S Poddar
Back in the studio, guitarist The Edge says, U2 are joined by longtime drummer Larry Mullen Jr. It’s exciting news for fans, especially since Mullen sat out the band’s groundbreaking Las Vegas Sphere residency due to injuries.
In a conversation with the BBC’s Jo Whiley, marking the 20th anniversary of How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, The Edge announced that drummer John Mullen is back in action, having recovered from surgery stemming from injuries to his elbows, knees, and neck. Good news all round: “he’s taking it easy,” says The Edge, “and doing fine. He’s great.”. He’s back in the saddle on the drums,” The Edge said, looking back at Mullen’s gradual return to form. This is perhaps the first time U2 is recording new material. The Edge referred to this as “crazy,” about the freedom, at this point, that he and Bono feel to create what they want. “We’re at that great phase where we don’t have to overthink it,” he said. “We’re just making music and loving that process. And then we’ll figure out where things belong afterwards, so there’s a couple of different projects.
Among these projects is new U2 material featuring Mullen in the studio. The guitarist added, “Definitely U2, with Larry, which is wonderful. We’ve got him in the studio… still doing some recording with us, and we’ll be doing a bit more of that before the end of the year.”
This new period of creativity and co-creation marks a new page for the band. Even though details about their work are yet to be known, U2 have signaled that they would be attempting to infuse their iconic sounds with new direction. Joining band members Bono and Adam Clayton, The Edge has experimented with new styles that he now humorously termed “sci-fi Irish folk music.
This will be a return after a tough couple of years. Drummer Larry Mullen opened up back in 2022 about how life as a performer had damaged his body over the years. He described the “damage along the way,” which he noticed during the COVID pandemic, thus getting him some time to get the current injuries sorted out. With surgery behind him, Mullen is gradually going back to his usual spot, and fans will be more than happy to hear him contribute to the music of U2 again.
This update comes during already eventful times for the band. Their Las Vegas Sphere residency, marked by dazzling visuals and immersive soundscapes, has set a new standard for live performances. The shows were lauded as a groundbreaking feat despite Mullen’s absence during the residency, demonstrating U2’s continued ability to push creative and technological boundaries.
New music with all four original members of U2 is sure to be in high demand. With few details available, experience in combination with Mullen’s return and new musical terrain ensures that the journey for U2 into the creative aspects is far from over.
As lead guitarist The Edge said, this is the moment when inspiration renewed, the moment when Mullen returned to the studio, and a vision that defines the band uniquely. Fans will look forward to their next moves because, surely, U2 continues to redefine what becomes possible in music.
