Sep
01
2010

Now Listening To...

38
Ever wonder what music the band are into, like, right now. This month, this week... today?  Here's a snapshot from Larry, Edge, Adam and Bono of what they've been getting into lately... and some reflections on being in U2.


Adam Clayton

Yeasayer - Old Blood
The Heavy -The House that Dirt Built
Tame Impala - InnerSpeaker
Band of Horses - Infinite Arms
Earth, Wind and Fire - Greatest Hits
Gap Band - Ultimate Collection
The Black Keys - Brothers
The xx - XX
Elbow - 'One Day Like This'
The Drums -The Drums
Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse - Dark Night of the Soul

On our 1st ever gig: '... it was one of the most amazing buzzes, a huge shot of adrenaline.  In that ten minutes a world opened up of how things could be. I had a great sense of power, being in front of an audience and seeing that there was a relationship, there was something that went off, an energy. At the time I thought maybe a riot had taken place - and maybe it had.'


Larry Mullen Jr.

Eminem - 'Love The Way You Lie (feat. Rihanna)'
The Stranglers - 'No More Heroes'
Talking Heads - The Best of Talking Heads
Fleetwood Mac - 'Tusk'
B.o.B (feat. Hayley Williams of Paramore)  - 'Airplanes'
Leonard Cohen - The Essential Leonard Cohen
The Clash - London Calling
Franz Schubert - anything
Sandy Nelson -  'Let There Be Drums'
La Roux - 'Bulletproof'

About the band: 'If there is something special about U2, it has nothing to do with us as individuals.  It's what happens when we get together on stage or in the studio.  It's very hard to describe and even harder to explain.  However, it's the only reason we are still doing this.  When we play music together, something happens.'


Bono

Nowhere Boy - movie by Sam Taylor Wood
Florence and The Machine - Lungs
MT. Desolation - MT. Desolation
Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
Broken Bells - Broken Bells
Villagers - Becoming a Jackal
Julian Casablancas - Phrazes For The Young
Tired Pony - The Place We Ran From
Interpol - Turn On the Bright Lights
Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes

About the band: 'We were still at school but in my head Mt Temple had become a rehearsal room.  I have great feelings of affection for it as a place that helped shape me, myself, my friends and my band, a real sense of pride that we were part of something progressive.  I really believed U2 were capable of becoming something extraordinary, I am not sure why.'


The Edge

Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid
TV On the Radio - Dear Science
The National - High Violet
Eminem - Recovery
Florence and The Machine - Lungs
Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
Broken Bells - Broken Bells
The Black Keys - Attack & Release
Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
The xx - XX

About the band: 'It seems impossible now to even contemplate an existence outside of music but I honestly don't know if I would have even become a professional musician if U2 hadn't made me believe it was possible.  We have been together all of our adult lives, which demonstrates an incredible level of commitment and solidarity between four people who decided to form a band...  all the reasons why it was a great idea at the time still hold true.  On our day we can still make great music together, come up with original ideas and perform emotional, exciting, spiritual shows bursting with the possibility that anything might happen.'
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38  Comments
surrenders - 25 September, 2010
Sandy Nelson...I'm impressed Larry
I loved Sandy Nelson as a young girl. He's the reason I first loved the drums and wanted to play them, but never learned unfortunately. Teen Beat, Big Beat Noise from the Jungle and the best one, Let There Be Dreams. Also love Broken Bells, Fleet Foxes and Eminems Recovery. Thanks U2.com for letting us in on what the guys like.
JuliaQ - 21 September, 2010
Same taste in music I like it
I am laughing because I just bought Eminem's Recovery and love it and have never been into Rap....Edge and Larry listening to the same even cooler...I think I will definately listen to Florence and the Machines and Arcade Fire after seeing their lists.
mphillips2 - 20 September, 2010
Great Insight
Thanks for the comments from the band - and yes, keep it funky - is there anything more "up" than Earth Wind and Fire??
karenbperetto - 20 September, 2010
LYRIC OPERA?
I am a huge fan...(my son signs for the lyric...I have had to learn to love opera) I have a question...How did Bono get involved with the Lyric Opera. I received a Lyric Operation catalog with his picture on the cover wearing a black Lyric Opera T-shirt. I would bid for a copy of that photo! Beautiful! ALSO, I took my beautiful baritone son and his wife to Soldier Field last year for 360 degress concert. We all had a fantastic experience!
karenbperetto - 20 September, 2010
Chicago Lyric Opera
I am a huge fan...(my son signs for the lyric...I have had to learn to love opera) I have a question...How did Bono get involved with the Lyric Opera. I received a Lyric Operation catalog with his picture on the cover wearing a black Lyric Opera T-shirt. I would bid for a copy of that photo! Beautiful! ALSO, I took my beautiful baritone son and his wife to Soldier Field last year for 360 degress concert. We all had a fantastic experience!
samz41 - 15 September, 2010
one but not the same
I love the overlap, which seems to come from different places. In the very early 90s, Edge listed 10 albums he was listening to in Rolling Stone. As a result, he got me into Neil Young, Sharon Shannon, and Bob Dylan, though not so much into KMFDM. I'm grateful for the turn on to Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse, Florence and the Machine, Arcade Fire, The Villagers, and get confirmation that The National and Eminem really are all that.
yfan - 15 September, 2010
Very Interesting
I love to know what goes on with U2 as everyday people (outside of work). Keep being true to yourselves it is your best color.
FergalofDerry - 15 September, 2010
Arcade Fire/U2 Double-Header Show!
The inclusion of Arcade Fire's "The Suburbs" on Bono & The Edge's lists means you guys need to organize a tour WITH Arcade Fire. I mean, imagine, "Ready to Start" followed by "I Will Follow", or the other way around, or back to front, or something.
NoahMG - 15 September, 2010
Noah Mullette-Gillman
Edge wins because he's listening to The National!
azkoneyboy - 09 September, 2010
behind the veil....
A nice peek inside the bands' musical tastes. I'm listening to 7 of the 10 on EDGE's list! Where's SCHOOL OF SEVEN BELLS though with his pal BENJAMIN CURTIS? I just saw MARK BURGESS of the legendary CHAMELEONS in LA this past weekend - they opened for U2 in 1981!
crisbaj - 08 September, 2010
KEEP IT COMING....
Hey! Great stuff, knowing what you guys are listening to... PLZ make that a regular installment on U2.com
zoosanna - 06 September, 2010
Very interesting - thanks !
Larry's selection comes closest to my personal taste. Very close actually... great taste of music, Mr. Mullen! :-)
Allegra - 05 September, 2010
Very interesting...
It looks like I'm closer to Larry's tastes more than the others. And La Roux's Bulletproof...love it! My son loves her too! Bring on the U2 dance mixes! I can't wait! Oh...and it looks like my husband is closer to Adam's tastes. Go figure...my husband is a bass player too!
AislingDreamGirl - 03 September, 2010
What a Surprise
I recently drove across the States and for my drive I decided to get a few non-U2 related cds. A full 6 of them (or more if you count the Schubert) match Larry's musical choices. Not a one from any other band members. Surprising, interesting, but really why I am shocked? It is Mr. Mullen who started the whole "musical journey" to start with. Thanks for sharing and keep up the great time, Larry.
buyer71 - 03 September, 2010
yes,yes yes
...and I love you for this reasons! You are true,smart, still exciting and another friend for a lifetime! Hope, nobody of the gang will apply to pension soon.Would miss your part of input badly.
nkokic - 03 September, 2010
Beautiful.....
Wow, Thank you for this. It is beautiful to see what is in your beautiful mind…nice….. It puts you even closer to us. :-) natasa
birdsong - 03 September, 2010
Thank you, Larry Mullen, Sr.
God works in mysterious ways.
zoocat - 03 September, 2010
Hip Hop Rap and U2
Recovery has helped me immensly to regain focus in my job and on a personal level due to tiresome niggly health issues over the past year, really cool to see Jay Z coming downunder with U2.
musicabona - 03 September, 2010
Meet U2 in the sound
Dear U2.com, thank you for revealing the musical tastes of U2 for us! For great artists like U2 it is very important to listen to different sorts of music to find some new inspiration again and again. This list of songs proves the band;s amazing open-mindedness for various musical genres and particularly Larry chose very different artists such as Eminem, Talking Heads, The Clash and even Franz Schubert. It is remarkable that a rock band discovered the beauty of classical music. I remember Bono saying that U2 is a punk band who tries to play Bach. "Magnificent" for instance is a homage to "Magnificat" of Johann Sebastian Bach. The ability to include a wide diversity of influences in the music is one of those reasons why U2 never cease to be relevant. Instead of resting on their well-earned laurels they still challenge themselves by searching for new kinds of expression. And I also love the very personal thoughts on being in U2. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR LETTING ME IN THE SOUND!
ZooTV8 - 02 September, 2010
As I suspected...
My musical tastes are most similar to Adam Clayton's musical tastes. Very cool. These are the kinds of posts I anticipate for my membership... Thank you! Lance A. Schart Chicago, IL USA
Carol8 - 02 September, 2010
good choice
Good choices on Interpol, Arcade Fire, and Florence there bono! Not really into Eminem but Rhianna is very talented
peterferris8 - 02 September, 2010
Boo Arcade Fire!
How you can you like Arcade Fire? I don't care if they're exposing soulful truths, they're tedious. Stop wasting your ears on them, Bono and Edge, and get some Editors on the record player!
Avion Espia - 02 September, 2010
Wow...
"However, it's the only reason we are still doing this. When we play music together, something happens." There´s a name for it, it´s called magic. =) SalU2
loveandpeace83 - 02 September, 2010
HELLO GUYS !!!!
I wanted to thank GROUP U2 we have unveiled their musical tastes .... I'm glad its few lines of each of the four members ... I love you and I say to you soon in PARIS KISSES loveandpeace83 (U2--forever^^)
klara_ondraskova - 02 September, 2010
Klara
lovely and interesting insight...
redcloud - 02 September, 2010
Arcade Fire
Ahhh, Arcade Fire, good taste :D
fuzzmeister - 02 September, 2010
OMG THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I HAVE BEEN WONDERING THIS FOR AGES! THANK YOU SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH U2.COM!!!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU BOYS!!! I LOVE YOU!
PRB216 - 01 September, 2010
Awesome Idea!
This is such a great feature!! It could be a great indicator to a possible future musical direction, a side collaboration, maybe new opening acts, or even just to get me giddy at the thought of us sharing the same favorites right now. Keep it up U2.com! Loving the new layout as well. =]
santiago2u - 01 September, 2010
Playlist!
Now let's get those cds that they are listening...oh yeah
Bajagirl - 01 September, 2010
Very cool
Might I suggest, the following local So Cal bands: Fitz and the Tantrums The Silent Comedy Beth Hart Nico Vega
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