Poptican ([email protected])
Tue, 12 Jan 1999 19:45:39 -0800 (PST)
I have been a subscriber for several years now, but I never felt it
neccessary to post anything until now. I don't know exactly how to
explain this, but here goes.
My wife works for PolyGram Records in their marketing department and
last night she came home with a document in her hand which she handed
to me. I read it
through and afterwards sat down to transribe what the memo said:
----------------------------------------------
U2 released their first retrospective album this fall, The Best Of:
1980-1990. Their contract for the greatest hits package included room
for the band to release two
more "hits" albums. The second one will be entitled The Best Of:
1991-1999 and is set for an April release date. There will be no
b-side disc as there was with the
first retrospective album. The second best-of album will contain
obvious hits such as "One", "Lemon" and "Staring At The Sun" in
addition to several non-single
tracks. Plans are being made to release either "Acrobat" or "Gone" as
a single in advance of the album.
After the release of The Best Of: 1991-1999 U2 has decided to release
one more album before they end their career as a band and retire from
the business. The
decision to break up the band was mutual, with the strongest support
coming from Bono and Adam Clayton. Bono wishes to pursue acting in
independent films as
well as spending more time with his family. After the "fantastic
failure" of Pop-Mart Clayton feels that touring has become too much of
a strain and wants to relax
and enjoy the Dublin nightlife while he is "still young".
Currently U2 is in the studio recording new tracks with producers
Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois. These songs are quite a departure from
the material on Pop, but
they should seem familiar to the band: they are written and played in
the same style as the ones on The Joshua Tree. Their new album is
going to be a re-release of
the The Joshua Tree. This time around with the all of the original
tracks, the b-sides as well as the new material. The album is expected
to be about twenty-five
songs in length and will be released in a two-disc format on December
31st, 1999.
Bono has prepared a statement renouncing the Achtung Baby-Zooropa-Pop
era and admitting that U2 erred greatly when they abandoned the
honesty and openess
that was the trademark of the 80's U2. Bono blames the critics'
brutual attack on 1988's Rattle And Hum for his entire "loaded" and
"flashy" attitude in the 90's. In
addition he admits that The Joshua Tree is indeed U2's finest album
and that is why they chose it for re-release before the break up.
U2 has also planned a long tour to support the re-release which is
expected to kick off at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona, USA
sometime in the spring of 2000. Besides Tempe their will only be seven
more stadium dates on a tour dominated by multiple-night arena shows
similar to their "When Love Comes To Town"
Tour, during which they spent five nights in Dublin playing the same
venue. The tour is expected to sweep America during the Spring before
moving on to Europe for the summer. The fall of 2000 will be mainly
occupied by touring in the Third World, such as Latin America, Africa,
and mainland Asia. The winter will see a short
stay in Australia, New Zealand, and Japan before a major American
undertaking similar to their "Outside Broadcast" tour during Zoo TV
which will last up until
Summer of 2001 when the tour swings into Europe before ending in
Ireland during September. The actual stage production will feature a
small video screen similar
to the one used on Pop-Mart which will focus mainly on the band
onstage but will also be used to illustrate some songs such as "Where
The Streets Have No
Name".
After the conclusion of the tour, U2 intends to part ways forever.
---------------------------------------------
I cannot believe that this is happening. Didn't Edge always say that
U2's best material was in the future, not the past? I don't get it at
all and I am starting to get a sick feeling in my stomach. This must
mean that all that crap with Boyzone is true and that U2 is getting
ready to pass the torch before they depart. My wife is 100% sure that
what we read is true and that U2 is going, going and will soon be
gone. Man this is some serious stuff. I especially can't stomach this
stuff about the 90's U2 being inferior to the 80's U2 because I prefer
the New U2 over the old one. Wow.
Goodbye for now. I am sure that is going to cause an uproar on Wire so
I know that my goodbye won't be for very long.
goodbye you can keep
this suit of lights
I'll be up with the sun
and not coming down
I'm not coming down
I'm not coming down
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