For its last concert at the Sphere, U2 played “ One » with Daniel Lanois and a new version of « Don’t Dream It’s Over » in virtual duet with Neil Finn from Crowded House.
U2 closed the last evening of their residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas by playing the song “ 40 ” of War for the first time since 2016. This 1983 song closed countless U2 concerts throughout the 1980s, and it happened to be U2’s 40th concert at the Sphere since the venue opened in 2 billion dollars in September 2023.
The most astute fans knew that “ 40 came when bassist Adam Clayton and guitarist The Edge swapped instruments, which was a ritual in the band’s early days. “ There were 40 days and 40 nights in the desertBono told the crowd. What’s a man with a messianic complex going to do? Here’s a song we wrote in 40 minutes. I opened the sacred text of the psalm of David. I read it aloud. It was the text. »
Earlier in the evening, they invited the co-producer ofAchtung Baby, Daniel Lanois, on stage to play guitar on “ One “. Bono traditionally played guitar on this song alongside The Edge, but he has been unable to use the instrument since injuring his shoulder and arm in a bicycle accident in Central Park in 2014. Lanois and Lady Gaga (who joined the group for “ Shallow ” And ” All I Want Is You » in October 2023) are the only guests to have appeared on stage with U2 for the duration of the residency.
At the end of the mid-show acoustic set, where they performed “ Don’t Dream It’s Over ” by Crowded House (in recent weeks as a tribute to Alexei Navalny), but Bono announced to the crowd that something a little new was about to happen: ” The other day we received a wonderful email from Neil Finn, who wrote this stunningly beautiful song. Attached was a version of the song that he asked us to play whenever we wanted. It’s a new version that he made, and we’re going to try to record it. »
What followed was a stripped-down rendition of “ Don’t Dream It’s Over ”, in which Bono and The Edge performed a duet with Finn. “ Neither party has spoken to our record company (about releasing this recording), so this may be the only recording that exists to dateBono said. Please pick up your phones and send this to every freedom lover you know. You can also send it to those who don’t like it. There are a few. »
Now that the Las Vegas residency is over, U2’s plans are a little unclear. They haven’t released a new album since Songs of Experience in 2017. This is the longest period without an album since the start of their career in 1980. Drummer Larry Mullen Jr. is still on the sidelines due to back problems, although he was in the crowd for the front -last concert of the residence Friday evening.
Last year, The Edge told WECB that they were working on an album ” guitar focused “. “ This doesn’t mean we turn into AC/DC, but we will find a way to use the instrument in a new way as much as possible. It’s still my first love as an instrument. » He refused to give a timetable for the album’s release: ” We’re excited and we’d love to release them, but there will be a lot of options and other advice that we take on when to release new music. But just to say we’ve been very busy and very inspired creating new music. »
