"It sounds very rock and roll"

U2 manager Paul McGuinness has been enthusing about the band's new album, which is nearing completion in their Hanover Quay studio.
"I've heard a lot of the stuff, they seem to have about 20 tunes on board at the moment," he reveals. "I always say I'm no judge in the early stages. I'm better at hearing it when it's nearly finished. That said, it sounds very exciting to me, very rock and roll, very direct as you would expect with Chris Thomas producing. The band keep making him tell them Beatles stories!"
As for the pace of the sessions McGuinness continues: "Every now and again Bono goes off to do political work which provides a natural break. He and Edge have also just spent a week in France writing lyrics. Our studio set-up in Dublin has worked very well over the years and although we are sanguine about moving on, we would have been happy to stay there forever."
There seems to be a real possibility of the album sneaking into the shops before Christmas.
"Bono has been mentioning this year, and it would be great to have it out by the end of the year but I've no idea really," McGuinness proffers, "I'm just reminding everyone that we must learn from past mistakes and not release it before it's finished."
Asked about a tour, McGuinness confirms what The Edge said in the last issue of Hot Press and says, "That I would expect for next year."
On the extracurricular front, Paul McGuinness and Mean Fiddler supremo Vince Power are two of the shareholders in Ireland's first regional radio service, Beat 102/103, which launches on July 1 at 1.02pm. The coverage area includes Carlow, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford.
Given McGuinness and Power's involvement the schedule seems a little light on rock, although Edel Dooley will be cranking it up every Saturday from 6.00 to 7.50pm on Irishbeats.
With the emphasis on young, homegrown talent you'd be well advised to send demos and finished product to Beat 102/103, The Broadcast Centre, Ardkeen, Waterford City.