers Arena, Vancouver
Read More We've some early shots and the setlist from the recent action in Rogers Arena.
Read More The band will also be using three stages, to ensure that all ticket-holders can participate fully in the iNNOCENCE + eXPERIENCE. From Olaf Tyaransen, in Vancouver…
Read More And on Same Sex Marriage Referendum, Bono says: “As far as I know, Jesus was never married."
Read More The U2 singer speaks out on the forthcoming same-sex marriage referendum.
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The band were in top form last night as they returned to US network TV
Read More Unsuspecting New York commuters stumbled up Bono, The Edge, Larry, Adam and Jimmy at the start of their work week.
Read More In a wide-ranging, engaging interview, the U2 frontman told Tony Fenton about his hopes for Dublin shows: "Let's do something we're not going to do anywhere else in the world."
Read More Bono speaks about his desire to play Dublin in a pre-recorded interview with the late Tony Fenton aired today, but nothing concrete has been put in place.
Read More You could be heading to Vancouver to catch the Dublin band kick off their tour in Vancouver.
Read More U2 are releasing a 2 x 12", 6,000 limited-edition Deluxe version of Age Of Innocence as their contribution to Record Store Day 2015 on April 18.
Read More What our team of critics made of the records in the running for Irish Album Of The Year 2014.
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New video features footage from Irish filmmaker Aoife McArdle's short film of the same name, depicting a love story set in Northern Ireland during The Troubles
Read More Minister Jan O'Sullivan announces four new ventures to receive funding
Read More Bill Clinton, Daniel Day Lewis, Neil Jordan and Gabriel Byrne are also involved with the Bono-inspired Sons+Fathers.
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Choice cut from Songs of Innocence grabs top spot in our end-of-year poll The release of Songs of Innocence may have caused a storm at the time, but now that the dust has settled, the quality of U2’s newest LP is clear for all to see.
Read More New dates added in North America and Europe...but Irish fans left waiting
Read More And those U2 Films Of Innocence vids just keep on coming!
Read More The videos from U2's Films Of Innocence have been hitting the 'net, and fab looking they are too!
Read More Guitarist compares the singer's injuries to those following a car crash, but says "he's doing OK"
Read More Special Dublin shows are also being planned for the end of next year...
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Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, Coldplay's Chris Martin and Kanye West were in the supporting cast in World AIDS Day celebration...
Read More Adam Clayton, The Edge and Larry Mullen Jr. will be joined by Bruce Springsteen and Coldplay’s Chris Martin at a special gig to celebrate World AIDS Day in Times Square in New York - live from 12.20 am Irish Time.
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“This year is a World AIDS Day like no other,” says Bono. But his injuries will prevent the singer from performing at U2’s planned celebration in New York, that will also star Chris Martin, as well as Kanye West and Carrie Underwood...
Read More Artists have been commissioned to create 11 films inspired by Songs Of Innocence.
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U2 frontman narrowly avoids fatal accident on private jet...
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When U2 released their latest album Songs of Innocence free on iTunes, it sparked a furious and often heated debate. But after 30 million downloads and close to 100 million listens, the attention is finally shifting to the music. On the way to a TV show in Germany, Hot Press caught up with Adam, Bono, Edge and Larry...
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Anti-corruption legislation, that forces oil companies to declare how much was paid for mining rights, required Irish government support to get through...
Read More Adam Clayton's former PA Carol Hawkins has seen her appeal against the severity of her prison sentence rejected by the Court of Criminal Appeal this morning.
Read More U2 are to join house band The Roots for a week of The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon appearances, kicking off on Monday November 17.
Read More Our trip down memory lane continues, we find our current cover stars revitalised at the turn of the century.
Read More The U2 singer says he is unfazed by the controversy over Songs of Innocence.
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When U2 released their latest album Songs of Innocence, it was the subject of heated controversy. While the arguments aren't over yet, the attention is gradually turning to the music...
Read More We go back in time to 1981 and find our current cover stars ready to storm America.
Read More Bono, Larry, Adam and The Edge open up from a private jet, and that's just the start...
Read More When Songs of Innocence – and its unorthodox release – became the biggest story in music, it served as reminder that U2 remain the biggest band on planet rock.
Read More “The idea that we trousered 100 million is ridiculous,” the guitarist tells Olaf Tyaransen
Read More High entries for Slipknot and Ben Howard, but they haven't outsold the Irish.
Read More If you weren’t glued to your telly screen last night, here’s U2 tearing it up on Later… With Jools Holland.
Read More The Irish band got top billing tonight, in a stellar cast that also included Sam Smith and Interpol.
Read More Following their comprehensive nailing of ‘The Miracle (Of Joey Ramone)’ and ‘Song For Someone’ last weekend on the Graham Norton Show, U2 join Interpol, Zola Jesus, Dave & Phil Alvin and Sam Smith tonight at 11.35am on Later… With Jools Holland.
Read More It's a colourfully saturated, retro, VHS-style offering from the Irish rock icons.
Read More The U2 frontman admits to "a drop of megalomania" in giving away Songs Of Innocence to every iTunes user.
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To celebrate the physical release today in Ireland of U2's Songs Of Innocence, we're giving away four copies of the extremely sexy looking 2 x 12" white vinyl limited-edition that we unwrapped this morning on hotpress.com...
Read More Apple have revealed that in addition to it automatically appearing in libraries, 26 million iTunes users have actively downloaded Songs Of Innocence with 81 million ‘experiencing’ the album through iTunes, iTunes Radio and Beats Music.
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Hot Press' Stuart Clark unwraps the stunning vinyl album of 'Songs of Innocence' by U2.
Read More U2 are being lined-up for the October 21 and 24 editions of Later… With Jools Holland.
Read More Collaboration with Lykke Li soundtracks teaser for Season 5
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Bono confirms the band will be scaling back for their live dates next year.
Read More Well known Dublin band are back with a crash, bang and wallop...
Read More The U2 frontman says that the blogosphere is enough to put you off democracy, in an exclusive interview with the renowned RTE presenter.
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"Joey would have been honoured," drummer Marky Ramone says of lead single 'The Miracle (Of Joey Ramone)'.
Read More The two Irish superstars have been throwing around ideas for some years now.
Read More iTunes users now have the option to delete Songs Of Innocence from their accounts.
Read More U2 manager Gus Oseary has spoken to American trade magazine Billboard about their $100 million deal with Apple.
Read More There’s been an avalanche of reaction to U2 taking us all unawares, with the release of their Songs Of Innocence album.
Read More Former U2 manager Paul McGuinness has spoken to Irish national radio station Newstalk about the surprise unleashing yesterday of Songs Of Innocence.
Read More There may have been rumours, but U2 still took the world by surprise with what is one of rock’s biggest ever coups...
Read More Rumours of music video shoots in Dublin that were really iPhone commercials have been dispelled.
Read More There is also speculation that the band will participate in the iTunes music festival in London.
Read More Times aren’t too hard for U2 with the Sunday Times Rich List suggesting that the chaps are collectively worth £428 million.
Read More U2 have officially denied reports that they’ve pushed back the release of their new album to 2015 and claims that surfaced in certain tabloids that they’re on the verge of splitting.
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Top of the Rock, the band were on hand to welcome Jimmy Fallon to The Tonight Show.
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U2’s ‘Invisible’ managed to notch up over three million downloads during the 24-hour period it was available for free, which the Bank of America matched by donating over $3 million to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
Read More The U2 frontman on Ramones and Kraftwerk influences on their new album, working with Danger Mouse and how he fears his band are "on the verge of irrelevance".
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You have up until 5am on Tuesday to get yourself a free iTunes download copy of U2’s ‘Invisible’, which was teaser trailered during this morning’s Superbowl half-time ad break.
Read More We'll get our first taste of 'Invisible' during an ad break, after which free iTunes downloads of the single will raise money for charity.
Read More There was excitement – then much head scratching last night among the U2 community when Dave Fanning announced on his 2fm show “I’m going to give you something now, a brand new, first time play which is from U2. This song here, will it be on the album? Just a blast! Brand new, ‘Invisible.’”
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Last night turned out to be an extremely good one for U2 with the chaps picking up a Best Original Song Golden Globe with ‘Ordinary Love’.
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Here the Grammy-winning producer's take on 'Ordinary Love'.
Read More 'Original Love', penned for Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom, is up for Best Original Song.
Read More The four members of U2 have signed a statement which formalises the beginning of their new deal with Live Nation
Read More With the country understandably gripped by sick rugby-related parotdom, we thought we’d try and cheer you up with the world’s finest karaoke ensemble – Chic plus Bono
Read More The song is taken from the band’s recent sessions with Danger Mouse and will feature in the upcoming film Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.
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Team Hot Press is proud to announce North Side Story, a limited-edition book we’ve produced for the good folk at U2.com...
Read More We are loving Jenny & Tyler’s gorgeous cover of U2’s ‘I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For’, which also features Sara Gloves.
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'Ordinary Love' has been penned for a new biopic on the inspiring South African statesman.
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Amnesty International has announced the early November release of a 2-CD, 6-DVD box-set celebrating 25-years of their Human Rights Now benefit gigs.
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The Irish stars join Amnesty International in calling for the two jailed members to be released...
Read More Bono and Co. will perform Aslan's 'This Is' for audiences worldwide on Friday June 21
Read More It’s in aid of the agit8 campaign, which is calling on western leaders to help end extreme poverty by 2030.
Read More Toronto Globe & Mail music journalist Brad Wheeler has been tweeting about the interview he’s just conducted with Daniel Lanois.
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You can also catch David Gray, Gabriella Cilmi and The Magic Numbers going acoustic for Africa.
Read More The Department of Education are to start helping fund the Music Generation project, which U2 and The Ireland Funds have bankrolled to the tune of €7 million since 2007.
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Carol Hawkins, the former personal assistant to Adam Clayton of U2, has been found guilty of stealing almost €3 million from him.
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A stripped down 'Original Of The Species' appears on thew new Every Mother Counts 2012 compilation.
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They’ll be recreating the infamous Achtung Baby cover design with sixteen winning entries…
Read More The sound of four men chopping down the joshua tree - over then discs!
Read More It's part of a 20th Anniversary Achtung Baby tribute compilation.
Read More From The Sky Down will be shown on BBC One this Sunday, October 9.
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Check out a sneak peak of From The Sky documentary which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival last week.
Read More According to a statement made to The Mirror Bono is in good health, despite recent press stories to the contrary.
Read More Contrary to reports in the Irish Independent this morning Bono says he did not suffer a heart scare while in the South of France.
Read More The investment vehicle involving Bono has seen the value of their Facebook stake increase dramatically.
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Plus your chance to finally see the world through Bono's eyes.
Read More A further big screen outing for Bono and the boys is in store.
Read More The alien-like works of art are set to live on!
Read More Broadway musical triumphs over adversity
Read More Meanwhile, there's the small matter of tonight's Glasto headliner!
Read More Louth, Mayo and Sligo set to receive up to €1.6 million in funding over three years from U2 and Ireland Funds supported venture
Read More The record was beaten last night in Brazil.
Read More As they hit the road on a major stateside tour, U2 had left the memories of those first rehearsals in Larry Mullen’s kitchen far behind. Here we present an intoxicating trip down memory lane. By Bill Graham, April 5, 1981
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Over 98,000 people watched their gig last night in the FNB Stadium.
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U2 brought their high octane show to Brussels for two nights to make amends for skipping them the last time around
Read More According to Paul McGuinness, it's likely to land in early 2011.
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Bono and the boys rocked the foundations of the famous city and our man was there to catch the best bits
Read More The band went on to play a blinder in the Luzhniki stadium.
Read More Paul McGuinness talks to Hot Press after U2’s triumphant Turin show.
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Hot Press talks to Paul McGuinness minutes after their Turin show.
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The penultimate gig from the groundbreaking tour last year saw U2 making history on a number of fronts
Read More U2 have however been forced to cancel their Glastonbury headliner & postpone 16 US dates.
Read More Only one of them will be happening before June!
Read More U2360°At The Rose Bowl is due in June and features a host of extras.
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Through ten years of extraordinary turbulence, other contenders have squared up to U2 – but the Irish four-piece have seen them all off to retain their crown as the biggest, and millions would agree the best, band in the world.
Read More The band's trans-Atlantic exploits earned them $108 million in 2009.
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‘Stranded (Haiti Mon Amour)’ will be available soon for iTunes download.
Read More U2, Jay-Z & Rihanna are collaborating on a tie-in single.
Read More It Might Get Loud, the movie featuring Edge, Jimmy Page and Jack White, got its first Irish airing last night at the IFC in Dublin – to a hugely positive reaction.
Read More U2 have yet again claimed first place in Fanning’s Fab 50 on RTÉ 2fm, with the extraordinary 'One' – which first appeared on the Achtung Baby album, and has since gone on to become U2's most popular and enduring song.
Read More No Line On The Horizon and ‘I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight’ are both up for awards!
Read More With the crowd having waited patiently through snow, rain and wind on a bitterly cold Berlin night, U2’s arrival on stage was greeted with joy and jubilation.
Read More U2 will headline the Pyramid Stage on Friday night (June 25) at Glastonbury 2010.
Read More U2 played an electrifying mini-set to an audience of 10,000 at Brandenburger Tor (Brandenburg Gate) this evening, to mark the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Read More U2 will perform a free show at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin to mark the 20th anniversary of the tearing down of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
Read More It's taking place in the early hours of Monday morning.
Read More They've also announced more European tour dates.
Read More The economy may be swirling down the plughole, but Ireland has a rich history of entrepreneurship. We need to build on this.
Read More US university to host a conference on 'U2:The Hype and The Feedback'
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In rock terms, that's what U2 are, having successfully defended their crown against all-comers since The Joshua Tree crashed to No.1 in the US in 1987.
Read More They came from the four corners to see U2 at Croke Park. Our reviewer caught the opening night of the 360º tour’s Irish leg.
Read More U2 pitch up to Croke Park for the final night of their Dublin jaunt with a little help from fellow locals The Script and Bell X1
Read More Bono and the lads are back in Croke Park for the second night of their 360 Tour visit to Dublin
Read More Bono and co play the first of three nights on the banks of the Royal Canal...
Read More Some of the many faces that travelled from all corners of the globe to see U2 play a triumphant hometown gig
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The party's taking place in New York in October.
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The current issue of Hot Press includes an exclusive interview with The Edge in which he talks about meeting Michael Jackson, the singer's death, criticism of U2 in Ireland, blogging and the controversy over U2’s carbon footprint. He also gives a unique insider’s view of how U2’s 360º Tour works.
Read More The opening night of a U2 tour can be fraught with peril. But in the Camp Nou in Barcelona tonight they exorcised the demons of previous tours and started on a winning note. Report: Olaf Tyaransen
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They have just been confirmed to play on Kenny's last show
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Already all over the Irish airwaves, U2's 'Magnificent' track will be the second single from their recent No.1 album.
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As predicted by Hot Press, U2 have confirmed a third date in Croke Park this July.
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As U2 gear up for the release of No Line On The Horizon, they meet HP to talk about the creation of their latest masterwork, meeting world leaders, the way they’re perceived in Ireland, the current state of the music business and their future plans.
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...so says School of Seven Bells frontman Benjamin Curtis, as he recounts how he was given a sneak listen to the No Line On The Horizon by his mates Edge and Bono.
Read More As their album reaches the No.1 spot in the UK and Ireland, U2 have announced details of their 360° Tour, which is being sponsored by Blackberry.
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Paul McGuinness has been talking to Hot Press about the imminent announcement of U2’s world tour, which is likely to include three Croke Park stop-offs in July.
Read More RTÉ 2FM's Larry Gogan will play his recent interview with U2 drummer Larry Mullen this Sunday.
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It's a taxing life being a rock star – as The Edge talks to Hot Press about the controversy over U2's tax situation.
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HMV's social networking site getcloser.com are asking U2 fans to vote online for what they think is the band's best song.
Read More Hot Press was granted unique access to U2, interviewing all four members as they rehearsed for their recent Brit Awards appearance. They talk about No Line On The Horizon, how they're viewed in Ireland, the current state of the music business and more...
Read More Fans will be able to get hold of No Line On The Horizon within minutes of its Irish release.
Read More The boys are playing a five-night residency on the Letterman show.
Read More The No Line On The Horizon title-track gets its world premiere on the rock station on Thursday.
Read More The video for U2’s new single, 'Get On Your Boots', will be premiered today on U2.com, with a television premiere on RTÉ’s Six One News.
Read More U2's new single 'Get On Your Boots' has shot straight to No.1 in the Irish airplay charts.
Read More U2 have confirmed the cover artwork & track-listing of their No Line On The Horizon album.
Read More The Garda Fraud Squad investigate online ticket scam
Read More There's plenty of exciting Irish releases to look forward to in the coming months, including new records from U2, The Answer, Laura Izibor and more...
Read More The new U2 album is to be called No Line On The Horizon, and is due for release next March.
Read More U2, The Clash and Elbow have joined War Child's Heroes project to raise money for children living in the world's most dangerous war zones.
Read More Hot Press is delighted to bring you this peek at U2 applying the finishing touches to their new album in London.
Read More The group took part in the effort to raise £500,000 on Monday at a fundraiser in London for Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy and the BRIT School.
Read More U2 are to receive 1.56 million shares worth around $18.5 million in American concert promoters Live Nation Inc.
Read More U2’s tour manager Dennis Sheehan has been selected for this year's prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award by the Parnelli Awards Board of Directors.
Read More Following on from Bono's comments that 2009 will be their year, it's confirmed: there will definitely be no new U2 album this year.
Read More Bono has been talking up the new U2 album, which appears to have been pushed back to early 2009.
Read More Hot Press understands that there’s absolutely no concern in the U2 camp over four tracks from the band’s new album which leaked onto YouTube over the weekend.
Read More U2's Live At Red Rocks DVD and the Under A Blood Red Sky album will now get the re-release treatment on September 26.
Read More The U2 reissue onslaught continues with a digitally overhauled version of their 1983 live album, Under A Blood Red Sky, out here on September 20.
Read More Coldplay's Viva La Vida is likely to see the end of its current reign at the top of the Irish charts as U2 release re-mastered versions of their classic albums Boy, October and War.
Read More U2 fans are going to have to do some serious shelling out over the next few weeks if they want to keep their collections up to date.
Read More U2 manager Paul McGuinness has been dropping hints about the release of the new U2 album, which is provisionally planned for October.
Read More U2 have announced details of the bonus tracks gracing the Deluxe format version of their Boy, October and War album, which is out in July.
Read More U2 soundman Joe O’Herlihy has revealed that following a stint in Dublin’s Windmill Lane Studios, the band are set to do some warm weather recording overseas.
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U2 producer Daniel Lanois has been talking about the recording of the band's new album, which resumes this week in Dublin’s Windmill Lane studio.
Read More Well, some of the time! U2 3D has just hit the screens and it takes our appreciation of Bono and the boys into another dimension.
Read More U2 manager Paul McGuinness has expressed interest in the band playing in London's O2 Arena this autumn.
Read More 1,200 people packed into Park City, Utah’s Eccles Theater last night for the world premiere of 'U23D'.
Read More Get out your calendars and mark these dates, as we give you the run-down of the key albums due to hit shelves in 2008.
Read More 3D-equipped cinemas are to show the new U2 concert film 'U2 3D' beginning on February 22.
Read More U2 have set a date for the release of their 3D concert film 'U2 3D'.
Read More Paul McGuinness has revealed that there are more U2 remasters in the pipeline.
Read More U2's manager Paul McGuinness is to be interviewed on Dublin's Phantom 105.2 this Sunday as part of a special programme looking back at the band's Joshua Tree album.
Read More U2 have quashed rumours of a residency in London's O2 Arena next year.
Read More For many people it is U2's greatest album. Twenty years on, to mark it's re-release, Colm O'Hare talks to Daniel Lanois and reflects on the extraordinary background to a monumental album.
Read More Previously unreleased U2 track 'Wave Of Sorrow,' which will be included in the new re-issue of The Joshua Tree, is now available online through iLike.com
Read More U2 have discussed the details of never-before heard tracks to be included on the forthcoming deluxe edition re-release of their 'Joshua Tree' album.
Read More U2's classic album 'The Joshua Tree' is set for a re-release to mark its 20th anniversary.
Read More Legendary producer and musician Daniel Lanois has revealed that big strides are being taken in the recording of U2's new album.
Read More U2 are set to feature prominently in Here Is What Is, a new fly-on-the-studio-wall documentary that’s been put together by their long-time confidante Daniel Lanois.
Read More According to well-placed sources the world’s highest-paid supermodel, Gisele Bundchen, has agreed to star in the video for the next U2 single – whenever and whatever that is.
Read More There are plans to release U2’s Mexico PopMart concert from 1997 on DVD later this year.
Read More When fans were asked to choose a theme song for Hilary Clinton's Presidential campaign, it seems U2 didn't quite cut it.
Read More In time for our birthday issue, The Edge talks exclusively to Peter Murphy about 30 years of Ireland's premier music mag, and reveals that they're working on a "project" rather than a new album.
Read More U2 are back in Dublin following a songwriting sojourn in the medieval Moroccan city of Fez.
Read More Fans and festival folk heading to see the world premiere of U2 3D at Cannes Film Fest got more than expected when the world's most famous Irishmen played an impromptu set on the red carpet.
Read More Iconic memorabilia belonging to Bono and The Edge helped to raise €1.8 million in an auction to benefit musicians left with nothing after Hurricane Katrina.
Read More U2 stars Bono and The Edge are in negotiations to write the score for a new musical on Spiderman.
Read More Turning 30 has made Hot Press feel a bit geriatric, but we’re mere kids compared to Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, which celebrates its 40th birthday this year.
Read More Fans can get a close-up look at The Edge’s 1975 Gibson Les Paul from April 3 to 6 when it goes on display in Dublin’s Clarence Hotel.
Read More The much-anticipated results of the HOTPRESS Readers’ Poll are announced in the new issue published Thursday, January 25.
Read More A speech by Bono at a 2005 White House conference on extreme poverty and AIDS in Africa is to be published in book form.
Read More The world's biggest band finished their tour with a little help from their friends.
Read More U2, Paul McCartney and Robbie Williams and other notables have called for a change to extend the length that copyright laws apply.
Read More Niall Stokes draws on his best-selling book Into The Heart: The Stories Behind The Songs Of U2 to offer a unique insight into the way in which some of the greatest songs in the history of popular music came into being.
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U2 have won their legal battle against their former stylist, Lola Cashman.
Read More 'The Saints Are Coming', the new single by U2 and Green Day, has debuted at No.1 in Ireland.
Read More The next issue of Hot Press, out on Thursday November 16, finds Ireland’s most fortnightly magazine celebrating the release of U2 18 Singles.
Read More Demons for new technology that they are, U2 are planning to release a 3-D Vertigo concert film, which will premiere next year.
Read More With the publication of U2 By U2, the band have finally got to tell the story of their success from their own perspective. It’s got some great pictures too.
Read More U2 have announced that after 26 years they're to part with Island Records, though they're now moving to another subsidiary of Universal.
Read More A lucky 250 U2 fans got the chance to meet their idols at a book signing in Eason's on O'Connell Street yesterday (September 24). View our photo gallery direct from Dublin 1.
Read More U2 manager Paul McGuinness has broken the band's silence about the decision to move their financial operations to the Netherlands. The decision inspired considerable criticism in Ireland, notably from the Labour spokesman on Finance, Joan Burton TD. In an interview that will appear in the new edition of Hot Press, McGuinness defends the band's position in a strongly worded statement of the underlying logic.
Read More U2 are set to follow in the Rolling Stones’ steps by transferring the music publishing wing of their operation to the Netherlands.
Read More Bono has revealed that U2 are planning to start work on a new album.
Read More America’s ESPN cable sports network has enlisted U2’s help to promote its live World Cup coverage.
Read More They've accomplished more than many other bands but until now there was still one field not yet tackled by U2- the western theme song.
Read More Those left disappointed with the postponment of the band's last dates for the Vertigo tour will be glad to know that they're busy rescheduling the concerts.
Read More U2 have been forced to pull out of the last shows of their Veritgo world tour.
Read More Irish rockers U2 cleaned up at the Grammys in Los Angeles last night, winning gongs in all five of the categories for which they were nominated.
Read More The Meteor Awards took place in Dublin last night and U2 were the clear winners, winning in all three categories they were nominated in.
Read More Bono was on hand today as a new initiative to fight HIV and AIDS was announced at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland.
Read More The Brazilian contingent of U2's global following were left disgruntled after the allocation of tickets for their Sao Paolo show descended into chaos.
Read More The nominations for the 2006 Brit Awards have been announced, and it's no surprise that U2 are waving the Irish flag.
Read More The US's Billboard magazine have charted U2's as the highest grossing tour of 2005.
Read More U2 have been honoured with an accolade from campaign group Amnesty International.
Read More Monday night saw Bono paying tribute to Mo Mowlam at a remembrance event for the former Northern Ireland Secretary in London’s Drury Lane Theatre.
Read More Irish rock gods U2 have confirmed their first dates for next year's Vertigo 2006, now that Vertigo 2005 has nearly run its course.
Read More The Edge is spearheading an initiative to supply instruments to Gulf Coast musicians displaced by Hurricane Katrina.
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Bono has given his blessing to a Mary J. Blige cover of ‘One’.
Read More Hot Press is delighted to bring you this sneak preview of the Vertigo 2005 – U2 Live From Chicago cover artwork.
Read More U2 have hit out at former first lady Hilary Clinton after it was revealed that she is using their Washington concert as an opportunity to fundraise for the Democrat Party.
Read More As if they didn't have enough achievements under their belt already, U2 are to be the first muscial guests to 'take over' the prestigious Late Show With Conan O'Brien in the US.
Read More U2 have confirmed ‘All Because Of You’ as the fourth single to be lifted from their Vertigo album.
Read More In one of the starriest line-ups we've seen since Live 8, celebs and artists led by U2 are rallying together to raise money for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. A special telethon will be aired on all six US networks as well as Sky One tonight.
Read More U2 are to be honoured by the Portugeuse government this weekend when the Vertigo tour stops off in Lisbon.
Read More Glastonbury organiser Michael Eavis has described U2 as “blighters” after the band rejected an offer to play at the 2005 festival.
Read More Costs have been awarded against U2’s former stylist Lola Cashman in a hearing at the Dublin Circuit Civil Court today.
Read More In what is almost certainly an all-time record, U2 currently have no less than eleven albums in the Irish Top 75, as compiled by IRMA.
Read More U2 have won their court battle with former stylist Lola Cashman over tour memorbilia and clothing they claim she stole while employed by the band during their Joshua Tree world tour in 1987. The verdict was announced this morning (Tuesday July 5) to a packed Dublin Circuit Civil Court by Mr Justice Matthew Deery. Neither Ms Cashman nor members of U2 were present to hear the verdict.
Read More "Tonight it’s impossible to resist the tune’s Spielbergian scale.House lights full on, Mr Hewson looks like he’s being borne up by 80,000 voices."
Read More The stage times for the three Dublin shows have been announced
Read More Steve Lillywhite, who produced U2's first three albums – and has featured on the production team of almost all of their records – looks back over the band's career and recalls the highs... and the lows
Read More There could be no better illustration of how U2 have become global icons. Kick-starting the European leg of their Vertigo tour in Brussels’ King Baudouin Stadium on June 10, the old anti-sectarian favourite ‘Sunday Bloody Sunday’ electrified the crowd like no other. Here, however, it had been transformed from its original intent as a plea to end bloodshed in Northern Ireland into a hymn for religious harmony among the ‘sons of Abraham’ – Christians, Jews and Muslims.
Read More Tickets for U2's concerts in London and Manchester are now available online
Read More U2 have been talking about revisiting their album Pop, which Bono says is "not what it was intended to be"
Read More U2 have confirmed that they will not be playing a fourth date in Dublin
Read More Chicago fans took a double-take recently when U2 played 'Vertigo' twice during their set
Read More ‘City Of Blinding Lights’ is the next cab off the Vertigo rank
Read More U2 have added a third Dublin date to their Vertigo world tour
Read More Backcombed bouffants, mullets and white boy Afros. No, we’re not talking about The A – Z Of Really Bad Haircuts, but the new Anton Corbijn photo-book, U2 & I, which serves up a pictorial history of the band from February 1982 (New Orleans) to April 2004 (Portugal). Pictures supplied courtesy of Anton Corblin/ U2 & I published by Schirmmer/Mosel
Read More Dateline San Diego, March 28th: with seven songs from their world-beating Vertigo album in the set, on the opening night of their world tour, it quickly became clear that – the occasional glitch notwithstanding – U2 have re-imagined their live set with remarkable success. Tara McCarthy asks: how do they do it?
Read More With band currently involved in rehearsals in Canada, U2 manager Paul McGuinness (and an eavesdropping fan with super hearing) has revealed some details of what's in store...
Read More HarperCollins have unveiled a microsite to prime U2 fans for their new book, U2 By U2
Read More U2 was inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in a memorable ceremony held in New York
Read More As U2 get ready to launch their Vertigo World Tour in San Diego, a whole gaggle – or should that be whoop? – of Irish artists have covered their songs on the Today FM supported Even Better Than The Real Thing.
Read More A Bono aid says that the singer has no intention of taking over from James Wolfensohn as the leader of the World Bank.
Read More Next month sees U2 inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in New York
Read More U2 got their fair share of limelight at last night's Grammy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles
Read More Today FM listeners have voted U2's 'One' as the Best Irish Song From The Past 25 Years
Read More Anton Corbijn's long-awaited photography book U2&I is now available for fans to purchase
Read More U2.com has posted "An Open Letter From Larry Mullen" in which the drummer addresses both "long-time U2 fans" and "so-called U2 fans"...
Read More When presale tickets for the U2 tour went on sale, the demand far exceeded the supply – and the technology wasn’t up to it!
Read More hotpress.com looks at how U2's Vertigo tour has been selling so far, and confirms details of their two Irish dates, which go on sale Friday
Read More Tickets for U2's dates in the UK went on sale this morning and was, predictably, met with huge demand
Read More Having been forced to postpone the first batch of dates due to a family illness, U2 have confirmed that their 2005 Vertigo World Tour will kick off in San Diego on March 28.
Read More U2 have confirmed some details of their Vertigo world tour, including the much coveted support slot
Read More Uncertainty still surrounds U2's plans for their world tour, which had been due to kick off in March 2005.
Read More U2 manager Paul McGuinness has confirmed that details of their 2005 world tour have yet to be finalised.
Read More With How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb dominating the Christmas sales rush, U2 have firmly re-established their place at the top of the rock tree. Now comes further evidence of the expanding ambitions of Ireland's biggest ever showbiz export.
Read More There was much celebrating in the U2 camp this week as How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb sold its millionth copy in the UK.
Read More Not content with picking up two Grammy nominations for 'Vertigo', Bono will be a geust presenter in the forthcoming Christmas Today series on BBC Radio
Read More How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb has finished up a week of global sales with results that are nothing short of phenomenal
Read More U2 are about to unleash their new album How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb. The world’s media are descending on Dublin. And Bono is back at the punch-bag, getting into fighting shape before the shit storm really explodes. The gloves are off. He’s got work to do. And he’s going to do it. Words Stuart Clark, additional reporting by Niall Stokes.
Read More hotpress.com reveals the tracklisting of the complete U2 digital download which, since going on sale last week, has been exceeding predicted sales figures
Read More Look what's just come through OUR door - the special edition of U2's new album...
Read More hotpress.com brings you images of the packaging of U2's black Apple iPod and the wait is nearly over to get the new album. [Pics from ipodlounge.com]
Read More Last night began a momentous chapter for the world’s biggest band. For U2, it was the first live airing and radio/internet broadcast of material from their eleventh studio album, How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb. For those in attendance, it was an opportunity as rare as they come. The location: Dublin, Ireland. More specifically, at the album’s birthplace, in their Hanover Quay studios. Hot Press editor Niall Stokes was in attendance to feel the impact and capture the aftershock. [photos by John Dardis, courtesy of U2]
Read More With their album release only days away, U2 have been speaking to Hot Press about their upcoming world tour and the likely candidates for the prestigious support slot
Read More Exclusive! Our crime correspondent gets to the bottom of Bono’s briefcase.
Read More Atomic Bomb is positively Spector-esque in its ambition, although curiously enough, it’s not a showy record, the playing being mostly subservient to the songs.
Read More In what could prove to be one of the year's biggest marketing coups, Apple Computer Inc. have inked a deal with U2 which sees the band putting their name to a customised iPod. [pics courtesy of Apple]
Read More Glastonbury organisers have confirmed that U2 will not be headlining next year's festival
Read More Inside the Terenure lair of the resident grand wizard of live sound engineering on Planet Earth.
Read More Paul McGuinness has spoken out against websites selling tickets for unconfirmed U2 dates in the UK and Ireland
Read More With first single 'Vertigo' now spinning high on radio playlists, U2 have announced details of their Dublin tour dates
Read More Irish audiences will hear U2's first single ahead of its worldwide release
Read More U2 fans can finally revel in some official news: the title and release date of the new album
Read More As first revealed by hotpress.com "Vertigo" has been confirmed as the first single to be taken from the band's as yet untitled 11th studio album. Due to hit the racks on November 5th, 'Vertigo' is an epic U2 track laced with big guitars and soaring vocals.
Read More Top musicians Bono and Larry Mullen appear in film to celebrate Oscar Wildes 150th birthday.
Read More Anton Corbijn's collection of photographs has been given the U2 seal of approval
Read More ... And it's not called Vertigo! The man otherwise known as "Bono's doppelganger", Neil McCormick, talks sounds, songwriting and stadium-sized pressure in the most revealing U2 album preview yet.
Read More The new U2 photobook, U2 Show: The Art Of Touring, is being published by Riverhead on October 21.
Read More Bono was among the stars and prominent politicians paying tribute to Senator Ted Kennedy on Wednesday in Boston's Symphony Hall.
Read More French police have been alerted after a CD of new U2 songs went missing during a band photo shoot in Nice.
Read More Unless 2 Unlimited are thinking of reuniting, it would seem that Bono and co. are Glastonbury-bound next year...
Read More This year it's Silicon Valley, next year it's quite possibly Glastonbury and apparently we can expect a new single soon enough
Read More U2 took everyone – including their Portuguese record company – unawares this week when they arrived in Lisbon to do a photo-shoot with official band snapper Anton Corbijn
Read More While 2004 has not been an especially spectacular year to date, there is good reason to believe that rocks big guns are likely to deliver the kind of records that will revive spirits in the industry. Chris Donovan previews some of the albums that are likely to top the sales – and the critical – charts before 2004 is out...
Read More While 2004 has not been an especially spectacular year to date, there is good reason to believe that rocks big guns are likely to deliver the kind of records that will revive spirits in the industry. Chris Donovan previews some of the albums that are likely to top the sales – and the critical – charts before 2004 is out...
Read More Garrett "Jacknife" Lee is the latest person to assist U2 with the recording of their somewhat overdue new album
Read More Steve Lilywhite is “an additional producer not a replacement” on U2's new album
Read More The CDs and DVD from the Nelson Mandela AIDS awareness show will be heavily Irish in their content; Plus more news from the U2 camp with a photo retrospective tipped for publication
Read More Paul McGuinness has confirmed that it's full steam ahead, not back to the drawing board, for the next U2 record
Read More Former producer Steve Lillywhite is in the studio with U2 but cannot reveal the expected finish date for the album
Read More Bono’s plan to highlight the AIDs epidemic in Africa at this year’s Superbowl has sadly been scuppered.
Read More Russian cosmonauts, mexican desperadoes and cranky italian elephants – it’s all in a day’s work for solo too supremo Ned O’Hanlon, the man entrusted with documenting the multi-media extravaganza that is the U2 live experience.
Read More After 18 years with Principle, Managing Director Sheila Roche has decided to leave the U2 camp
Read More Colm O’Gorman explains how U2 helped the abuse victims’ organisation one in four to survive
Read More U2 have put out big money to secure the future of the Dublin-based sexual abuse support centre
Read More Reports that U2 are suing Nancy Sinatra are completely unfounded
Read More U2 will take on the world for the release of their upcoming album, but not before a stop-over in Nashville...
Read More Get excited people - we bring you the track-listing of the U2 Go Home: Live From Slane Castle DVD
Read More Fans can relive U2's 2001 Slane spectacular with the release of the DVD in November
Read More Extra, extra special: we're delighted to bring you a sneak peek at seminal new U2 graphic-design-retrospective collectors' book, Stealing Hearts At A Traveling Show: The Graphic Design Of U2
Read More U2 designers Four5One and label boss deny that leaked posters for the band's new album are official
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Edge reports that the new U2 album is coming along swimmingly - and that it will be accompanied by a tour in 2004
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U2 to be given a special tribute by a stellar cast of musicians at the 45th Annual Grammy Awards later this month
Read More U2 scoop Golden Globe for Best Song From A Motion Picture with 'The Hands That Built America'. Next stop: the Oscars
Read More At the end of an exciting, painful and earthshaking year, Bono reflects on the political and the personal – from drop the debt, September 11, Afghanistan and Genoa to the death of his father Bob, the birth of his son John and the enduring friendship which underpins U2’s music and career. Interview: Niall Stokes [this interview originally appeared in the spectacular Hot Press Annual 2002 - used in the pictures below - a very limited number of this unique collectors item will shortly be on sale - email u2@hotpress.ie to reserve a copy]
Read More U2 frontman speaks about "the biggest pandemic since the bubonic plague" and urges middle America to use their nation's huge financial power and get involved. "Our age will be remembered," he says, "for three things: the war against terror, the Internet, and how we let an entire continent burst into flames and stood around with water in cans"
Read More With a new 'best of' bringing the band's story up to date U2's guitar man steps forward to riff on good times and bad, the private life of a public figure, discovering the secrets of the universe on mushrooms and why, after all these years, few things match the high of being a member of U2. Special hotpress.com members edition: "director's cut" featuring interview sections unavailable anywhere else.
Read More With a new ‘Best Of’ bringing the band’s story up to date, U2’s guitar man steps forward to riff on good times and bad, the private life of a public figure, discovering the secrets of the universe on mushrooms, and why, after all these years, few things match the high of being a member of U2
Read More At its best, Zooropa is sky-funk, music from a band who, permanently or temporarily, have renounced the old folkways for the new airways
Read More Bill Graham reviews a new book by Boston D.J. Carter Alan, which sheds considerable light on U2's American breakthrough
Read More U2 announce details of the construction of a penthouse studio to be built at Britain Quay
Read More U2 are still determined to be better than the best in his class, and to produce music that is genuinely transcendent
Read More Edge waxes lyrical on the power of a "raw band sound"
Read More With the launch of a commemorative series of Irish postage stamps celebrating four of the nation's most important rock legends, we revisit some of the seminal moments in the careers of Phil Lynott, Rory Gallagher, Van Morrison and - first - U2
Read More hotpress.com is offering YOU the chance to snare a copy of the now-out-of-print The U2 File signed by each member of the band
Read More The insomniacs at HMV Grafton St do another midnight-opener - on Sunday, November 3rd - for the release of U2's Best Of 1990-2000
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Edge talks about the new album, Bono scoops 'MusiCares' award and guests on Elvis tribute TV show
Read More Get a headful of this: a sneak preview of U2's Best Of 1990-2000 album artwork, featuring extra ram (guffaw)
Read More The planet's most famous lead singer continues his humanitarian campaign, contributes to fundraising book project and appears on Oprah. Oh, and a Frank Sinatra cover and landmark U2 memorabilia exhibition are also en route
Read More U2 Live: A Concert Documentary - possibly the definitive book on U2's history as a live band - to be given an update and re-release following the tragic death of its compiler
Read More Well, look what we've got here: exclusive peeks at both the U2 single's sleeve artwork and the piccie from the new Samantha Mumba 45 as well. Don't thank us, we're just doing our job
Read More Imminent new single 'Electrical Storm' can only mean one thing: the U2 Best Of 1990-2000 CD/DVD is here - and boy is it ever chocca with cool extras. Read on for details
Read More U2 to release new single 'Electrical Storm' in October - the leader track from this autumn's Greatest Hits 1990-2000
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Hot Press readers worldwide want to know about Bono for president, Larry for lead singer, that mysterious tattoo, the greatest book, and more. Bono and Larry smoulder on the coals of the hp mixed grill
Read More In answer to a fan's question in the Hot Press Mixed Grill (see current edition of HP), Bono dismisses rumours that he will run for the Irish presidency
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Workaholics to a man and clearly unable to grasp the concept of time off, U2 already have much of their next album (due out in '03) in the bag - and apparently it's poppier and "more immediate" than All That You Can't Leave Behind
Read More What's Bono doing on the cover of international news magazine Time? Talking politics ("the art of the possible"), that's what
Read More ...quoth Drew Carey, master of ceremonies, when the glitterati gathered in Los Angeles last week to pay tribute to the many humanitarian endeavours of Bono, lead singer of popular Irish beat combo U2
Read More U2 and Oasis: together at last... The ultimate double-header stadium tour confirmed (but with no UK or Irish dates, mind)
Read More Hotpress.com investigate the rumours of U2 & The Phoenix Park ... (they just don't go away you know)...
Read More Will U2's studio homebase be demolished to make way for the neighbourhood's redevelopment (or more specifically, for a "two-million-Euro leisure complex")? The public hearing began this week...
Read More Via a petition that has gained signatures from round the world, U2 fans rally to save band headquarters Hanover Studios from mandatory demolition by the Dublin Docklands Authority: "What if Memphis tore down Sun Studios?"
Read More U2 - without even releasing an album last year - have walked away with the 2001 Hot Press Readers' Poll. Here's the scoop...
Read More U2 release new US-only rarities and B-sides collection. Yank one if you can
Read More U2 in talks with DDDA about possible alternative locations for studio headquarters
Read More U2’s studio headquarters may face demolition by compulsory public order from the Docklands authority
Read More With eight nominations in the bag, U2 are set to steal the show at this year's Grammys... again
Read More Bono has talked exclusively to Hot Press about September 11th, Fatherhood, and the US's actions in Afghanistan.
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Although under constant review, the word from the U2 camp is that they are still planning to go ahead with the return visit of the Elevation tour to North America.
Read More The second Slane show was such a spirited and spiritual affair you couldn’t fail to be as uplifted (or should that be elevated?) by it
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STUART BAILIE recalls some of the social and political movements that have occupied U2's hearts and minds down through the years... not least, the Springfield Garbage Dump campaign
Read More It's plastic Adam dolls, Zooropa wallpaper and bootleg CDs a-go-go: STUART CLARK knows there's a little U2 cyber-nerd inside all of us
Read More On 25 August 2001 - twenty years after first appearing there in support to Thin Lizzy - U2 play Slane Castle. NIALL STOKES reflects on the extraordinary journey that has led up to this historic, and beautiful, day
Read More Opening our U2 special, DERMOD MOORE catches up with ADAM CLAYTON during the UK leg of the Elevation tour, and delves deep into the physics of music celebrity, politics and, er, penises
Read More They may sport one of the most original sounds in rock’n’roll – but along the way they’ve been influenced by some of the greats. STUART BAILIE identifies the ten (plus!) key influences on the music of U2
Read More With their biggest dates ever in Ireland looming, LIAM MACKEY dips into voluminous hotpress archives and selects a small sample of what the paper said about U2 over the years
Read More A Peter Frampton cover version, a flautist and female backing vocalists were all elements of FEEDBACK’s first ever live concert performance, yet this was th eoutfit that would eventually become U2. COLM O'HARE recalls the event
Read More You get a continual sense from the entire band that they have rediscovered their love affair with live music
Read More ‘Beautiful Day’ is second out of the bag and the band’s, or specifically Bono’s, energy is palpable.
Read More The heart is a bloom, but you knew that already. Bono's lead line on 'Beautiful Day' effectively sets the tone for this new scheme. Great things can be nurtured, he tells us. Scepticism is out and old-fashioned hope is the greatest buzz around. So it's entirely fitting that the stage for the band's Elevation Tour should be framed by a massive, pulsating heart.
Read More When we last left U2, at the conclusion of 1997’s Pop, they were marooned on a spaghetti Golgotha, shouting, “Wake up dead man!” at a god who had apparently reneged on his promise to live forever. Well pilgrims, here’s the resurrection shuffle.
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Are Bono and the boys just a really good rock band or have they succeeded where the priests and politicians have failed and unlocked the neuroses of our colonial past? Joe Jackson indulges in a spot of cultural sparring with John Waters and finds the author of Race of Angels: Ireland and the Genesis of U2 well able to maintain his guard.
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IN THE FIRST PART OF A WORLD EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW IN THE LAST ISSUE OF HOT PRESS, BONO UNVEILED THE NEW U2 ALBUM, SPOKE ABOUT ITS GENESIS IN CYBERPUNK LITERATURE AND THE BAND'S HUNGER TO PUSH ROCK'N'ROLL TO ITS LIMITS. HERE HE ELABORATES ON HOW U2 GO ABOUT WRITING THEIR SONGS AGAINST THE BACKGROUND OF GLOBAL CHAOS, HIS ARTISTIC REFERENCE POINTS OUTSIDE MUSIC, THE SUBVERSIVE POWER OF HUMOUR, AND HOW HE ADMIRES THOSE WHO 'PARTICULARLY AGGRESSIVELY' DON'T BELIEVE IN GOD. AND THEN THERE'S THE STORY ABOUT JOHNNY CASH AND THE EMU. CAN THIS MAN BE FOR SURREAL? INTERVIEW:JOE JACKSON.
Read More ...IS COMING TO TAKE YOU AWAY! WHEN JOE JACKSON WENT TO INTERVIEW BONO AT U2'S SECRET DUBLIN RECORDING BASE, HE HAD NO IDEA WHAT TO EXPECT. WHAT HE GOT WAS A CRAZY ROLLERCOASTER RIDE THROUGH THE EXTRAORDINARY WORK-IN-PROGRESS WHICH WILL BECOME U2'S FOLLOW-UP TO THE ACCLAIMED "ACHTUNG BABY!", WITH BONO AT THE WHEEL AND AN UNSEEN PRESENCE WORKING THE ACCELERATOR LIKE A DEMON. "RECORDS SHOULD BE MORE OF A TRIP," SAYS THE MAN IN THE WRAPAROUND SHADES. FASTEN YOUR SEAT BELTS THEN. THIS WILL BE NO ORDINARY RECORD. AND THIS IS NO ORDINARY INTERVIEW.
Read More There is no question about it. He may look as if he's been dipped in a bottle of red ink but it is Adam who stands there bollock naked before the camera and the world on the back sleeve of the latest, long playing opus from the band whose name begins with U and ends with 2. And is that Eve who hovers topless behind Bono on the front?
Read More When Adam Clayton was arrested in Dublin in August of 1989 and charged with possession of 19 grammes of cannabis with intent to supply, it placed U2's immediate future as a live band in jeopardy. Trial report: Liam Fay.
Read More Sprawling across four restless, angry and sometimes contradictory sides, "Rattle And Hum" is nothing less than U2's most ambitious album yet. Review by Bill Graham
Read More As "With Or Without You" hits No. 1 in the US singles charts, Liam Mackey joins U2 on their biggest - and most successful - American tour to date.
Read More "The Joshua Tree" clarifies how U2's vocation has become the revival and renewal of rock and the recovery of its most romantic values. It also highlights the group's new commitment to the song. Review by Bill Graham
Read More Amid rumours and press reports that his career could be at an end, Larry Mullen reveals the truth about the extent of an injury to his hand that is becoming a common problem for rock drummers. Interview: Niall Stokes
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U2's decision to choose Brian Eno as producer for their new album was a bold move.
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This was more than a gig, but it wasn't a party. It was the mutual celebration of an audience and a group.
Read More "U2 make me think", it's been said. That criterion is used a lot these days, because as rock'n'roll gets older, its priorities and values change. It spreads itself out and becomes more adjustable, like a toy.
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