News Regarding U2's Next Album and Tour
The down time between the conclusion of one tour and the flurry of action concerning a new album's release always seems to drag on. Unfortunately, U2 fans know that all too well. But this current quiet period U2 has embraced may soon be coming to an end. Over the last few months, minor tidbits of information has leaked out regarding the near future of U2, when it comes to both a new album as well as a new tour.
It has been nearly 21 months since The Claw was disassembled for the final time on the historic 360 Tour in Moncton, so it's about time we have another U2 tour to get excited about. Let's recap what we have heard thus far.
December 2012: Paul McGuinness tells the Irish Independent that the next U2 record is planned for a 2013 release, saying that "2012 has been very busy. There's always activity, so certainly expect a new record."
Early January 2013: In a radio interview with Irish DJ (and great friend of the band) Dave Fanning, Larry Mullen Jr. says that U2 is planning to release their new record in September 2013.
"I'd say we will be finished by the summer - and hopefully we will have something released by September. Hopefully what we will be able to do is release September this year and shortly afterwards, release again."
Larry also confirms that the band continues to work with producer Danger Mouse and that songs such as Glastonbury and Return Of The Stingray Guitar are still around, but have been rewritten.
Late January 2013: The Edge tells an Irish Sun reporter at the opening of an art exhibit that ""We're looking at having it out around the end of the summer."
February 2013: At a press conference for a charity event in Dublin, Adam Clayton says that U2 is "in the middle of it at the moment. It should be finished by the end of the year."
Clayton also tells Hot Press that ""We very much want to have a record out by the end of the year, September, October, November; that kind of time. We're working with Dangermouse who's a smart guy. He's on it; he's excited. It's a great team and feels very liberating at the moment -- anything goes. We have an abundance of riches, we could make three or four different records and justify that to ourselves, but to make the best record you can, you have to steer away from the ones you can make easily. We're really trying to get into territory that we're not comfortable in. If that makes sense."
March 2013: Even Ali Hewson gets in on the new album hype, telling The Guardian that "They're well down the road on the new album and it sounds good. That's all I'm saying."
Early April: Spanish radio station iCat FM reported that U2 are planning a 36-show mini-tour in 2014, composed of six concerts in six different cities before embarking on a full-scale world tour in 2015. For those who might be skeptical of such news, iCat FM has a history of breaking U2 news such as the production of U23D and the tour-starting Barcelona concerts in 2009.
Early April: A second Spanish report states that U2 has confirmed to Universal Music that U2's new album will "probably" be released in October 2013 with a supporting world tour (!!! = my excited tone) beginning in March 2014.
Mid April: Dallas Schoo tells fans outside of U2's Dublin headquarters that U2 is working hard on the new album with Danger Mouse and it should be ready for release by the end of the year. He also stated that he was unaware of a possible six city mini-tour.
Late April: Steve Averill of AMP Visual (and a longtime member of U2's design team) states that he and his team were scheduled to meet with the band "in a week's time".
Clearly there have been more new album rumors than rumblings of a tour, but that is to be expected. What would certainly be unexpected is a potential 36 concert promotional tour in six cities on either side of the Atlantic Ocean.
In fairness, the probability of this actually occurring is minuscule in my opinion, but it certainly makes you wonder. What cities would these concerts be held? What would a potential setlist look like? When it comes to the possible sites of these shows, one would think that London and New York would be a lock, while Dublin, Berlin, Paris, Los Angeles, Boston, Montreal, Chicago and Rome would all be strong possibilities. I would guess that at least two North American cities would be chosen, but who knows. Imagine the excitement that six mini-residencies would stir up, though.
As to what any potential setlist would look like, my best guess is that new material would be heavily featured, with some warhorses thrown into the mix. But that's a given, isn't it? All I know is that there will not be a tour without an album preceding it, so right now, I'm looking forward to some new U2 material more than anything.
Lastly, I would just like to introduce myself to the many U2 fans out there that frequent U2gigs. My name is Chris and I have joined this wonderful team as a news writer. I am 21-years-old (22 in a few weeks) and I currently reside in New York City, where I am wrapping up my studies at university. I mainly cover sports for the local newspapers in the area, but I have a fervent passion for everything U2, especially their live history! Sadly, I have only seen U2 in concert three times (In Foxboro on 360's first North American Leg in 2009, in Philadelphia on 360's last leg in 2011 and at the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame's 25th anniversary concert in New York back in 2009 as well) but with a new tour looming, I hope to make that number grow much higher. And who knows, maybe I'll even be able to partake in live tweeting U2 concerts all around the world with you! I will be sure to post updates on any breaking U2 news in the coming months, so check back here often! The next tour is only getting closer.
It has been nearly 21 months since The Claw was disassembled for the final time on the historic 360 Tour in Moncton, so it's about time we have another U2 tour to get excited about. Let's recap what we have heard thus far.
December 2012: Paul McGuinness tells the Irish Independent that the next U2 record is planned for a 2013 release, saying that "2012 has been very busy. There's always activity, so certainly expect a new record."
Early January 2013: In a radio interview with Irish DJ (and great friend of the band) Dave Fanning, Larry Mullen Jr. says that U2 is planning to release their new record in September 2013.
"I'd say we will be finished by the summer - and hopefully we will have something released by September. Hopefully what we will be able to do is release September this year and shortly afterwards, release again."
Larry also confirms that the band continues to work with producer Danger Mouse and that songs such as Glastonbury and Return Of The Stingray Guitar are still around, but have been rewritten.
Late January 2013: The Edge tells an Irish Sun reporter at the opening of an art exhibit that ""We're looking at having it out around the end of the summer."
February 2013: At a press conference for a charity event in Dublin, Adam Clayton says that U2 is "in the middle of it at the moment. It should be finished by the end of the year."
Clayton also tells Hot Press that ""We very much want to have a record out by the end of the year, September, October, November; that kind of time. We're working with Dangermouse who's a smart guy. He's on it; he's excited. It's a great team and feels very liberating at the moment -- anything goes. We have an abundance of riches, we could make three or four different records and justify that to ourselves, but to make the best record you can, you have to steer away from the ones you can make easily. We're really trying to get into territory that we're not comfortable in. If that makes sense."
March 2013: Even Ali Hewson gets in on the new album hype, telling The Guardian that "They're well down the road on the new album and it sounds good. That's all I'm saying."
Early April: Spanish radio station iCat FM reported that U2 are planning a 36-show mini-tour in 2014, composed of six concerts in six different cities before embarking on a full-scale world tour in 2015. For those who might be skeptical of such news, iCat FM has a history of breaking U2 news such as the production of U23D and the tour-starting Barcelona concerts in 2009.
Early April: A second Spanish report states that U2 has confirmed to Universal Music that U2's new album will "probably" be released in October 2013 with a supporting world tour (!!! = my excited tone) beginning in March 2014.
Mid April: Dallas Schoo tells fans outside of U2's Dublin headquarters that U2 is working hard on the new album with Danger Mouse and it should be ready for release by the end of the year. He also stated that he was unaware of a possible six city mini-tour.
Late April: Steve Averill of AMP Visual (and a longtime member of U2's design team) states that he and his team were scheduled to meet with the band "in a week's time".
Clearly there have been more new album rumors than rumblings of a tour, but that is to be expected. What would certainly be unexpected is a potential 36 concert promotional tour in six cities on either side of the Atlantic Ocean.
In fairness, the probability of this actually occurring is minuscule in my opinion, but it certainly makes you wonder. What cities would these concerts be held? What would a potential setlist look like? When it comes to the possible sites of these shows, one would think that London and New York would be a lock, while Dublin, Berlin, Paris, Los Angeles, Boston, Montreal, Chicago and Rome would all be strong possibilities. I would guess that at least two North American cities would be chosen, but who knows. Imagine the excitement that six mini-residencies would stir up, though.
As to what any potential setlist would look like, my best guess is that new material would be heavily featured, with some warhorses thrown into the mix. But that's a given, isn't it? All I know is that there will not be a tour without an album preceding it, so right now, I'm looking forward to some new U2 material more than anything.
Lastly, I would just like to introduce myself to the many U2 fans out there that frequent U2gigs. My name is Chris and I have joined this wonderful team as a news writer. I am 21-years-old (22 in a few weeks) and I currently reside in New York City, where I am wrapping up my studies at university. I mainly cover sports for the local newspapers in the area, but I have a fervent passion for everything U2, especially their live history! Sadly, I have only seen U2 in concert three times (In Foxboro on 360's first North American Leg in 2009, in Philadelphia on 360's last leg in 2011 and at the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame's 25th anniversary concert in New York back in 2009 as well) but with a new tour looming, I hope to make that number grow much higher. And who knows, maybe I'll even be able to partake in live tweeting U2 concerts all around the world with you! I will be sure to post updates on any breaking U2 news in the coming months, so check back here often! The next tour is only getting closer.
Posted on by Chris