jick
Refugee
Excerpts from Joe Whiley's show:
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Joe: How do you feel about this album?
Mullen: I went through a period ...... each song had a different memory, some of them were difficult ....now that I'm deconstructing the song and starting to relearn them, they (the HTDAAB songs) have lost little bit of the emotional thing ...
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My take on the above line is that Mullen moved heaven and earth to avoid the question. He didn't mention a feeling when the question asked for a feeling. He chose a long winding answer that totally evaded the question. Yet he provided hints about songs having a difficult memory. Mullen also indicated that to practice the new songs, he has to listen to a recording of the album with the drum track on the left speaker and the song on the right speaker. That is everything short of admitting his unhappiness over the drum mix of the album - that he couldn't get to hear the drums loud enough so he needed his customized mix. Mullen also admits that Edge told him to revise his drumming style for All Because Of You. I guess it shows that Mullen is anything but the boss in U2. Even Edge gives him orders. Perhaps these are the difficult memories he is talking about.
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Mullen: I'd much prefer to manage him (Mullen's 9 year old son as a football player) when he's 17 and get out of this rock'n'roll business.
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So that's a maximum of eight years left for U2 as a band. If Mullen is still around during that time, it could only be two possible things: (1) he is not doing what he prefers and is an unhappy drummer with the band, or (2) he lost his son (health reasons or career-ending injury - God forbid; or through a divorce where he doesn't have custody).
When you look at the bigger picture, the entire totality - there is a pattern that emerges - even starting from the declaration by Mullen that he wants to start an acting career. The pattern or the indication that comes out of all this is that Mullen has been sending hints and feeders already that the end is near.
Sure Bono is now the high profile icon of U2. Edge is the unique guitar hero. Clayton doesn't really matter anyway. So where does that leave Mullen? As the powerless disgruntled nobody? I don't think so. What Mullen had giveth he can taketh away.
Mullen gave life to U2. He started U2 by the postings on the bulletin board in their school. So it should only be fitting that Mullen will be the one to take away the life of U2 as a band.
I thank Mullen for giving us a time frame (8 years) for the band to disband. It is actually better than to have a sudden death or disbandment. I wish Mullen luck in his acting career and football managing career and whatever future endeavors he wishes to embark up in the post-U2 era.
Cheers,
J
-------------------------------
Joe: How do you feel about this album?
Mullen: I went through a period ...... each song had a different memory, some of them were difficult ....now that I'm deconstructing the song and starting to relearn them, they (the HTDAAB songs) have lost little bit of the emotional thing ...
-------------------------------
My take on the above line is that Mullen moved heaven and earth to avoid the question. He didn't mention a feeling when the question asked for a feeling. He chose a long winding answer that totally evaded the question. Yet he provided hints about songs having a difficult memory. Mullen also indicated that to practice the new songs, he has to listen to a recording of the album with the drum track on the left speaker and the song on the right speaker. That is everything short of admitting his unhappiness over the drum mix of the album - that he couldn't get to hear the drums loud enough so he needed his customized mix. Mullen also admits that Edge told him to revise his drumming style for All Because Of You. I guess it shows that Mullen is anything but the boss in U2. Even Edge gives him orders. Perhaps these are the difficult memories he is talking about.
------------------------------
Mullen: I'd much prefer to manage him (Mullen's 9 year old son as a football player) when he's 17 and get out of this rock'n'roll business.
-------------------------------
So that's a maximum of eight years left for U2 as a band. If Mullen is still around during that time, it could only be two possible things: (1) he is not doing what he prefers and is an unhappy drummer with the band, or (2) he lost his son (health reasons or career-ending injury - God forbid; or through a divorce where he doesn't have custody).
When you look at the bigger picture, the entire totality - there is a pattern that emerges - even starting from the declaration by Mullen that he wants to start an acting career. The pattern or the indication that comes out of all this is that Mullen has been sending hints and feeders already that the end is near.
Sure Bono is now the high profile icon of U2. Edge is the unique guitar hero. Clayton doesn't really matter anyway. So where does that leave Mullen? As the powerless disgruntled nobody? I don't think so. What Mullen had giveth he can taketh away.
Mullen gave life to U2. He started U2 by the postings on the bulletin board in their school. So it should only be fitting that Mullen will be the one to take away the life of U2 as a band.
I thank Mullen for giving us a time frame (8 years) for the band to disband. It is actually better than to have a sudden death or disbandment. I wish Mullen luck in his acting career and football managing career and whatever future endeavors he wishes to embark up in the post-U2 era.
Cheers,
J
Dammit! 
But, we will always have the music, and the memories, the pictures, and everything else we love. I'm not worried about the future, I'm enjoying the present. And presently, we have a new album and a new tour and more excitement than my nervous system is prepared to take. But that's quite OK. 
