Zoomerang96
ONE love, blood, life
looks like u2 may be calling it quits soon, according to the Mirror
Irish Sunday Mirror: U2 Larry's Shock Statement on Band's Future
December 8, 2002
From The Irish Sunday Mirror:
We'd Rather Split Up Now and Finish on a High Than Continue 'til We're Boring
U2 Larry's Shock Statement on Band's Future
By Eddie Fitzmaurice
Irish rockers U2 have secretly talked about SPLITTING UP. But don't worry ... it'll only be if they ever
become unpopular.
Drummer Larry Mullen said the band was determined to avoid the fate of other big-name acts who
soldier on into old age for a dwindling army of fans.
"None of us wants to burn out," Mullen said. "We don't want to get shot down for becoming old and
boring. We'd rather go into retirement finishing on a high and knowing we've left a special legacy."
His comments come amid an unprecedented run of success for the band, whose Elevation world tour
helped catapult it to the top of rock's rich list last year.
Although their new U2: Best of 1990-2000 album failed to secure the expected No1 spot when it
entered the American Billboard charts at No3, the success story shows little sign of slowing down.
The band was the subject of a one-hour special on America's CBS network last week, while frontman
Bono was watched by an audience of more than 75 million when he appeared on CNN's Larry King
Show on Monday.
Bono later joined actress Ashley Judd and four-times Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong on
a seven-day tour of the American mid-west aimed at raising awareness of the Aids epidemic in Africa.
The band has also contributed a new song, The Hands That Built America, to the soundtrack of the
much-awaited Irish mob movie, Gangs of New York, and will attend its US premiere just before
Christmas.
U2 guitarist The Edge said it was essential the band maintained its drive and commitment to ensure
a third decade of success.
"A band is like a street gang," he said.
"It makes sense when you're 20 and gets harder as you get older.
"It means so much that we're still very close friends. There is a huge amount of support and leeway.
There's honest criticism, which keeps pushing us forward. But there's very little need to watch your
back."
This is not the first time that and members have cast doubt on the band's long -term future.
Speaking earlier this year, Larry admitted Bono's political crusades had an unsettling effect on the
band.
He told America's 60 Minutes programme that Bono's absence was felt whenever he took a break
to campaign on issues such as Third World debt.
"It does interfere with the band," Larry said.
"It's a four-legged table, and with one leg missing, even for short periods of time, the thing becomes
a little unstable."
He said U2 strived to stay at the cutting edge of music and never stopped looking over their shoulder
for the challenge posed by new stars.
One such star - Britney Spears - provided the inspiration for the hit single Beautiful Day from U2's
mega-selling All That You Can't Leave Behind album, he claimed.
"We took the attitude that some of those new people were making very good pop music. Do we
fight it or compete with it? Beautiful Day was us competing with Britney Spears.
"OK, she won, but we don't see it as a threat. It's a challenge. We don't want to be part of some rock
elite."
A recent Time Magazine profile of Bono claimed U2 came close to splitting in 1997 after the release
of the Pop album - the first flop of the band's career.
The Edge told the magazine they were forced to sit down and ask if there was a compelling reason
to continue being in a band.
"We asked ourselves why are you still around," The Edge said.
"You know, you made some great records. But why are you still making records?
"Part of what we decided is that we had a sense or belief that we can still make the album of the year."
U2 played to over two million people during last year's Elevation world tour, raking in an estimated
EUR400 million.
---
what has happened to u2? if we didnt have proof before that their primary goal is popularity before, then we definately have it now.
i mean dont get me wrong, im all for bands knowing when to call it quits.
but citing britney spears as the inspiration? who gives a shit about her? why are they so possessed by such crap? just make good music and if its meant to be popular, it will be!
Irish Sunday Mirror: U2 Larry's Shock Statement on Band's Future
December 8, 2002
From The Irish Sunday Mirror:
We'd Rather Split Up Now and Finish on a High Than Continue 'til We're Boring
U2 Larry's Shock Statement on Band's Future
By Eddie Fitzmaurice
Irish rockers U2 have secretly talked about SPLITTING UP. But don't worry ... it'll only be if they ever
become unpopular.
Drummer Larry Mullen said the band was determined to avoid the fate of other big-name acts who
soldier on into old age for a dwindling army of fans.
"None of us wants to burn out," Mullen said. "We don't want to get shot down for becoming old and
boring. We'd rather go into retirement finishing on a high and knowing we've left a special legacy."
His comments come amid an unprecedented run of success for the band, whose Elevation world tour
helped catapult it to the top of rock's rich list last year.
Although their new U2: Best of 1990-2000 album failed to secure the expected No1 spot when it
entered the American Billboard charts at No3, the success story shows little sign of slowing down.
The band was the subject of a one-hour special on America's CBS network last week, while frontman
Bono was watched by an audience of more than 75 million when he appeared on CNN's Larry King
Show on Monday.
Bono later joined actress Ashley Judd and four-times Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong on
a seven-day tour of the American mid-west aimed at raising awareness of the Aids epidemic in Africa.
The band has also contributed a new song, The Hands That Built America, to the soundtrack of the
much-awaited Irish mob movie, Gangs of New York, and will attend its US premiere just before
Christmas.
U2 guitarist The Edge said it was essential the band maintained its drive and commitment to ensure
a third decade of success.
"A band is like a street gang," he said.
"It makes sense when you're 20 and gets harder as you get older.
"It means so much that we're still very close friends. There is a huge amount of support and leeway.
There's honest criticism, which keeps pushing us forward. But there's very little need to watch your
back."
This is not the first time that and members have cast doubt on the band's long -term future.
Speaking earlier this year, Larry admitted Bono's political crusades had an unsettling effect on the
band.
He told America's 60 Minutes programme that Bono's absence was felt whenever he took a break
to campaign on issues such as Third World debt.
"It does interfere with the band," Larry said.
"It's a four-legged table, and with one leg missing, even for short periods of time, the thing becomes
a little unstable."
He said U2 strived to stay at the cutting edge of music and never stopped looking over their shoulder
for the challenge posed by new stars.
One such star - Britney Spears - provided the inspiration for the hit single Beautiful Day from U2's
mega-selling All That You Can't Leave Behind album, he claimed.
"We took the attitude that some of those new people were making very good pop music. Do we
fight it or compete with it? Beautiful Day was us competing with Britney Spears.
"OK, she won, but we don't see it as a threat. It's a challenge. We don't want to be part of some rock
elite."
A recent Time Magazine profile of Bono claimed U2 came close to splitting in 1997 after the release
of the Pop album - the first flop of the band's career.
The Edge told the magazine they were forced to sit down and ask if there was a compelling reason
to continue being in a band.
"We asked ourselves why are you still around," The Edge said.
"You know, you made some great records. But why are you still making records?
"Part of what we decided is that we had a sense or belief that we can still make the album of the year."
U2 played to over two million people during last year's Elevation world tour, raking in an estimated
EUR400 million.
---
what has happened to u2? if we didnt have proof before that their primary goal is popularity before, then we definately have it now.
i mean dont get me wrong, im all for bands knowing when to call it quits.
but citing britney spears as the inspiration? who gives a shit about her? why are they so possessed by such crap? just make good music and if its meant to be popular, it will be!
