50 Years In, What's the Point of U2? Bono and the Edge Have Answers.
Summary
David Marchese of the New York Times interviews Bono and The Edge in Dublin to celebrate U2’s 50th anniversary and the release of their new album, Carnival de Luz. The band discusses the record’s theme of "defiant joy" as a counter to global despair, while addressing their spiritual influences and the nature of evil. They also reflect on their creative evolution, the challenges of reaching new audiences in the streaming era, and their upcoming tour concept.
Topics discussed
Sponsor: A Few Good Men on Broadway
Intro: U2 in Dublin and interview setup
Legacy: Being the best vs. biggest band
Pop charts and the influence of Prince
Faith, doubt, and gospel influences in music
Navigating pop mechanics and audience comfort
Religious roots and the journey of doubt
Career highlights and confidence in the work
The song 'Glorify' and its minimal demo
Origins: Larry's kitchen and teenage experiments
Bono's early reputation and the band's formation
Band names, mythology, and the Ramones
Past interview at Jimmy's Corner Pub
Evolution of the 'Carnival de Luz' concept
Collaborations and pandemic-era creation
Defiant joy as a countervailing mood
Defiance vs. fiddling while Rome burns
The need for a reset in the digital age
Rage, melancholy, and the place for wailing
Sponsor: A Talent for Murder film
Sponsor: Vanguard bond funds
Protest album without proper nouns
Picking the fight with the author of the mess
Concept of evil and 'If the World is at War'
Lyrics on illumination and gratitude for evil
'The People of the Lie' and malignant narcissism
Naming names in 'Days of Ash' vs. new album
Separating administration from left/right politics
Inviting conservative voters back
Aid work and the context of global evil
DOGE cuts and potential child fatalities
Test of faith: Loving enemies and 'Glorify'
Crisis in the left and global scale of issues
Edge's perspective on Bono's political focus
Band dynamics: Fun, failure, and shared views
Antidote to negativity and human behavior
What drives bandmates nuts
Performer vulnerability and the open portal
Vulnerability in voice and public persona
Edge's core drive: Engagement and inclusion
Iterative songwriting process
Rewarding place to be in the band
Edge's guitar playing and Inside Man mode
Guitar cliches and opposition to expected sounds
Order, disorder, and reorder in music
Reinvention in contemporary music
New management team and curation
Unexpected places and new suggestions
Band reaction to new ideas
Proving themselves and avoiding specifics
Dada-like opportunities and absurdity
iTunes debacle and Paul's reaction
Experimentation and musician pay
Taking risks and failing publicly
Tour plans and shamanism
Shamanistic performers and post-truth era
Two types of silence: contemplative vs. cowed
Love and fear as the only two feelings
Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones
Challenging audiences without being obvious
Ticket prices and rich people's feelings
Middle-aged status and the band's future
Why Edge stays: The inner dialogue
Redesigning the band: Solo vs. U2
Commitment to the stage and past conflicts
Music as something more serious than entertainment
Credits and YouTube subscription
Sponsor: American Petroleum Institute
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