Stuart Clark spoke to Bono back in 2004, when the singer was on fighting form following the release of How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb.
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.
Paul McGuinness’ house, just outside Annamoe in the Wicklow mountains, on a gorgeous autumnal afternoon in November. Sunday lunch is over and some of the guests have begun to head back to the city. The rest are repairing to the sitting room for a preview of the new album from the biggest rock band in the world.
Dave Fanning is here, as well as Gerry Ryan, from 2FM. Edna Gunderson is in town to do a story for USA Today, accompanied by Lori Earl from Interscope Records. Susan Hunter from Principle Management, Ali Hewson, Moira Ryan, Dave Fanning’s partner Ursula Courtney, Mairin Sheehy from hotpress and McGuinness himself make up the rest of the party.
Oh, and there’s your man. He’s been entertaining the guests before and during dinner, trying – where possible – to throw his arms around the world. Looking at the photo of himself in the Sunday Times with a white as well as a black iPOD over his eyes and wondering where that came from. (“Why would they do that? I didn’t have a picture taken holding a white iPOD,” he says. “We’ll have to find out what that’s all about!”). Sitting the lovely Mariella Frostrup of The Observer, in Dublin to promote her new book, on his knee. Regaling the even lovelier Robert O’Byrne with anecdotes. It’s what comes naturally. But when all of that preamble is done, and the record is pressed into the CD player, well, the singer in the wraparound shades really comes into his own.
It is one of Bono’s most endearing qualities. When a new U2 record is ready to roll, he is more than ready to roll with it. He exudes a level of passion and enthusiasm for what has just been created – with his name prominently attached – that’s utterly and uniquely him.
“Already, ‘Vertigo’ is U2’s biggest ever record on US radio,” he shouts over the huge opening riffs of the first single from the album. Even if you hadn’t predicted it, there’s no mistaking why. The chord changes, in what is also the opening track on How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb, are gloriously, triumphantly, gorgeously right. “Here’s the bit from ‘Out Of Control’,” he signals.The noise needs no further elucidation. It’s a monster of Zeppelin-esque proportions, shot through with U2 magic.
As the playback progresses, Bono is like a man possessed. He takes you through the songs like an especially expressive conductor, in charge of a wild and wonderful orchestra.
“Now listen to this,” he says. “Every album has to have an outlandish couplet and this is it…”
We push on to ‘A Man And A Woman’ and he makes like a magician about to pull off his ultimate party piece, a conjuring trick to end all conjuring tricks.
“Wait till you hear this,” he yells again. “No one would know it, but I’m about to show you where this song came from – where it was stolen from. I’m going to sing it in a Phil Lynott voice and you’ll get it. This is Thin Lizzy. Listen.”
The languorous guitar strum and Latinised feel of ‘A Man And A Woman’ pour from the speakers. Bono starts singing. Through his nose, just a little bit, and in a Dublin accent. It’s fucking Philo. And you recognise the antecedents of the song, you see them perfectly. Caramba!
“People won’t see where it comes from. They won’t get it. But that’s it. It’s Thin Lizzy.” And he goes back into character, in a way that is both funny and lovely and moving. The original Dublin rocker’s presence fills the room. And a wonderfully beautiful song about “the mysterious distance between a man and a woman” – how come no one ever expressed that idea so perfectly before? – becomes even more mysterious and beautiful in the re-telling.
“It’s a song for adults, for people who have been together for a long time and who are still together,” he reflects.
There is an extent to which, as he conducts those privileged enough to be within listening distance through How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb, he is like a barker from a carnival, drumming up business. Or a song and dance man, who knows that his livelihood depends on how people respond to his – or rather to U2’s – latest creation.
Asked about the influence of The Boomtown Rats on U2 once, he said, “Bob Geldof made a salesman out of me.” Today Bono is in salesman mode. Except, and this is the thing, that he does it better and more winningly and more entertainingly than just about anyone else in the world.
There’s another couplet that he wants to share with you.
“Listen to this, wait, wait, listen to this,” he says as the music builds. And then he sings along. Rising over the sound system, you hear that voice, deep in its power to move and to convince, singing the lyrics of one of his latest meisterworks, to a room of ten people – lyrics that will resonate soon for crowds of sixty thousand and more...
There is such joy in this. There is such conviction. There is such pride in the new work. He stands up and paces the room. We’re near the end of the album now. He spreads his arms and gesticulates. “Yahwey,” he sings, at the top of his voice and from the bottom of his heart. It isn’t so much the song that gives your heart an uncontrollable lift, but the melody and the way it rises and falls.
“Yahwe–e–ey,” he sings and that lift – “Yahwe–e–ey” – takes you higher. And higher. It lifts you up. It fills you to the brim, Jim.
And, it might be an illusion – in fact you know it is an illusion – but in that moment, in that perfect moment, it seems that everything is going to be alright.
This is the note it ends on, and everyone agrees that it’s time to head back to Dublin.
“We’re going to stop in the Roundwood Inn for a last drink,” Bono announces. “Are you coming?”
Trying to throw his arms around the world indeed…
Take Two
Forget the musical whys and socio-political wherefores. All you need to know for now about U2’s How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb is that it sounded fucking great last night when I was doing the Dysoning.
“If you can’t hoover, iron or wash-up to a record, it’s not worth releasing,” Bono says solemnly, as we sit down with a cup of coffee in the room beneath their main Hanover Quay studio. Acoustically dampened floors or not, there’s no mistaking the sound of Edge’s guitar clanging around from elsewhere in the building, as he gets some extra practice in, ahead of today’s full band rehearsal. 14 million Americans are going to be watching this weekend when U2 appear on Saturday Night Live – and if there are any bum notes, well, they won’t be coming from him!
“If you think he’s loud now, wait ‘til we’ve been on the road a few months,” his bandmate grimaces. “He’s having his amps put up to ‘12’ because ‘11’ isn’t loud enough anymore. I often think Edge would’ve been happier if he was in Metallica. The only trouble is the hair – or rather lack of...”
Bono grins that familiar mischievous grin before getting down to the serious business on today’s agenda. There’s precisely a week to go until U2’s eleventh studio album makes it into the shops and, Spinal Tap-related grumbles aside, their singer has the determined look of a man who’s ready to leave the safety of the trenches and do battle.
“How we justify the life we’ve been given is to not make crap albums,” Bono ruminates. “I always say you need 11 or 12 very good reasons to leave your friends and family and go on tour, and we have them on this album. As a band, you could trade off the older songs, and we can stand by so many of them – but the real hit for me is discovering what we’re still capable of.”
On that score, the long-awaited and much anticipated How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb will leave no one in any doubt. U2 have mastered the art of delivering big songs like nobody else in the business. For confirmation, cop an earful of ‘Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own’, an emotionally charged response from Bono to the death in August 2003 of his father Bob, that’s one of the album’s stand-out cuts. The pain and confusion are palpable as the bereaved son tells his Dad: “We fight all the time/You and I…that’s alright/We’re the same soul/I don’t need…I don’t need to hear you say/That if we weren’t so alike/You’d like me a whole lot more.”
Even long-distance, dealing with the loss of a parent can be extremely difficult. Paul McCartney told hotpress recently that all of 36 years after the death of his mother, he still finds ‘Let It Be’ almost too painful to sing. With the memory of those sad final days still so fresh, how does Bono think he’ll cope with performing ‘Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own’ – a song that’s just made for the stadium treatment – night after night on tour?
“I don’t know. It overpowered me once on CD:UK when we were playing in front of the most beautiful bunch of 16, 17, 18-year-olds. And Cat Deeley, who I used to babysit. She was a very good girl and never woke up once…no, I’m joking! But I was amazed at the song’s ability to draw me back to where it was written.”
Was writing it a reflex action, or did he mull over every word?
“No, I never mull over every word, which is one of the reasons for the uneven set of lyrics. For me, there’s something about the moment when you put the first mark on the canvas – you don’t want to overwork it. The paintings I love are the ones where you can see the first brushstroke. It doesn’t have to be the most inspired to begin with; it just has to add up to something inspiring in the end.”
Our relationships with our parents are often complex – and can sometimes be difficult. Bono was close to his father at the end, but it wasn’t always like that. And there was a distance there, it emerges, at least where U2’s music was concerned. At what point did his Dad get to hear the band’s previous albums and tell his son what he thought of them?
“He never talked about any of the music,” is the almost whispered reply. “Oh, I do remember he liked ‘The Unforgettable Fire’. Not the album but the song. He thought we were getting quite good around the time of Rattle & Hum – ‘When Love Comes To Town’ was a bit of a favourite.”
But just when they seemed to have gained a new fan, they lost him. “He didn’t know where we were going in the ‘90s!” Bono says. That he might well have come around again to How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb – with its return to emotional directness and its hints of early records like Boy and The Unforgettable Fire – is left unsaid…
Assembled over a marathon 18-month period – “We spend a lot of time mixing the ink, and very little making the picture!” – How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb’s eight-man production team comprised Steve Lillywhite, Chris Thomas, Jacknife Lee, Nellee Hooper, Flood, Daniel Lanois, Carl Glanville and Brian Eno. You might, as a result, expect an album that is wildly diverse in its styles and moods, but that’s not the way it panned out. In a sense, it’s a tribute to just how strongly U2 imprint their own vision on a record, no matter who’s taking charge of production.
Talking after the first few sessions, Bono had dubbed it “Edge’s record”. Is that the way it remained?
“It started out as Edge’s album, yes,” he reflects, “but at some point Larry and Adam wrestled it off him and it’s become very much a band record. But it was Edge’s in the beginning – and he finished strongly too. He has a lot of stamina (laughs)!”
There were stories that Bono had been a bad boy, delaying the making of the record with his extra-curricular activities, and getting up a few producers’ noses in the process. Is it true that Eno threw a right wobbler when Bono broke his “no mobiles” rule to take a call from The Pope?
“Brian is a jealous guard of his own time let alone the band’s, and there was a lot of trouble about the time the Drop The Debt campaign was taking here,” he admits. “But our albums are better when my contribution to them is in concentrated doses. I like the creative pitch to be at a higher-level than other people. But when it turns to plumbing, as we call it, or nuclear physics, I’m out of here. I don’t feel as if I’m hyperactive or speeding – it’s everybody else that’s going in slow motion! Edge’s creative pulse is so Zen you can hardly hear it. He makes less noise than me and there’s less damage to the people and buildings around him.”
Another song on the album that immediately stands out is the Noel Gallagher-inspired ‘One Step Closer’, a beautiful lyric about the inescapable nature of doubt.
“He’s on a pint of Guinness and a packet of crisps for coming up with the title,” Bono laughs. “We were discussing my father’s mixed feelings about his religion and his lack of surety about where he was going – there was drink involved! – and Noel said fairly earnestly, ‘Well, he’s one step closer to knowing, isn’t he?’ Referring to the fact, of course, that my Dad had recently passed away.”
Good friends they may be, but I suspect that Noel’s going to give Bono a right earbashing for his “Tony Blair and Gordon Brown are the Lennon-McCartney of politics” rhetoric at the British Labour Party conference in Brighton.
“He had a soft spot for Tony early on! That’s the quote that’s been passed around, but what I actually said is, ‘They are the Lennon-McCartney of geopolitics’. In terms of turning around the relationship between the developed world and Africa, they’re right at the centre of that paradigm shift.”
Faced with his evident command of the facts and figures, anyone who takes a sceptical view of Bono’s pronouncements on this topic is going to find it a very difficult position to sustain.
“After Thatcher left, the UK was down where the Americans are now, at less than 0.2% GDP, in their contribution to the poorest of the poor,” he expands. “When Blair leaves they’ll be on their way to the commitment they’ve made for 2011, which is 0.7%. That’s three times the amount of spending that happened under Maggie, so they deserved the compliment. It wasn’t, however, meant as an endorsement of their war in Iraq or some other Labour Party policies that I mightn’t like.”
Given that it’s the overriding issue of the day, and especially given U2’s track record of dealing with human rights issues in general, it’s surprising that nowhere on How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb is there any mention of the Iraq War or of the iniquities of American foreign policy under the current administration.
“I very much sat down to address it, hence the title,” Bono reflects. “It’s worth reminding ourselves of those days after 9/11, and what they felt like. At no other point in history had there been a sense that people would commit that sort of mass murder as a terrorist act. You’d had mass murder before in Hiroshima as part of a fully declared war – which I don’t think is any excuse, by the way – but no one knew whether we were going to wake up and a quarter of London, maybe Kilburn, would be gone.
“That’s no excuse for prosecuting a war in Iraq, but it puts it all into context. Because – apart from what happened in Madrid – we haven’t had that same level of atrocity in Europe. We may have forgotten the fear and paranoia that was going around at that time. Of course I was going to address this, and yet the opposite came out.
“I told Thom Yorke two years ago, ‘I know what the album’s about and what it’s going to be called, which is How To Build An Atomic Bomb’. That was the original title because the toothpaste was out of the tube. There was an article in the G2 section of The Guardian with two college students discussing how easy it is to get your hands on this kind of weaponry.”
Attention gained, as is his wont, Bono set about making himself an expert on the subject.
“A private arms company in the US has developed this GPS-guided system made out of papier-mache and plastic, which for less than a million dollars can fly 2,500 miles with anything you want attached to it,” he resumes. “Somebody asked their CEO, ‘Are you not worried about these getting into terrorist hands?’ to which he replied, ‘We’ve offered them to the Pentagon if they’re prepared to buy in bulk, but the knowledge to make these things exists everywhere. We’re just packaging it commercially’.
“How long more is Tony Blair going to live in Number 10, how long is George Bush going to live in The White House, how long is Jacques Chirac going to live in the Elysses when you can let one of these things off from your back-garden? At a moment like this, I shouldn’t order coffee but instead put on Bob Marley (starts singing): ‘Emancipate yourself from mental slavery/None but ourselves can free our minds/Have no fear of atomic energy’.”
There is, nonetheless, nothing on the new record as virulently hostile to US hegemony as ‘Bullet The Blue Sky’. Is this down to Bono now having to do business with George Bush and his aides?
“It’s a real question and one that I can honestly answer with a ‘No’. As I was trying to say earlier, the songs that you want and the songs that you get are often very different. I don’t really have much control over it – and if there are lyrics that offend some of the people I work with, so be it. ‘Crumbs From The Table’ is one of the most vicious songs ever. It’s full of spleen about the church and its refusal to hear God’s voice on the AIDS emergency.
“Whenever U2 gets specifically agitprop, the band here starts nodding off and Brian Eno or Daniel Lanois or Steve Lillywhite will start making people dance. ‘Bullet The Blue Sky’ is like U2 doing The Bad Seeds, it’s biblical much moreso than it’s a polemic. We didn’t make those kind of anti-personnel type songs to suddenly stop. There are moments when I keep my opinions out of the press but not out of songs.”
So what does Bono make of what the Rev. Jesse Jackson said last week about troop movements through Shannon making Ireland a terrorist target? And how should we respond?
“Someone who’s paranoid, in my opinion, is a person in full possession of the facts!” he says enigmatically. “These are nervous times. After Bikini Atoll, after Mexico, after indeed Enola Gay was dropped in Japan, everything has changed – and the idea that the human race can destroy everything and remove all traces of itself is now in the air. What does it mean? Two things – you party hard and you hold on to your loved ones a little tighter. I kind of enjoy forgetting I’m in a band.”
U2 have rightly highlighted the dangers of Sellafield. Did they think of joining the protesters at Shannon, cutting holes in airport perimeter fences?
“If you’re against the war then, yes, on a point of principle you should oppose refuelling in Shannon. Whether you do that with wire-cutters or something else is a matter of personal choice.”
Whatever way you look at it, allowing troops and covert CIA operations to be routed through an Irish airport surely dispels any notions of this country being an honest broker.
“I’ve mixed feelings about neutrality,” he admits. “Not helping with the war in Iraq, fine, but not helping with the war against the Nazis, not fine. And that it’s worn as a badge of honour around here is not acceptable. Having it both ways, like we did with the IRA, is one of our less endearing national traits.”
Politics and religion being almost inextricable in the current phase of global unrest – its wonderfully inspiring melody notwithstanding – naming ‘Yahweh’ after the Hebrew word for “god” might well see Bono being accused of taking sides in the Arab-Israeli dispute.
“It just formed in my mouth, as a lot of U2 songs do,” he explains. “There’s the sound, and then trying to figure out what that sound is – and it was this word ‘Yahweh’. I played it to Jimmy Iovine of Interscope who loved it up until the point where I told him it’s the unspeakable word for God. And he said: ‘Call it ‘Mozza Balls’. Call it ‘Ali’. Call it anything but that!’
“To focus on your question, a delegation came to see me from the Middle East to talk about the fact that there’s no peace movement there. They asked would I give them a hand, and I said, ‘Look, I’m at the point where the world will find it projectile vomit-inducing if I attach my name to another worthy cause. There are also people in my own native country who’ll take it as their cue to brick and bottle me off the stage’.”
So he took a rain-check, more or less…
“The only idea I had,” he continues, “and one they’ll be pursuing, is a Festival Of Abraham, which will celebrate the three traditions that call Abraham their father. Out of that conversation there’s another project – to build a sort of cathedral of understanding in Europe, called the Eye Of Abraham, where Jews, Muslims and Christians can watch each other worship. The two very inspirational people who are heading up the initiative were opposing negotiators during the Oslo Peace Accord, but are now friends.”
As it happens, I spent a year living in Israel during the ‘80s, and the only word for how the Arab population was treated there is “apartheid”.
“The devil gets great value out of a family row where everybody’s a little bit in the right,” he reflects.
Does Bono envisage a time where he’ll go, “I’ve had enough of these political gobshites!” and pass the baton on to someone like Chris Martin?
“Coldplay are just extraordinary,” he enthuses. “They’ve pulled off in two albums what no other UK band has done in 20 years. And you have some kind of moral compass working there – which makes it a spectator sport, because you want to see how he’s going to negotiate his celebrity, and his songwriting prowess, and his sense that not everything is right with the world. He might have a loudhailer and want to use it.”
A lot of musicians go to great lengths to hide or to disguise their influences. U2, on the other hand, have always been inclined to tell people who they’ve been listening to in the build-up to an album. So what was on the studio stereo while How To Make An Atomic Bomb was being made?
“I’m not listening to the latest and greatest like I used to and want to do again,” he rues. “Something had to be really great to break through to me. Interpol’s first album was amazing and felt very familiar. The Thrills are astonishing and the second Devlins album is a beautiful mood piece. I admire the Queens Of The Stone Age’s directness. I enjoy The Strokes and it annoys me that people won’t allow bands to grow, over a few records, any more. It wasn’t all new stuff, though. I was going back to the Buzzcocks and Siouxsie & The Banshees, who both sound as fresh as ever.”
How accurate was the “Snow Patrol to tour with U2” story in hotpress a few weeks back?
“We’d love to take Snow Patrol out on the road,” Bono confirms. “There’s some beautiful singing and songs, and Jacknife Lee made as brilliant a job of their record as he did ours.”
It’s amusing. Ten years ago, sneering at U2 was almost a prerequisite of being in an indie band, whereas now you’ve got the likes of Interpol, The Killers and The Rapture proudly citing them as an influence. It’s a reversal about which you can tell Bono is rather tickled.
“We were never going to hit it off with a bunch of middle-class kids who were lying to themselves about their ambition,” he avers. “We were a bunch of middle-class kids who weren’t lying! The sound of wanting to get out of the ghetto, whatever ghetto that might be, is a very different one to the sound of wanting to stay in it. If you want a cottage industry, become a potter. We joined a rock ‘n’ roll band because we wanted to change the world and all that kind of megalomania.
“The same as The Beatles, the same as the Stones, the same as the Sex Pistols, the same as the Clash and – I won’t say Nirvana – but the same as Kurt did. You could already see him thinking, ‘Do I really have to play in a club all my life to be authentic? Can I have a glitter shirt? Tell you what, I’m going to put on some eye make-up today!’”
Never mind I-D or Dazed & Confused, Bono has his own method of keeping his finger on the fashion pulse.
“If you ever want to figure out what’s cool, you just have to look across the road at what the brothers are doing,” he proclaims. “Are the brothers playing tennis? Suddenly it’s okay to play tennis. Are the brothers playing golf? It’s okay to play golf. The brothers are what got all these people into singing and being in bands in the first place, and the brothers do not find it cool to be sitting there in your garret with your ear bleeding all over your canvas. They think that’s the height of un-cool!”
So can I take it that, any spare time they’ve had, has been spent at The K Club brushing up on their handicaps and sinking pink gins in the 19th Hole? Hmmm, not quite…
“Golf is not allowed in our band,” Bono chuckles, “although we sense Edge may have gone behind our backs. He’ll go on about Iggy Pop or Dennis Hopper or Jack Nicholson – people who he thinks are cool and play golf, but it’s not going to work with us!”
Bono has already acknowledged Franz Ferdinand as competition by saying that, at some point, U2 will need to have a fistfight with them. What was that all about?
“I was only talking about the guitar riffs,” he deadpans. “No, the songs are very good too. I hope they are competition because every time somebody comes around who can really give us a run for our money, they either set fire to themselves or cash-in their chips and go for the Chinese rugs and fish farm in the country.”
Talking of rugs, I hear that Adam is putting his collection of antique ones up for sale at Christie’s.
“He’s definitely downsizing! Adam’s the one that had all the rock star paraphernalia – the mansion, the rugs, the art collection. He did it better than anyone we know who is alive or working on their death imminently. I remember driving up to his country pile with Neil Young and his band, and one of the guys saying incredulously: ‘This is where the bass-player lives?’
“Adam’s always had impeccable taste – except in hair colour (laughs). He’s reached a place where he’s bored by that sort of privilege and is much more Buddhist in his approach to interior decorating.”
When U2 announced last month that they were putting their name to their own iPOD, it immediately added $2 billion to the Apple share price. It also sparked off a furious debate as to whether they’re indulging in clever cross-promotion or succumbing to the sort of greed that Paul McGuinness was referring to in 1986 when he said: “Deep in my heart I’m ashamed that there are artists who can make rock ‘n’ roll and then sell it to Philip Morris or Michelob or Nike.”
So how does Bono respond to the charge that’s been levelled in certain newspapers that the Apple deal represents some kind of sell-out? If you want to get him going, just ask!
“Selling-out? Try using that word on 50 Cent or Jay Z or Russell Simmons. This is such a white bread concept. Selling-out means doing something naff – or that you don’t believe in – for money. It’s embarrassing your fans for cash – and I hope we never do that. How cool is the iPOD? It’s a beautiful piece of technology. How cool is the commercial we’ve made with Apple?
“There’s part of me that likes a bit of a row,” he adds mischievously. “I loved turning a TV ad into a video and waiting to see if it started a kerfuffle.”
Well, it has done. But, where accusations of selling out – or indeed cashing in – are involved, he’s having none of it.
“Never in the history of making music has there been a more independent group than U2,” he says. “There’s never been a group that’s had less interference from their record company. There’s never been a group that has had more financial control over their destiny. We own our own master-tapes. We own our copyrights. We are completely in charge of the way our albums look, of our marketing campaigns…we’ve been doing it since we were 19! That’s what independence is.”
Bono’s started, so he’ll finish.
“There are a lot of preposterous ideas in and around the business of making music. We could start with street credibility if you want. The idea that some 19-year-old kid in drainpipes with the right kind of acne is going to be better than Prince…please! That’s just an example of the shit that we had to grow up with. Another is Indie vs. Corporate. What is that all about? We are in a corporation. Universal Music Group is a corporation. Before that we were in Polygram and BMG – these giant corporate behemoths, we were holding on to them by the tail and walking up their back and availing of their positions of power as a multinational. Radio, not just in America with Clear Channel, but all over the world is owned by corporations. MTV is owned by Viacom. It’s all corporations.”
One of the several reasons I have for disliking Radiohead is Thom Yorke harping on about how anti-corporate they are while happily letting EMI sell their new CD for twenty quid a pop. Bono disagrees.
“I have to say I’m the one who’s always mourning the lack of Radiohead on pop radio because I long to hear Thom Yorke’s voice and I long to hear a band as able as that up against, you know, Blue,” he insists. “I can’t blame Radiohead from pulling back from the fray. You have to have a stomach for it. It’s a lot to swallow, but not your pride and not your dignity. Just the amount of work and annoyance and negotiating the machine called pop music. Sometimes you want to just make a more private, personal document of your life. Whatever they want to do, I will work on their road crew. If they had a cellist, I’d carry the cello on my back. They can do whatever they want in my book and it’s alright with me. They’re that good.”
It’d be impossible to let the interview pass without mentioning the 100 Greatest Irish Albums, as voted by a huge panel of musicians, and published in the most recent edition of hotpress. How did U2 feel about having to make do with third place behind Van Morrison and Thin Lizzy? Is Bono seething that his counterparts went for Astral Weeks and Live & Dangerous ahead of The Joshua Tree – or will he do what John Kerry did and concede defeat gracefully?
“Would I have had Astral Weeks as my number one?” he muses. “Yeah. White man singing like a black guy, as everybody during the ‘60s was, but in a local, colloquial language that formed a new hybrid. It’s Van’s life up till then on one record, his map laid out for ever more.”
If he were allowed to break the rules and vote for himself, which U2 album would get his douze points?
“I prefer Achtung Baby, (which came in at number six) to (the third-placed) Joshua Tree, but I’m just pleased that there are still Irish musicians we haven’t pissed off and who are prepared to vote for us (laughs).”
He’s had 13 years to consider the merits of Achtung Baby, but how long will it be before he’s able to work out where How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb comes in the pantheon of great U2 albums?
“There are certain things you know at the time like how good the songwriting is, but you can’t tell what an album might mean to other people. You can only really tell what it might mean to you, and that is not always about the quality of the songs. There’s some weak songwriting on The Joshua Tree, but emotionally it’s overwhelming, so people have very big ties to it. It’s not about whether my songs are bigger than your songs – but if it were, this new album would be right at the top of the list!”
Along with it being dedicated to Bono’s dad, there’s the added sense of poignancy that comes from How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb being the last album that U2 will get to record in their Hanover Quay headquarters. The compulsory purchase order having been issued, the band are waiting to hear when the new high-rise home they’ve been allocated by the Dublin Docklands Development Authority will be completed.
“Civic duty would suggest that we have to move, in order to make way for a park,” he says turning to look at The Liffey, “but tears will be shed over the fact that we’ve lived so many lives here. Both through our songs and the people who’ve helped us make them. There’s something magic in that there mud out the window!”
While one can understand Bono describing having to move as “a right pisser”, hopefully the development will be another example of Dublin getting over its post-headache and matching its EU counterparts in terms of planning, development and infrastructure. Which reminds me – has he been on the Luas yet?
“I love the Luas but, no, the closest I’ve come is having one nearly knock me down,” he reveals. “If I had to choose a method of rapid transport to be killed by, it would be the Luas.”
In my book a tram is a tram, but in Bono’s the Luas is a thing of virginal white splendour.
“The job of art is to chase ugliness away,” he says. “Let’s start with the streets. Cars are ugly. Busses are ugly. The Luas is beautiful!”
While we’re talking, I just thought I’d get a bit of gossip on the side for that wonderful organ, Hello magazine. Apparently, Bono received some lessons in bling recently when Jay Z and Beyoncé came to stay with him in Killiney. Well, I just had to find out more! The Hewson kids were delighted apparently, but how did the man himself get on with hip hop’s first couple?
“Really well,” Bono smiles. “The amazing thing about Jay Z is that he’s very comfortable, in a way that I relate to, with penthouse and pavement, highlife and lowlife. I think he’s an astonishing rapper, whose only challenger at the moment is 50 Cent.”
On a similar theme, most people who feature comprehensively in Bob Dylan’s autobiography would be straight down to Eason’s to find out what The Big Zim’s written about them – but not Bono.
“I’ve heard he talks about me introducing him to Daniel Lanois, but that’s it,” he admits. As it happens, following a thorough forensic examination of the book – memo to Bob: indexes and writing in chronological order are both good things – I can tell him exactly what his friend’s been saying about him:
“One night, Bono was over for dinner with some other friends. Spending time with Bono was like eating dinner on a train – feels like you’re moving, going somewhere. Bono’s got the soul of an ancient poet and you have to be careful around him. He can roar ‘til the earth shakes. He’s also a closet philosopher. He brought a case of Guinness. If Bono had come to America in the early part of the century he would have been a cop.”
Having looked like a kid who’s being read the latest Harry Potter, Bono laughs uproariously at the cop line.
“Well, it’s better than being a priest! I’ve always found him to be a real gentleman – old school, especially with his family, and upright. The mask gets put on for fun and occasionally he can’t get it off, but he’s never like that with me. I find him very honest and wish I saw more of him. Every so often he’ll call, but usually I’m not there.
“Do you know what the first thing Bob Dylan ever said to me was? ‘Can I have your autograph…but it’s not for me!’ He knew the effect that would have on a fan of his. That’s his sly sense of humour!
“He’s Picasso. It’s a wonder that after doing this for as long as he has, he can produce something like ‘Mississippi’ on the last album. I’m in tears, and then five tracks later I’m laughing out loud. He’s the only song and dance man in the world who makes me belly laugh!”
Bono is about to launch into another Dylan vignette when a flustered looking aide walks in and reminds him that three-quarters of the world’s biggest rock group are waiting upstairs for their singer.
“Have you got 15 minute to spare?” Bono asks me.
Might do.
“Come and have a listen to us rehearsing.”
I had been planning on nipping home to catch Neighbours, or something edifying like that, but seeing as Bono’s got his heart set on it, I dutifully follow him into the studio where Edge, Larry and Adam are belting out an instrumental version of another How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb newie, ‘City Of Blinding Lights’.
Without the rest of the gang missing a beat, their errant singer walks up to the microphone, clasps his hands behind his back and almost sighs the opening verses, “The more you see the less you know/The less you find out as you go/I knew much more then/than I do now.”
I can tell you something for certain, delivered with even half this panache, it’ll send shivers up hundreds of thousands of spines next year, when the band hit the road.
Today, though, they’ve an audience of one who thinks he’s died and gone to rock ‘n’ roll heaven. Up this close, U2 sound nothing short of phenomenal. There’s no chat, just satisfied grins and nods at the end when they know they’ve nailed the song. They’ve followed the flight-path a hundred times before, but from where I’m sitting auto-pilot is a concept these boys just don’t understand.
“How are we doing?” Bono shouts over.
That job of best band in the world they’re re-applying for? I think they’ve got it.
Take Three
A table in the corner of the Roundwood Inn. Ali has gone on ahead with the kids. Susan Hunter is ordering the drinks. There’s a pint for Gerry Ryan and a pint for…
Dave Fanning looks at it longingly. Bono half picks it up. “Who’s this pint for?” a voice asks Susan. “You have it,” Fanning says. “No, no, you have it,” Bono says and he picks it up. Makes like he’s going to have a slug. Puts it down again. “No, I insist, you have it,” he says again. Looks at Fanning with a grin. Picks it up. Waves it under his nose. Has a slug.
There is laughter in the air. Gerry Ryan has a mobile with a video camera and is taking pictures. Dave, Moira and Bono. Bono and Moira.
“I was talking to the young fella there at home a few minutes ago,” Ryan tells the U2 man. “Told him I’d heard the new album. ‘Is it any use?’, he says. That’s a great one. ‘Is it any use?’ I’d forgotten all about that phrase.”
In a way though, it is the question. Is it any use? Bono isn’t phased. How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb. If it isn’t any use he’s fucked. Maybe we all are. But he’s steady on his feet as he strides towards Susan Hunter’s car, signs a few autographs along the way – and the troupe finally leaves for Dublin.
With love is the answer. There is no other one. Everything is going to be alright. Just wait…
U2 Fan event #WelcomeToTheNorthside returns for 2018 even bigger than previous years with a full week of events and a very special road trip in November.
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Great news for U2 fans: three of their classic albums are to be reissued as remastered vinyls pressed on 180gsm.
Read More From our 2018 Annual, the full cover story by Olaf Tyaransen.
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It's a very different tune to the one being sung by IDA Ireland...
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It goes on sale on Friday February 9.
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Sadly, it's happening with government approval...
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Live Nation and MCD today confirm shows in Dublin and Belfast on U2’s upcoming eXPERIENCE + iNNOCENCE Tour with tickets on sale from 2nd February. As part of their European tour the band will play at Belfast’s SSE Arena on 27th October 2018 and at home in Dublin at the 3Arena on 5th and 6th November 2018. See the full tour dates below.
Read More U2 played their latest single 'Get Out Of Your Own Way' live at last night's 60th Grammys.
Read More An original pop-art animation for U2's latest single 'Get Out Of Your Own Way'.
Read More No Belfast and Dublin dates yet, but they will be happening!
Read More U2's documentary about the making of their latest album has just been uploaded onto their official social media pages.
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U2 have always been hugely aware of the potential of live films to spread the gospel. As a result, they've made some of the finest ever concert movies. Square eyes: Pat Carty
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The former US President has compiled a list of his favourite music from 2017 and amongst his top picks is the Extraordinary Mix version of 'Ordinary Love' taken from the deluxe edition of U2's latest album, 'Songs of Experience'.
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Here's a clip from 'U2 At The BBC' in which The Edge and Adam Clayton go record shopping with Cat Deeley.
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In an exclusive performance at the iconic Abbey Road Studios in London, Adam, Bono, Edge and Larry performed 'Beautiful Day' with an orchestra and choir for 'U2 At The BBC' - a Christmas special programme for BBC One.
Read More U2 have released a cover of Marvin Gaye's ‘What’s Going On’, which you can now stream on Spotify.
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In a passionate letter, the four members of U2 are calling on Dublin City Council to rescind the honour "bestowed" on Aung San Suu Kyi because of her failure to condemn the ongoing brutal violence in her own country.
Read More The Dublin band's 14th studio album has gone straight to the top spot in the Billboard charts, achieving the best sales during a single week for any rock album Stateside during the past 12 months.
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Forty years covered in fifty plus minutes - From Fighting on stage in front of Talking Heads to Songs Of Experience
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Check out the official music video for 'Jacky’s Only Happy When She’s Up on the Stage'.
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Inspired by a brush with the grim reaper, the new U2 album is an extraordinary work of art.
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10 Hot Press writers share their favourite U2 moments as we get set for the release of Songs of Experience on December 1. On our tenth day, Louise Kane recalls her music induction on the Zoo TV Tour.
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With the long-awaited Songs of Experience set to be released imminently, U2 are the cover stars of Hot Press' 2018 Annual.
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An Irish-American singer-songwriter, who was so inspired by U2's album 'The Joshua Tree' that she decided to record her new EP in the very same desert, is planning to tour Ireland in December.
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10 Hot Press writers share their favourite U2 moments as we get set for the release of Songs of Experience on December 1. On our seventh day, Hot Press Commissioning Editor Roisin Dwyer shares memories of Rattle and Hum and her own brush with death.
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10 Hot Press writers share their favourite U2 moments as we get set for the release of Songs of Experience on December 1. On our eighth day, Liessa De Decker talks about early U2 memories, chance encounters, and the bitter glory of 'Sunday Bloody Sunday'.
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10 Hot Press writers share their favourite U2 moments as we get set for the release of Songs of Experience on December 1. On our fifth day, Olaf Tyaransen shares a story which reveals a side of Bono that the public rarely see.
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With one week to go before their 14th album, Songs of Experience, U2 grace the cover of the 2018 Hot Press Annual.
Read More With the long-awaited Songs of Experience set to be released imminently, U2 are the cover stars of Hot Press' 2018 Annual.
Read More 10 Hot Press writers share their favourite U2 moments as we get set for the release of Songs of Experience on December 1. On our third day, Hot Press' Head of Photography, Kathrin Baumbach, talks about her relationship with U2, and the band's relationship with her home city of Berlin.
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10 Hot Press writers share their favourite U2 moments as we get set for the release of Songs of Experience on December 1. On our second day, Hot Press stalwart Jackie Hayden takes us back to when U2 were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Read More A special limited edition version of U2's new song 'The Blackout' will be released in only four stores across the globe to mark the annual Black Friday, with Freebird on Dublin's Wicklow St announcing that they will be stocking it.
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10 Hot Press writers share their favourite U2 moments as we get set for the release of Songs of Experience on December 1. Up first: Pat Carty takes us back to a beautiful day in Slane, 2001.
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Coincidentally, the 23-year-old Carlow actress will be hosting the very same episode of NBC's 'Saturday Night Live' show that the Irish rock icons will also be appearing on, this coming 2 December.
Read More As fans countdown the days until the new eagerly awaited album is released in a couple of weeks, U2 officially shared their new video last night.
Read More U2 are putting on their "sexy boots" to follow in the footsteps of Adele, Michael Buble, Harry Styles and Sam Smith by having their TV special next month on the Beeb.
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'Get Out of Your Own Way' is the second single from the band's upcoming 14th album, Songs of Experience.
Read More 'Get Out of Your Own Way' is the second single to be taken from U2's upcoming album, Songs of Experience.
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The tracklist appears to have been revealed, ahead of the album's release date early this December.
Read More U2's frontman, who says he's so happy these days that he's actually "singing like a little girl", has told how the writing of the new eagerly awaited album's lyrics was inspired by a health scare and facing his own mortality.
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There's another significant U2 anniversary, with 'I Will Follow' released on this day in 1980. Niall Stokes has the story behind the classic...
Read More "U2 are full of bluster, almost keeling over with the weight of energy on board," Declan Lynch opined in his original 1980 review...
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Having released their new single two weeks ago, U2 have today shared the music video for 'You're The Best Thing About Me'.
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#WelcomeToTheNorthside bring #U241 to the Church Bar tonight. After a jam packed weekend for the Joshua Tree Pre and after events, which seen over 5,000 fans visit the Church Bar over the July weekend, The Church Bar will celebrate U241 tonight with U2 Tribute Zooropa who recently played to a sold out crowed at the Button Factory.
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In the wake of the civil unrest in the US state that resulted in U2 cancelling their gig there on Saturday night, Bono has taken to social media to ask, "Is this 1968 or 2017?"
Read More The band's legion of fans in St Louis' were left devastated after Saturday night's concert there was called off at the last minute. Local police said they weren't in a position to "provide the standard protection" required for the audience because of ongoing civil unrest in the city.
Read More Norwegian DJ Kygo has remixed U2's new single 'You're The Best Thing About Me'.
Read More 'You’re The Best Thing About Me', the first single from the band’s highly anticipated 14th studio album, Songs of Experience, is released today.
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The band have released the first song from their upcoming album, Songs of Experience.
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Some of the biggest names in Irelan'd music scene have come together to make a re-imagining of U2's legendary album in celebration of The Joshua Tree's 30th anniversary.
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U2 have always put more into the crucible of live performance than almost any other band on the planet, endeavouring to make every tour an artistic and creative statement in itself. In advance of the return of their Joshua Tree Tour to Dublin, we chart the circumstances of their tours, recall the iconic moments and the visual highlights and reprise what it is that makes them the world’s pre-eminent live act. By Olaf Tyaransen
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U2 have always put more into the crucible of live performance than almost any other band on the planet, endeavouring to make every tour an artistic and creative statement in itself. In advance of the return of their Joshua Tree Tour to Dublin, we chart the circumstances of their tours, recall the iconic moments and the visual highlights and reprise what it is that makes them the world’s pre-eminent live act. By Olaf Tyaransen
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U2 have always put more into the crucible of live performance than almost any other band on the planet, endeavouring to make every tour an artistic and creative statement in itself. In advance of the return of their Joshua Tree Tour to Dublin, we chart the circumstances of their tours, recall the iconic moments and the visual highlights and reprise what it is that makes them the world’s pre-eminent live act. By Olaf Tyaransen
Read More The Irish band performed their poignant song 'Mothers of the Disappeared' with the iconic American singer-songwriter the other night in Paris.
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It is 30 years since the release of The Joshua Tree catapulted U2 to the forefront of contemporary music. At their Croke Park homecoming, they reaffirmed that they are still up there, at the very top of the tree. By Roisin Dwyer
Read More The U2 frontman admits that it's a case of 'where the song has no end' when it comes to his attitude to one of the band's most seminal classic tracks on The Joshua Tree.
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U2's guitarist has confessed that he tried to record "the secrets of the universe" while under the influence of the small but powerful hallucinogenic drug!
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In town for Croke Park? Come see all 44 of U2's Hot Press covers!
Read More Ahead of U2's sold out Joshua Tree gig in Croke Park this weekend, RTÉ One are showing a documentary about the band's early days playing in Cork.
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As he says himself, Noel Gallagher has been on "one tour or another" during the past quarter of a century... but, for him, the current U2 Joshua Tree Tour is the best he's ever been on.
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It's a treasure trove for all fans of the band...
Read More Fancy a chance to win a signed and numbered photo of U2 taken by award-winning photographer Peter Rowan, who was the face of the U2 as a "boy"? Read on...
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U2 nabbed a Golden Globe nomination for 'Ordinary Love', the song they wrote for the Mandela: The Long Walk to Freedom - they talked to Patricia Danaher about their relationship with Mandela
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Over two nights, U2 crystallised the love affair that the band has enjoyed with Italy – and with the Italian capital, Rome.
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Olaf Tyaransen caught up with The Edge just as the band prepared to bring their iNNOCENCE & eXPERIENCE tour home for dates in Belfast and Dublin
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As U2 geared up for the release of No Line On The Horizon, they met 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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7 years ago, Olaf Tyaransen reported from U2's No Line On The Horizon tour in Barcelona, ahead of the band's Croke Park headliner.
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In a special commemorative issue, Hot Press looked back at 40 years of U2...
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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Hot Press' Olaf Tyaransen caught up with the band as they flew to Germany to promote Songs of Innocence
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From Hot Press' 2002 Annual, Bono spoke to Niall Stokes about all matters personal and political.
Read More We spoke to Adam Clayton ahead of U2's Elevation Tour concert in Slane back in 2001.
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Back in 2000, Olaf Tyaransen spoke to U2 following the release of 'Beautiful Day', with their 10th studio album, All That You Can't Leave Behind, imminent...
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Bono talked to Peter Murphy on stalkers, women, Lypton Village, love and the release of his film Million Dollar Hotel
Read More Interpol's Sam Fogarino kicks things off with his 360 Tour tale about David Lynch.
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20 years of U2, through the eyes of Adam Clayton.
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Having followed U2 on their tour of North America in 1997, Mike Edgar - a broadcaster for the BBC's Across The Line programme, reported from the band's homecoming Dubin gigs and from their newly-added Belfast date.
Read More The American tally sees Roger Waters come in at second place.
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As it has become the official fan favourite, The Church Bar in Dublin will be the place to be over the weekend of the U2 Joshua Tree gig at Croke Park.
Read More It’s a case of “sleep like a baby tonight”… but at a cost when it comes to booking a room in Dublin this coming weekend for the U2 gig.
Read More Nope, July 21 won't be the first time that U2 and the Gallagher brothers (Ok, just one of the Gallaghers) have played to a stadium crowd. Back in 1997, Hot Press Neil McCormick went on tour as two of the world's biggest bands played together in San Francisco.
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20 years ago, U2 came out with one of their most highly-anticipated albums, Pop. Niall Stokes met the band following its release for an in-depth interview.
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In October 1996, following the release of his best-selling book U2: The Untold Stories, Niall Stokes shared some exclusive extracts about the stories behind each U2 song.
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From October 1994, B.P. Fallon spoke with Joe Jackson about touring with U2 for their Zoo TV tour. His experiences were then documented in the book U2: Faraway So Close. Read on...
Read More Photos from an incredible show at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin.
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The performance takes place the night before the real thing take the stage at Croke Park.
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Bill Graham and Niall Stokes take us through the fans' vision of the fab four's dream album. We asked the fans to vote for U2's Greatest Hits and they did - in their thousands. The result is a selection of 20 tracks which would combine to produce a record to rank among the weightiest and most powerful anthologies in the history of rock.
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Zurich turns on to Zoo TV as U2 transmit the greatest show on earth. Report and interview by Bill Graham
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Niall Stokes caught up with U2 before the launch of their debut release U23.
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Upon the release of "Rattle And Hum" in 1988, Bono talked with Liam Mackey about how he confronts the criticisms which have been heaped on U2's sprawling opus, and discusses the price of fame, the dark side of touring, heroes and villains, and the armed struggle in Northern Ireland.
Read More Adam Clayton and The Edge were in top form as they discussed their back to rock 'n' roll basics Rattle And Hum album and film with Niall Stokes.
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Bono and The Edge perform at Canada's 150th year celebration
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Hot Press talked to U2 about their album The Joshua Tree and the relation between American politics and rock 'n' roll music.
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The Edge talked to Bill Graham about his first soundtrack album The Captive amidst the band's making of a new album.
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Bill Graham travelled to Donegal where Bono was filming with Clannad for their collaboration 'In a Lifetime'
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Team Hot Press were front and back of stage when U2 brought the Unforgettable Fire tour to Croke Park in June 1985.
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Bono and Adam talked to Liam Mackey before their Croke Park gig in 1985.
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On their 1984 European tour, U2 talked to Bill Graham about The Unforgettable Fire's realization in Slane Castle - what they called the most ambitious journey yet.
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U2's War tour came home with a massive date headlining the Phoenix Park festival. Bono chatted to Liam Mackey beforehand...
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Bono talked to Bill Graham as WAR hit number one in the UK...
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Adam pocketed a big fat Hot Press contributors’ cheque for documenting their February/March ’82 run round the US
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Elvis Costello and Altered Images had to settle for silver & bronze as the chaps won the overall Hot Press Readers’ Poll Best Act.
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After supervising their efforts in the UK, Hot Press' Bill Graham caught up with the band on the midwest leg of their first American tour...
Read More The man who introduced U2 to Paul McGuinness, Bill Graham joined U2 on their first run round the UK.
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Niall Stokes had a summit conference with the Dublin high-flyers whose debut U2Three EP had just been released.
Read More So-called terrorist "spotters" will mingle with the crowd at the sold-out concert in Croke Park next month to keep a look-out for potential suicide bombers.
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It was 30 years ago that Hot Press met with U2 following the release of their groundbreaking album Joshua Tree...
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U2 posed for pics with Huston cops after their recent gig in Texas and the humorous images have gone viral since being uploaded onto social media.
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It's certainly not a case of "With or Without You!" but more of a case of "without you or with out you" when it comes to the controversial US President attending The Joshua Tree anniversary tour, as far as Bono is concerned. "People who voted for Trump are welcome here but he’s not," Bono has warned.
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Primal Scream, The Doors, Sia, The Cure, Iggy Pop & David Holmes are also getting in on the act!
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The U2 bassist will be honoured at the MAP Fund benefit concert in NYC on June 26.
Read More Today , thirty years to the day since the release of this iconic album, Larry, Adam, Edge and Bono will be live on Twitter at 9.00pm answering questions posted by fans #AskU2#U2TheJoshuaTree2017
Read More Having championed U2 since their earliest days, and been instrumental in introducing them to Paul McGuinness, the late Bill Graham was the music writer who perhaps knew the band best. In a landmark review of the record that made U2 superstars, he analyses the American influences the band had taken onboard – and highlights the qualities that turned the album into a phenomenon.
Read More Today is the 30th anniversary of the release of The Joshua Tree. To occasion, we bring you the last of our key tracks that didn't make it onto the final cut of the album. Stay tuned for our Joshua Tree cover story during the day.
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The Joshua Tree is a hopeful symbol in a world of chaos. Valentina Magli reveals some extraordinary facts about the album that turned U2 into superstars.
Read More The penultimate day of our countdown to the 30th anniversary of The Joshua Tree, where we bring you some key tracks that didn't make it onto the final cut of the album.
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A graphic artist and a musician in his own right, Dublin born Steve Averill has designed every album cover for U2, from Boy to Songs of Innocence. Here, Steve recollects how the seminal cover of The Joshua Tree was created – and emphasises the fresh relevance of the album today.
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On March 9, it will be 30 years since the release of The Joshua Tree, a record that transformed U2 into the biggest rock band in the world. In this issue of Hot Press, we look back to the genesis of the album, how it was put together and and what made it work. And ask: has it stood the test of time?
Read More Day 2 of our countdown to the 30th anniversary of The Joshua Tree, where we bring you some key tracks that didn't make it onto the final cut of the album.
Read More There were a number of key tracks from The Joshua Tree sessions that didn’t make the final album cut. Today, we unveil the first in a series of seven.
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We've the Insiders' Story of how Bono, Edge, Larry & Adam scored one of the fastest-selling albums in rock history...
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Longtime U2 fans have launched a campaign to make a film dedicated to U2's most dedicated followers.
Read More Following the announcement that U2 will be embarking on an American and European tour to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their groundbreaking fifth album, The Joshua Tree has sailed in at No. 3 on this week's Irish Album Chart.
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U2 fans will get the chance to party away in the company of a great tribute band at a special two night event being organised at The Church Bar venue in Dublin on the weekend of the historic Croke Park gig to celebrate the seminal classic album 'The Joshua Tree' in July, it has just been announced.
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Sadly for fans who missed out on tickets for July 22's homecoming, Bono & Co. won't be doubling up at Croker...
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Having yesterday announced a North American and European tour to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their groundbreaking album The Joshua Tree, we can now reveal ticket prices for the July 22 concert at Croke Park and when they can be purchased.
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The Edge has revealed that controversial President-elect Donald Trump’s shock election victory was a contributing factor in U2’s decision to postpone their eagerly anticipated new album, ‘Songs of Experience.’
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They've been known to bash out a mean 'One' cover...
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"The Joshua Tree documents a cultural as well as musical watershed, bookended by the band’s momentous homecoming gigs at Croke Park in ’85 and ’87," he wrote in 2002.
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It took the combined force of Hot Press' Editor Niall Stokes and U2 journalist extraordinaire Bill Graham to thrash it out with the four members of U2 back in 1987 to uncover the method and the magic behind their seminal album THe Joshua Tree.
Read More "It clarifies how U2's vocation has become the revival and renewal of rock and the recovery of its most romantic values," said our man Bill Graham.
Read More The Joshua Tree Tour 2017 is on! The full details have now been announced, with a Croke Park date included...
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Speculation has been rife that a Croke Park date would be included in the rumoured U2 'Joshua Tree Anniversary' tour. PLUS full details of North American Joshua Tree Tour & European Joshua Tree Tour
Read More Speculation has been mounting about a special U2 tour that would celebrate the release of their global smash hit album The Joshua Tree, 30 years on. Well, the announcement will be made this morning...
Read More U2 usually play some of the biggest venues in the world, but they’re now going to give some of their lucky fans the chance to watch them perform in one of the most intimate settings possible for a very worthy cause.
Read More U2 have posted a very interesting Christmas teaser on their website, remarking on the 30th anniversary of The Joshua Tree and hinting about a new album – and all that goes with it
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In our celebration of the 40th Anniversary of U2’s first rehearsal in Larry Mullen’s kitchen, here on hotpress.com we are featuring a stream of articles, recollections and opinions about U2. As part of that extravaganza, for your delight and delectation, we've been highlighting obscure U2 tracks!
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In our celebration of the 40th Anniversary of U2’s first rehearsal in Larry Mullen’s kitchen, here on hotpress.com we are featuring a stream of articles, recollections and opinions about U2. As part of that extravaganza, for your delight and delectation, we've been highlighting obscure U2 tracks!
Read More In our celebration of the 40th Anniversary of U2’s first rehearsal in Larry Mullen’s kitchen, here on hotpress.com we are featuring a stream of articles, recollections and opinions about U2, over the 7 days of 'U2 Week’. As part of that extravaganza, for your delight and delectation, we are nominating an obscure U2 track every day! Your guide to the vaults: Valentina Magli
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It is just over 40 years, since Larry Mullen put the note on the noticeboard in Mount Temple Comprehensive, which led to the formation of U2. As various contributions to this special issue of Hot Press confirm, that gesture changed the world for millions of people all over the globe. But that they are still together is perhaps the band’s greatest achievement...
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In our celebration of the 40th Anniversary of U2’s first rehearsal in Larry Mullen’s kitchen, here on hotpress.com we are featuring a stream of articles, recollections and opinions about U2, over the 7 days of 'U2 Week’. As part of that extravaganza, for your delight and delectation, we are nominating an obscure U2 track every day!
Read More In our celebration of the 40th Anniversary of U2’s first rehearsal in Larry Mullen’s kitchen, here on hotpress.com we are featuring a stream of articles, recollections and opinions about U2, over the 7 days of 'U2 Week’. As part of that extravaganza, for your delight and delectation, we are nominating an obscure U2 track every day!
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McGonagles, in South Anne Street, Dublin, was one of the vital breeding grounds for young rock bands in Ireland towards the end of the 1970s. It was there that U2 did their ‘Jingle Balls’ gigs, which were a crucial formative moment for the band. But negotiating their way through those early days wasn’t always entirely straightforward…
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In our celebration of the 40th Anniversary of U2’s first rehearsal in Larry Mullen’s kitchen, here on hotpress.com we are featuring a stream of articles, recollections and opinions about U2, over the 7 days of 'U2 Week’. As part of that extravaganza, for your delight and delectation, we are nominating an obscure U2 track every day!
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To celebrate the 40th Anniversary of U2’s first rehearsal in Larry Mullen’s kitchen, we will be featuring a steady stream of articles, recollections and opinions about U2, over the next 7 days of 'U2 Week', here on hotpress.com.
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On September 25, 1976, a bunch of young Dublin teenagers, ranging in age from 13 to 16, gathered in a house in Artane to see if they could make a decent noise. Among those present on the day were Larry Mullen – who had made the call for like-minded souls by pinning a note pinned to the notice-board in Mount Temple Comprehensive – Paul Hewson, Adam Clayton and Dave Evans. Also there was Ivan McCormick, an aspiring guitar player, who wanted in on the action…
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In the new issue of Hot Press, Olaf Tyaransen chats with the award-winning filmmaker about the extraordinary events leading up to U2's triumphant gigs in Paris, now immortalised on iNNOCENCE + eXPERIENCE: Live In Paris
Read More The band's unforgettable Paris visit to be released next month
Read More I never met Mozart, I never met Duke Ellington or Charlie Parker I never met Elvis But I met Prince - Bono
Read More Bono, Adam, Larry and the Edge are sitting pretty at Number 3.
Read More The follow-up to Songs of Innocence will be called Songs of Experience
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U2 guitarist honours Irish musician, and explores what guitars mean to him - especially his Signature Stratocaster
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The album will be a companion piece to 2014's Songs of Innocence.
Read More Step this way for a bumper crop of tuneage...
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24 days after the Bataclan tragedy in Paris, U2 gave back to Eagles Of Death Metal the stage that was "stolen from them", as Bono put it, by inviting the five members to join his band in front of 20,000 people. Jean-Pierre Sabouret, who was in The Bataclan on November 13, writes...
Read More Veteran rock journalist Jean-Pierre Sabouret was at Le Bataclan the night of the horrific attack that left 89 dead. He checks in with Hot Press having been there to see the return of Eagles of Death Metal last night
Read More 'People Have The Power' was well and truly kicked out & jammed!
Read More We have to say they made beautiful music together!
Read More The 2FM man checked in with Hot Press following the first of U2's shows in the City of Light. The reaction to the band's much-anticipated return to the French capital, he says, was something special...
Read More There were extraordinary scenes tonight in Paris as Bono, Adam, Edge and Larry took to the stage in AccorHotels Arena
Read More As the iNNOCENCE and eXPERIENCE tour finally comes to Paris, it's sure to be an emotional night. We'll be updating throughout the evening as the City of Lights welcomes Dublin's finest to the first of 2 nights at the AccorHotels Arena. [photo by Eoin McLoughlin]
Read More One of them forgot the words to 'One', but it was still an amazing jam!
Read More Last week, from Monday 23rd November to Saturday 28th November we had the most incredible experience with U2 taking over Dublin in the most thrilling way. Each of the four shows were unique, each night was spectacular.
Read More It was a night full of emotion & great music
Read More 'Angel Of Harlem' becomes 'Angel Of Dublin'!
Read More Bono, Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen knew that when they took the iNNOCENCE + eXPERIENCE tour to Dublin, it would be an emotional time. But even their expectations were surpassed – and then some – on a spectacular final night...
Read More Noel Gallagher and Matt Damon were in the audience as the four-piece from the North side played a final triumphant Dublin show...
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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!
Read More 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.
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With the performance "tight" and the production "stunning", the world's biggest band get off to a terrific start in Vancouver.
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 The late, extremely great Bill Graham joined U2 on the American tour promoting Boy, their classic album, which turns 37 today...
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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.
Read More
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 [email protected] 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
Read More
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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