June 2016 Archives

U2 guitarist The Edge talks about the Paris concert broadcast on HBO, security concerns, and the new album

by Melinda Newman, Billboard

On Dec. 7, U2 took the stage at Paris' Accorhotels Arena to make good for the second of its two shows originally postponed in the wake of the Nov. 13 terrorist attacks in the city that left 130 dead, including 89 at the Bataclan concert venue where Eagles of Death Metal were playing.

The concert, U2: Innocence + Experience Live in Paris, captured live for HBO by director Hamish Hamilton, was a breathing testament to the healing power of music, not only for the audience, but for U2 as well. "It sort of felt like it was part of a process of reclaiming live rock and roll in the city of Paris," says U2 guitarist The Edge in an exclusive interview. "We were by no means the first event post the Paris attacks, but for us it was very symbolic and very significant. We tried to get back as quickly as we could."

U2 invited the Eagles of Death Metal to join them on stage, marking the first time the California band had played since the attacks. "They were robbed of their stage, so we would like to offer them ours," U2 frontman Bono told the audience.

Calling from the studio where U2 is working on the follow-up to 2014's Songs of Innocence, The Edge talked to Billboard about that Paris night, increasing security following recent events such as the Christina Grimmie murder and the Orlando club massacre, as well as the new album and a possible new tour.

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf, June 14, 2016, Blu-ray.com

It was supposed to be just another night on the highly successful "Innocence + Experience" tour, taking the band U2 to Paris for a concert intended for cable and internet broadcast. Unfortunately, plans for entertainment were quickly set aside to deal with the November 2015 Paris Terrorist Attacks, an event that shocked the world and forced U2 to rethink touring plans. Not wanting to disappoint loyal fans and preserve their reputation as one of most socially and politically-minded bands of all time, U2 returned to Paris three weeks later, refusing to bow down to terror-minded folk and put on a big time rock show to help heal a shattered city. "Innocence + Experience - Live in Paris" isn't a radical reinvention of the U2 live event, keeping to the essentials of stage presence and widescreen sound, but there's a special level of power to the show, a searing emotionality that runs through the whole endeavor, with Bono, The Edge, Larry Mullen Jr., and Adam Clayton trying their best to bring joy and catharsis to the world through their exquisite song catalog and a brilliant visual display.

Bono joined Bruce Springsteen onstage at one of his shows in Dublin's Croke Park a few days ago and performed "Because the Night" with the E Street band on "The River Tour 2016" in front of 50,000 screaming fans! Watch this unique 2 camera mix from May 29, 2016:

We found a couple of other fan-made videos of this song you can also watch below:

Highly viewed/popular:

Robust audio and unique fan perspective: