December 2015 Archives

Performs U2's "When Love Comes to Town" and "Every Breaking Wave" with Glen Hansard, Hozier, and more

By Matthew Strauss, Pitchfork Media

Since 2009, Bono has busked in Dublin on Christmas Eve for Ireland's homeless and housing charity Simon Community. Unfortunately, he couldn't perform last year, as he was recovering from surgery for injuries suffered in a serious cycling injury. This year, he returned to the streets to perform with an ensemble that included Glen Hansard, Hozier, and more. Watch them do U2's "When Love Comes to Town" and "Every Breaking Wave" below, via Stereogum.

U2 recently played a pair of shows in Paris for an HBO special. One night, they brought out Patti Smith to pay tribute to the victims of the November 13 attacks. The next night, they played two songs with Eagles of Death Metal.

U2's last album, Songs of Innocence, came out in 2014.

by Nita Lelyveld, LA Times

For years, U2 guitarist the Edge has sought to build five homes atop an undeveloped ridge in an unincorporated area of Malibu.

For nearly a decade, environmental groups and many residents have objected, saying to do so would needlessly despoil sensitive habitat and mar the visual landscape.

On Thursday, after numerous hearings of the California Coastal Commission, the Irish musician finally prevailed.

At a meeting in Monterey, the panel voted unanimously to approve David Evans' project -- although much has changed since the initial proposal in 2011.

Five houses will be built on the property in the Sweet Mesa area, each one more than 10,000 square feet and featuring its own swimming pool.

But where they once were to stand proudly spread out along the upper ridge line, the homes instead will be clustered closer together on a lower plateau.

"The bad guys never take a day off, and therefore we rock 'n rollers cannot either," band writes

by Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone

Eagles of Death Metal returned to Bataclan in Paris less than one month after gunmen interrupted the band's show at the venue as part of a series of terrorist attacks around the French capital, The New York Times reports.

Frontman and co-founder Jesse Hughes did not offer a comment to reporters gathered outside the venue, though he and his bandmates added flowers to the makeshift memorial site and read their own tributes. Eighty-nine people were killed in the attack at Bataclan, including the band's merch manager, Nick Alexander.

On Facebook, Eagles of Death Metal addressed their poignant return to Paris, which was prompted by an invitation to join U2 onstage at the end of their Monday gig at the AccorHotels Arena.

"The bad guys never take a day off, and therefore we rock 'n rollers cannot either ... and we never will," the band wrote. "We are incredibly grateful to U2 for providing us the opportunity to return to Paris so quickly, and to share in the healing power of rock 'n roll with so many of the beautiful people -- nos amis -- of this great city."

by Mesfin Fekadu, AP Music Writer

At an all-star event honoring the nonprofits ONE and (RED), co-founder Bono wanted to make one thing clear: "This is not a charity concert."

Instead, the U2 frontman wanted to celebrate the achievements in the fight against AIDS with the help of Miley Cyrus, Vice President Joe Biden, Sting and Stephen Colbert on Tuesday, which was Worlds AIDS Day.

"This is a celebration. This is an instigation. This is a provocation. This is not a charity concert," Bono told the audience at Carnegie Hall in New York.

Bono thanked his supporters, spoke about AIDS statistics and rocked onstage with the Edge, performing U2 hits like "Every Breaking Wave," ''Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of" and "Angels of Harlem."

Biden, who appeared with his wife Jill Biden, said Bono impressed him by convincing leaders to assist the advocacy organizations ONE and (RED), including the late Sen. Jesse Helms.