U2.COM : 'VATICAN ADVENTURE'

Edge has become the first rock star to play in the Sistine Chapel in Rome, taking part in the Cellular Horizons conference at the Vatican on regenerative medicine.

Backed by a choir of seven teenagers from across Ireland, Edge covered Leonard Cohen's 'If It Be Your Will'  along with 'Yahweh' and  'Ordinary Love' . He dedicated 'Walk On' to Pope Francis, "the people's pope", saying he was "doing an amazing job, long may he continue".

The student choir, led by Dawn Kenny, were part of Music Generation, an initiative - backed by U2 -  involving philanthropic, government and local community support, which provides music tuition for young Irish musicians.  

"When they asked me if I wanted to become the first contemporary artist to play in the Sistine Chapel, I didn't know what to say because normally when I climb on stage there's this other guy doing the singing," Edge joked. 'So I had to think before accepting, which I did, for at least 30 seconds."

"Being Irish you learn very early that if you want to be asked to come back it's very important to thank the local parish priest for the loan of the hall."

He then thanked Pope Francis and Vatican officials for "allowing us to use the most beautiful parish hall in the world."

The three-day conference, which was addressed by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, was organized by the Stem for Life Foundation to share ideas and treatments on the use of adult stem cells to cure rare diseases.  Since 2007 Edge has been a board member of the Angiogenesis Foundation which works to 'improve global health by advancing angiogenesis-based medicine, diet, and lifestyle.' Angiogenesis is the process of the growth of new blood vessels.

"I can tell this is a really cool audience, because normally when I mention angiogenesis people's eyes glaze over," Edge said. "But you all understand what I am talking about."
Introducing Ordinary Love, he paid special tribute to his father Garvin who passed away last week. 

"I want to dedicate this next song to my father, who passed away last week.He was supposed to be with us here today. He is here in spirit, represented by three of his granddaughters, Hollie, Arran, and Blue and his daughter-in-law Morleigh. My father lived for 10 years after being diagnosed with colon cancer, they were great years, made possible through the miracle of medical science. For this and all the amazing doctors and nurses who ministered to him right up to the end including, Dr William Li, and Dr Stan Natin, my family and I give thanks."  

Read more about The Angiogenesis Foundation.   

Read more about Music Generation. 

U2.COM : 'ON GUITAR, THE EDGE'

 Edge has collaborated with legendary guitar company Fender on the design and production of 'The Edge Signature Stratocaster' and 'The Edge Deluxe Amplifier'. "The Stratocaster is one of those instruments I've always had an affection for," he explains. "To me, it's a creative tool with a raw personality, a spirit of innovation and discovery that continues to drive my writing and guitar playing." In a beautiful short film produced for the launch, Edge remembers, as a teenager, hearing Rory Gallagher on guitar ("If I picked up a guitar I wanted it to be able to sound like that." ), joins Dallas Schoo on a visit to the design team at the Fender workshop and muses on what he's thinking when he picks up a guitar: "It's like, OK, I know there's songs in here i just need to find them…" THE EDGE STRATOCASTER 'The Edge Strat is engineered for top-notch performance FS-1 bridge pickup, stable quartersawn maple neck with "C"-shaped profile and 9.5" maple fingerboard, modern two-point synchronized tremolo bridge with pop-in arm and fully adjustable saddles. The Edge's signature is also included on the front of the large '70s-style headstock. The elegant guitar combines the classic curves, appointments and effortless playability of the Stratocaster with modern enhancements and materials to create a dream instrument for players and U2 fans alike.' THE EDGE DELUXE 'The Edge Deluxe signature model is an updated take on the classic '57 tweed Deluxe used to craft the Edge's sonic identity. This amp also produces the tone and articulation of the vintage Fender Deluxe amps that are an important part of the artist's complex multi-amp effects setup. This 12-watt hand-wired amp features modified circuitry for tighter low-end response and high-impact tone, a 12" Celestion® Blue speaker, custom-tapered volume control and altered component values that tighten up low-end frequency response. The Edge himself also hand-designed the special grille logo badge, which distinguishes the traditional tweed amp as a distinctive tool for guitarists everywhere.' More at Fender - www.fender.com.

THE EDGE PUTS HIS NAME ON NEW FENDER GUITAR & AMP

You're looking at close-ups of two of Fender's newest products, just announced this month: an Edge-branded Stratocaster guitar and amp.

Officially, they're called The Edge Strat and The Edge Deluxe, and Fender will have them ready for sale later this year. The guitar carries a list price of $1800 and the amp runs $2400, so these aren't for casual wannabes like me. The Strat's web page says it was "co-designed with The Edge," while the amp's web page says it was "tweaked to the discerning tastes of U2's renowned guitarist." If you're a guitar aficionado, those pages also have lots of technical specifications -- especially the guitar.

Edge and Bono both joined the Fender Board of Directors in 2014. At that time, Edge said he was "most interested in working with the Fender design team on some new ideas."

 (Thx to Stephen B. for the tip.)

source : http://www.atu2.com/

U2.COM : 'PLANET EARTH IS BLUE'

'Planet Earth is Blue'

U2 responds to the sad news of the death of David Bowie.

'As a teenager,' Bono says, 'Bowie was our Elvis. They shared the same birthday and they both took music somewhere no one thought it could go. It was his otherworldliness that took us all away. A sense that we are not just earth bound creatures...'

'The impact that Bowie had on the culture was immense,' says Edge.' Next to the Beatles he stands as the most influential artist of all time. He truly altered the course of music history.'

Willie Williams, U2's Show Director, remembered working with Bowie for three years.
'It was the personal things that were most impressive. He seemed to be acutely aware that some people (particularly Brits about my age) might likely become catatonic in his presence and genuinely went out of his way to put them at ease.
'We were all there when he pointed at us from Top of the Pops, suggesting that there might be more interesting plans for life than the ones mum & dad had in mind... the inspiration to send your old self into outer space and make up a new one.'

‘Epic’ Track Line-Up, Talks Release After The Tour

U2 is almost done with the tour and already a new album is in development, with Bono declaring 2016 as a release date.

Indeed, 2016 is a year for music as U2 confirmed that their new album, following the hard work they have put into their current tour, will be coming out and it's not such long wait after all. Talking to EW, U2 frontman Bono revealed that the band has already put together tracks for the new album, and soon after the tour is over, will focus on finishing up the new album that is set to be released next year. "We're well into it," revealed Bono. "Edge just came up with a cracker the other day! It's provisionally titled 'Tightrope'."

"It's very epic. It's very up," added the U2 frontman. "And, you know, that's probably what the experience has taught us: to be fully in the moment and that fun is respected, and joy is not to be let go of."

Currently, the band is finishing up working the tour of U2's previous album, "Songs of Innocene" and the "Experience Tour," but it seems the band is wasting no time to bring forth the new album to fans worldwide. However, a release date of the new U2 album has yet to be announced, but definitely following the tour completion of the tour, it will be revealed to be sometime late in 2016.

In an interview with TheBelfastTelegraph, U2 guitarist The Edge revealed that, "We haven't figured it out yet, but our intention would be to get it out sometime in the back end of next year."

"I would not rule out doing something similar with the next record," added the U2 member.

Meanwhile, previous reports have already revealed details of the upcoming new album and while still vague, U2 fans are expecting something more from the legendary rock band.

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Talking to Diffuser, U2's guitar tech Dallas Schoo shared details of the new album coming after the tour. He said, "This stuff is more rock and serious, if I may, than the ... 'Songs of Innocence' album."

New album announcements are expected after U2 completes everything connected with the tour and release date is expected sometime late next year.

source : http://www.youthhealthmag.com/

Bono busking on Grafton St. - When Love Comes To Town

"When Love Comes To Town" na Grafton St. enviado pelos nossos correspondentes em Dublin Márcio Marino e Fabiana Camargo:
Posted by U2 Brasil on Thursday, December 24, 2015

Setlist : 12/07/2015 AccorHotels Arena - Paris, France

1. 12/07/2015 AccorHotels Arena - Paris, France
   The Miracle (Of Joey Ramone), Vertigo, I Will Follow / Mother (snippet), Iris (Hold Me Close), Cedarwood Road, Song For Someone, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Raised By Wolves / Psalm 23(snippet), Until The End Of The World / Love And Peace Or Else (snippet) / Words (snippet) / The Divine Image (snippet), (Intermission - The Fly), Invisible, Even Better Than The Real Thing / Break On Through (snippet), Fashion (snippet) / Mysterious Ways / Burning Down The House (snippet), Elevation, Every Breaking Wave, October, Zooropa (snippet) / Bullet The Blue Sky / Ode To Joy(snippet) / 19 (snippet), Zooropa, Where The Streets Have No Name / California (There Is No End To Love) (snippet), Pride (In The Name Of Love), With Or Without You, 
   encores: City Of Blinding Lights / Ne Me Quitte Pas (snippet), Beautiful Day / I Remember You(snippet), Mother And Child Reunion (snippet) / Bad / Into The Mystic (snippet), One / Invisible (snippet), People Have The Power
   comment: This show has been rescheduled in the wake of a series of terrorist attacks on Paris; its original date was 2015-11-15. Eagles Of Death Metal, at whose concert 89 people were killed in one of the attacks, joined U2 to cover People Have The Power. U2 then handed over the stage to them and they performed their song I Love You All The Time to end the show. Since we only include songs featuring at least one member of U2, it does not appear in the above setlist.

Setlist : 12/06/2015 AccorHotels Arena - Paris, France

12/06/2015 AccorHotels Arena - Paris, France
The Miracle (Of Joey Ramone), Out Of Control, Vertigo, I Will Follow / Mother (snippet), Iris (Hold Me Close), Cedarwood Road, Song For Someone, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Raised By Wolves / Psalm 23 (snippet), Until The End Of The World / Love And Peace Or Else (snippet) / Words(snippet) / The Divine Image (snippet), (Intermission - The Fly), Invisible, Even Better Than The Real Thing / Break On Through (snippet), Fashion (snippet) / Mysterious Ways / Burning Down The House (snippet), Elevation, Ordinary Love, Every Breaking Wave, October, Zooropa (snippet) / Bullet The Blue Sky / Ode To Joy (snippet) / America (snippet) / 19 (snippet), Zooropa, Where The Streets Have No Name / California (There Is No End To Love) (snippet), Pride (In The Name Of Love), With Or Without You, 
encores: City Of Blinding Lights / Ne Me Quitte Pas (snippet), Beautiful Day, Mother And Child Reunion (snippet) / One / Invisible (snippet), Bad / Patti Smith's Gloria (snippet), People Have The Power
comment: This show was rescheduled in the wake of a series of terrorist attacks on Paris; it was originally scheduled for 2015-11-14. People Have The Power and the snippet of Gloria in Bad are performed with Patti Smith. Ordinary Love is played for the first time in over three months, for the two-year anniversary of Nelson Mandela's death.

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Setlist : 11/28/2015 3Arena - Dublin, Ireland

11/28/2015 3Arena - Dublin, Ireland
The Miracle (Of Joey Ramone), The Electric Co. / Send In The Clowns (snippet) / I Can See For Miles(snippet) / Live Forever (snippet), Vertigo / It's Only Rock 'n' Roll (But I Like It) (snippet), I Will Follow /Mother (snippet), Iris (Hold Me Close) / Hold Me Close (snippet), Cedarwood Road, Song For Someone, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Raised By Wolves / Psalm 23 (snippet), Until The End Of The World / Love And Peace Or Else (snippet) / Words (snippet), (Intermission - The Fly), Invisible, Even Better Than The Real Thing / Break On Through (snippet), Mysterious Ways / Burning Down The House (snippet), Desire, Angel Of Harlem, Every Breaking Wave, October, Zooropa (snippet) / Bullet The Blue Sky / Ode To Joy (snippet) / 19 (snippet), Zooropa, Where The Streets Have No Name / California (There Is No End To Love) (snippet), Pride (In The Name Of Love), With Or Without You / Love Will Tear Us Apart (snippet) / Shine Like Stars (snippet), 
encores: City Of Blinding Lights / Ne Me Quitte Pas (snippet), Beautiful Day / Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (snippet) / I Remember You (snippet), Mother And Child Reunion (snippet) / Bad / 40(snippet), 40