Have you guys seen this yet? Adam skype to the Cleveland party
https://www.periscope.tv/w/1ZkKzWeMgogGv
Very cool! Thanks!! I've got a lazy Sunday ahead so I've watched a bit and wrote down some interesting nuggets:
-In the opening seconds Adam Clayton says the next album is "definitely Songs of Experience". So that may put some of the rampant speculation lately at ease..
-Dave Fanning asked if they're thinking of taking the next tour outdoors and Adam says they're waiting to see the reaction to these songs but he thinks in his heart the next tour is an indoor tour.
-Interestingly he also mentions Songs of Ascent is still a project in the works (but down the line) and thinks that those eventual songs will have them return to stadiums/outdoor gigs. Later on he says it is indeed in the pipeline and they will return to it at some point.
-Dave: "Any fights in the studio lately?" Adam: "No everyone's been getting along well. The usual musical fights, and what to have for dinner, etc but everyone's getting on"
-Dave asked about the Rick Rubin sessions from a few years back (around NLOTH) with a supposed full album done that never surfaced. He asked if parts of that might surface ahead or if they might be reused in the next release. Adam said parts of it might exist but we won't hear it in that form. They might take a riff or idea from it but if they were ever to record with Rick Rubin again, they would start from scratch.
-SOE feels like the end of a cycle for them. They don't think they'll be this intense in the future and after this cycle "it's wide open for us." Said something like in 4-5 years who knows where that might take them.
-They do want to continue the i+e tour around the world to parts they haven't been. Want to incorporate the SOE songs and hit a bunch more cities. They talked about 2017 as if it was certain. Adam said it'll be the same sort of production as we've seen but with new songs and in new cities.
-Dave asked about the gap between albums and said "the last cycle took 5.5 years between albums. The Beatles were only around for 7!" Adam and the crowd cracked up and he said "We obviously feel it's too long, it's just what seems to happen. Each record seems to take longer than the last."
-Dave grilled him at the end about hearing nothing new in 2016 while the band previously suggested it. "We were supposed to get something, we got NOTHING" and Adam nervously laughed and said "There is no certainty in life." End interview.
tl;dr: SOE is indeed the next album. SOA still in the pipeline, albeit years ahead. i+e tour likely staying indoors and seemingly continuing in 2017 in more cities/countries with same production plus SOE songs (so.. album beforehand?).