Alan Cross interview with Daniel Lanois / 360 Degree Stage Set-Up / Updated 01-22-09

[david]

Everytime I think 360 degree stage set up I think that the stage is continously moving 360 degrees so that everyone gets a glimpse of U2.

Can you imagine Bono doing his running around bit during Streets, but not actually going anywhere because the stage is rotating?

 

[subnet]

^ hahaha
quite funny

call it:
U2 Music Box Tour

 

[rihannsu]

Can you imagine Bono doing his running around bit during Streets, but not actually going anywhere because the stage is rotating?

Hampster wheel anyone?

Dana

 

[Vlad n U 2]

Can you imagine Bono doing his running around bit during Streets, but not actually going anywhere because the stage is rotating?

He'll just be running on the spot.

 

[Sken]

or 'Running to Stand Still'

 

[AndrewCowley]

Can you imagine Bono doing his running around bit during Streets, but not actually going anywhere because the stage is rotating?

Sounds like the Lemon video.

 

[rihannsu]

or 'Running to Stand Still'

WIN

Dana

 

[Muldfeld]

Where's the damn next part of the interview. Aarrrgghh!

 

[mama cass]

Hampster wheel anyone?

Dana

*tears*

 

[kennerado]

ugh. Believe it or not there was an idea for POPMart where screens moved on trucks around the stadium.

Given the logistics of a stadium show and the current economic situation, it will be every interesting to see how the band does it IF they do stadiums only. Stadiums only would suck, I've already seen them live in a stadium. I want the arena experience now, haha.

 

[Peterrrrr]

His new character is Running Hampsterman, new mirrorballman

 

[Gank13]

I'm in a place called vertigo...no S**T!

 

[MikeyJB]

Unfortunately the rotating centre-stadium is nothing new - Foo Fighters did that on their huge Wembley gigs last year. Although by all accounts it was quite primitive and could be greatly improved on. The idea of a Planetarium style 3D video thing going on above them is wicked!

 

[The Sad Punk]

I think Justin Timberlake had the 360 thing. Also, you could order drinks from a bar around the stage, which is certainly a must have for U2.

 

[AndrewCowley]

I think Justin Timberlake had the 360 thing. Also, you could order drinks from a bar around the stage, which is certainly a must have for U2.

If they bring back the acoustic section of the show then yeah we'd need that. Zzzzzzz..........

 

[MikeyJB]

The acoustic stuff at the London Mencap gig was anything but zzzzzzz I thought.

 

[last unicorn]

I LOVE accoustic. I hope they'll do more accoustic stuff for the next tour. It's not all about big production, accoustic gives them a chance to focus on the music alone with only guitar and voice.

 

[mikal]

Part 2 is up:

I called Daniel Lanois on Monday and, among other things, we talked about the new U2 album.

This is part two of that interview.

Alan Cross: So, putting together an album is a very intricate sort of a thing. You guys started working in Fez. Where did you go from there?

Daneil Lanois: We started in Fez Morocco because we wanted a musical and exotic location. One of my first conversations with Bono was one about future hymns—spiritual songs for the future—and he was at the opinion that Morocco would be a great crossroads for a universal feeling for the album.

AC: Did it work?


DL: I think it worked, it set a lovely tone. But the funny thing is everything sounded a little more Moroccan without even ever being to Morocco. So just by having the thought in our heads, it meant that are preparations prior to arriving in Morocco already had a little bit of exoticism in them.

AC: Where else was the album written and recorded?

DL: We were in the south of France for a good part of it, and that was fantastic because we were away from are usual pre occupations. And it was nice to be looking at the Mediterranean every morning. I feel that just as much came out of France as came out of Marico.

But we have always done well in locations out of the ordinary, out of the formal recording studio actually, so working in Marico and France was a continuation of that angle or philosophy that we always operated by.

AC: Well I guess you have no place else to go because Hanover key is gone. It’s been expropriated, the land has been expropriated they were suppose to build a tower there.

DL: Well U2 still have there digs in Dublin but I think there is talk about a relocation, but it has not happened yet.

AC: With this album were you again the hands on guy, and was Eno the oblique strategies bowfin in the background?

DL: We had a great beginning on this record, Eno and I, with the band huddled up and no holds barred just had a lot of fun for a few weeks trying all kind of angles and jams.

We all brought something to the table on this time around, Eno is a great man for bringing in prepared rhythmus for Larry to play. too. So we had a lot of fun with that and my technological beginnings.


I have much more from Daniel throughout the week. Check my blog tomorrow for part three of that interview.

 

[bram]

Awesome, thanks mikal. Thank goodness Eno is teaching Larry how to do something that is actually interesting.

 

[lauramullen]

Thanks for the next part.

 

[mikal]

we'll see what the next 2 parts bring, but it really doesn't seem like he got many specifics about certain songs. i could have written this transcript off of the stuff i already know, lol.

 

[bram]

we'll see what the next 2 parts bring, but it really doesn't seem like he got many specifics about certain songs. i could have written this transcript off of the stuff i already know, lol.

Yeah, it's weird how Q and RS had a bunch of song "spoilers" but all of a sudden it seems U2 wants everyone to keep quiet on the songs.

A strange thought just occurred to me: do you think that U2 asked Q and RS to keep hype in check with their stories? Probably not, but it seems like they are very determinedly trying to do something different with pre-album hype (or more accurately, non-hype).

 

[mikal]

Yeah, it's weird how Q and RS had a bunch of song "spoilers" but all of a sudden it seems U2 wants everyone to keep quiet on the songs.

A strange thought just occurred to me: do you think that U2 asked Q and RS to keep hype in check with their stories? Probably not, but it seems like they are very determinedly trying to do something different with pre-album hype (or more accurately, non-hype).

yeah, it's very weird. and it almost makes me wonder how dated the Q and RS articles were, considering they referred to "WOS" as "Winter" and no mention of "Fez - Being Born", though maybe that's "Tripoli". Maybe there were some huge developments in the last couple weeks in December that the band wants to be a surprise. There's also the issue of the possibility of having instrumentals on the Corbijn film, so maybe the band is trying to keep that a secret also.

 

[PowerSurge]

Some people need to get out more.

Yeah because all I do is sit at home, watch Jerry Springer all day and post on this site.

I LOVE accoustic. I hope they'll do more accoustic stuff for the next tour. It's not all about big production, accoustic gives them a chance to focus on the music alone with only guitar and voice.

Me too. I love the balance of in your face rock tunes and softer intimate acoustic tunes during concerts.

LMAO

You wish you were Alan Cross. He's a legend, kiddo.

Obviously not "legendary" enough for me to have heard about him before, kiddo.

 

[Tyagu_Anaykus]

I can see that being true, mikal

 

[PowerSurge]

yeah, it's very weird. and it almost makes me wonder how dated the Q and RS articles were, considering they referred to "WOS" as "Winter" and no mention of "Fez - Being Born", though maybe that's "Tripoli". Maybe there were some huge developments in the last couple weeks in December that the band wants to be a surprise. There's also the issue of the possibility of having instrumentals on the Corbijn film, so maybe the band is trying to keep that a secret also.

Judging by the frantic activity that was going on when BOTH magazine interviewers were there, you can probably assume that the album went down to the wire and multiple changes were made.

 

[bram]

Wait, did someone really claim Alan Cross is a legend? What? To who and why?

 

[chrissybaby]

Cheers for the post, but why did he ask questions everybody knew the answers to?!
If I hear one more time about Morocco.. (or handplayed Electronica come to that)!

 

[Reggie Thee Dog]

yeah, it's very weird. and it almost makes me wonder how dated the Q and RS articles were, considering they referred to "WOS" as "Winter" and no mention of "Fez - Being Born", though maybe that's "Tripoli". Maybe there were some huge developments in the last couple weeks in December that the band wants to be a surprise. There's also the issue of the possibility of having instrumentals on the Corbijn film, so maybe the band is trying to keep that a secret also.

This is the most secretive album since Achtung Baby...no leaks...nothing...

I'm hoping for a similar album...in terms of a new sound and sonic territory...I'm really feeling the hype now...

 

[PowerSurge]

Wait, did someone really claim Alan Cross is a legend? What? To who and why?

Well, seeing WHO it came from....I would render the comment irrelevant. But it was made towards me.