John Wilson ([email protected])
Tue, 8 Sep 1998 11:20:21 +1000 (EST)
Just some comments on the upcoming projects U2 are either rumoured or
confirmed to be releasing shortly.
I can't wait for the PopMart video to be released in the next couple of
months. I believe that this will be a big money spinner for the band as
everyone I know who went to the concert absoultely loved it....well worth
the money. I think these same people will buy a copy of the video to keep a
memory of one of the best contemporary rock shows, and the best damn set the
world has ever seen. U2 proved that they are even better musically now than
they were 10 years ago on this tour and many people have realised this, even
if they do not fully appreciate the new material the band has created in
recent years. POPMART Video awesome! Can't wait.
Well the Greatest Hits deal looks like it is pretty much going forward. I
can't really say that I have any particular feeling about this project.
Last week I said on Wire that I didn't think it would be something U2 would
do because they're more about creating new material than replaying the
past. However, I think they are at the stage now where they seriously need
to start thinking how their legend will be maintained in the future, such as
that of The Beatles and Rolling Stones. Not that I'm saying U2 is copying
these bands or anything.
U2 will benefit greatly from the realease of a greatest hits album covering
their first decade of material (1980-1990). This is the period they became
well known for various political and humanitarian stances and put out great
rock and roll music, familiar but distinctly U2. Many people will by this
greatest hits album in order to have a taste of each album from the 80's
that they either don't have or would like compiled on one record. U2 in the
80's is about a band growing up, taking on the world and absolutely kicking
its arse. This is why the first greatest hits album will sell well.
I'm not so sure about subsequent greatest hits albums though. When will
they occur? I think the second one should be released after the next album
has been out for a year or so, and cover albums from Achtung Baby to Pop,
definietly NO PASSENGERS!
Anway I hope that a greatest hits album will incorporate some good b-sides,
because U2 have made many.
Is Popmart just one video shoot of the Mexico concert, or is it a
compilation of songs shot from around the world on tour. I hope so, because
having a tribute to Michael Hutchence would only really work with MLK sung
from Sydney, where Bono ordered all the lights in the stadium to be turned
off and the 4 images of Michael burnt on the screen while a spectaculr
lightning show enveloped the stadium from a passing storm...it was eerie but
so damn effective!
Just a few thoughts,
'Rock and Roll doggie!'
Wilson.
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.0b2 on Mon Sep 07 1998 - 18:21:59 PDT