U2’s Future Sound: Bono Teases New Album and Larry Mullen Jr.’s Innovative Comeback
U2 fans, get ready! After a lengthy wait, frontman Bono has dropped hints about the band's upcoming album, promising a sound that's firmly rooted in the future. Speaking at the Cannes Film Festival while promoting his upcoming Apple TV+ feature, 'Bono: Stories of Surrender', Bono shared exciting updates about the band's progress and drummer Larry Mullen Jr.'s return to form after his injury.
Since their last album, 2017's 'Songs Of Experience,' fans have been eagerly awaiting new material. Although they released the single 'Atomic City' ahead of their Las Vegas Sphere residency in 2023, a full-length album has yet to materialize. Bono acknowledged the anticipation, stating, "Nostalgia is not to be tolerated for too long, but sometimes you've got to deal with the past in order to get to the future and to the present. To get back to now is our desire. Get back to this moment we're in."
The good news? The band has been recording, but Bono declined to provide any details when the new record would be finished, simply stating "No". However, he emphatically confirmed that the new music sounds like "future" to him. "We had to go through some stuff, and we're at the other end of it," he added, fueling excitement among die-hard U2 enthusiasts.
Adding to the positive news, Bono provided an encouraging update on Larry Mullen Jr.'s recovery. Despite having to sit out the Las Vegas residency due to neck surgery, Mullen Jr. is back in the studio. Bono shared, "We've been playing in the room together, the four of us. And I can tell you he is completely through whatever storm of injury he's been through. His playing is at its most innovative. He's just all about the band. He doesn't want to talk about anything else, which is kind of amazing."
Bono also reflected on the unique dynamic of U2 as a band, noting the rarity of a group where each musician has such a singular and collective role. "By the way, being a band in a room where each individual musician has a role that's singular and collective is so rare because music is assembled these days."
While details about the new album remain scarce, The Edge previously hinted that it wouldn't be a "straight-up rock thing." Fans can also catch Bono in his upcoming documentary, 'Bono: Stories of Surrender,' premiering on Apple TV+ on May 30th, offering further insight into the frontman's journey and the band's evolution.
What do you think of U2 exploring a "future" sound? Are you excited for Larry Mullen Jr.'s return? Share your thoughts and predictions in the comments below!
