U2 are reportedly keen to release a brand new “guitar driven” LP as soon as possible, according to their guitarist, The Edge.
This comes after frontman Bono had stated last October that the band were to release a “noisy, uncompromising, unreasonable guitar album”, which meant shelving original plans to release an album called ‘Songs of Ascent’.
“We all make mistakes. The progressive-rock virus gets in, and we needed a vaccine. The discipline of our songwriting, the thing that made U2 – top-line melody, clear thoughts – had gone”, Bono said back in October.
He continued, “With the band, I was like, this is not what we do, and we can only do that experimental stuff if we have the songwriting chops. So we went to songwriting school, and we’re back and we’re good! Over those two albums, ‘Songs Of Innocence and Experience’, our songwriting returned. Now we need to put the firepower of rock ‘n’ roll back”.
“I don’t know who is going to make our f***-off rock ‘n’ roll album. You almost want an AC/DC, you want Mutt Lange. The approach. The discipline. The songwriting discipline. That’s what we want”.
“that’s just who I am”
In further developments, guitarist The Edge has revealed that U2 are keen to release an album as soon as possible.
“As soon as possible”, the Edge told Rolling Stone.
“But, of course, that’s just who I am. I think Bono is of the same ilk. We’re anxious and would love to get them out, but there will be a lot of options and other advice we’ll be taking about when to drop some new material. But just to say, we’ve been busy and very inspired creating new stuff”, he added.
The Edge also spoke about Bono’s take on a guitar album.
“Personally, I feel like the guitar as an instrument … not in terms of being loved and played by so many musicians around the world, both professional and amateur, but in terms of its presence in the streaming music charts, it’s been in the wilderness for a little while. I feel myself that there’s a resurgence of interest in guitar. I sort of feel it instinctually. It’s starting to percolate up. I feel the timing is right”, he said.
U2 have already confirmed plans to release an album on St Patrick’s Day, which they have spent the last few months previewing with teaser tracks. More on this here.
The band have also announced plans for a major Las Vegas residency.
Speaking of Bono, the singer’s son Elijah Hewson is certainly a chip of the old block. Hewson’s band Inhaler recently bagged their second number one in the Irish charts, with the release of ‘Cuts and Bruises’.
