U2 not leaving it all behind

Paul McGuinness has confirmed that it’s full steam ahead, not back to the drawing board, for the new U2 record as Steve Lillywhite takes over the production reins from Chris Thomas.

“There are various producers involved in this album,” the U2 manager reflects. “Chris has done some great work. It’s good to work with Steve again but it’s not as if we’re starting from scratch.”
That didn’t appear to be the case last week when Lillywhite told American trade bible, Billboard: “It’s the first time I’ll have gone in to actually start a record with them in 20 years. I worked on The Joshua Tree, Achtung Baby and All That You Can’t Leave Behind, but this will be the first time I’ve really set up the mikes and done everything for a long time. I’ve heard some great songs. The Edge is playing some really great guitar.”
Lillywhite is in fact the third producer to be brought in, with Daniel Lanois doing some low grade tweaking last October when he was in Dublin for shows.
According to a source close to the band: “Cynics are bound to go, ‘That’s McGuinness glossing over the fact that they’re unhappy with Chris Thomas’, but my understanding is that Steve Lillywhite really has been brought in as additional producer, not a replacement. The attitude in the camp is, ‘Let’s take the extra month or two and get it absolutely right.”
Paul McGuinness said much the same thing last June when asked about the work-in-progress.
“It sounds very exciting to me, very rock ‘n’ roll, very direct,” he enthused before adding as a proviso: “I’m just reminding everyone that we must learn from past mistakes and not release it before it’s finished.”
So when can we expect U2’s 12th studio album to make it into the shops? While the original late April/early May release date has long since been abandoned, there’s still every chance of it hitting the racks before Christmas.
“U2 aren’t like other bands in that they can make and break release dates without the record company screaming at them,” our source continues. “My understanding is that they’re aiming for September/October but if necessary will wait until March or April 2005. What you won’t get this side of Christmas is a tour.”
Steve Lillywhite is returning to full-time production after two years as joint MD of Mercury Records.
“The time I’ve spent in the studio recently with The Rapture has made me realise getting up early for management meetings is not for me,” he laughs.
It’s perhaps no coincidence that the NYC guitar merchants are the latest addition to Paul McGuinness’ Principle Management stable, and were paternally watched over by him this month when they played the Dublin Village.
Meanwhile, The Edge has also been busy recording the theme tune for the new TV version of Batman. Due to premiere Stateside in the summer, the series reverts to the Adam West-style comedy Caped Crusader of the ’60s with West returning in the role of Mayor Grange. Bruce Wayne – now upgraded from millionaire to billionaire status – is being played by Rino Ramano who’s previously been heard but not seen in the cartoon versions of Spiderman, Ghostbusters and Men In Black.
It’s not the first time U2 have visited Gotham City – the whole band contributed ‘Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me’ to 1995’s Batman Forever.