U2 and Apple Music to our Ears !

Music to our ears ! If its true ! Apple and U2 have had a long standing relationship that started back with the iPod Red. Remember? 

The U2 Special Edition. Jet black, it bears a prominent red Apple Click Wheel and, on the flip side, the autographs of each U2 band member.

It came with an exclusive U2 poster and, of course, the signature white iPod earbuds and it included iTunes Music Store coupon you can use to get $50 off your purchase of "The Complete U2." As unique as the iPod itself, this digital boxed set brings together an amazing 400 U2 tracks. Songs span the band's celebrated career.

From "Boy" to "War" to "The Joshua Tree" to "Zooropa" to the soon-to-be-released "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb," it includes every U2 album and features over 25 rare and unreleased tracks.

So the idea that U2 and Apple would team up again for the release of iPhone 6 is really not that far off. U2 wants to reach the largest audience possible and wants to be tied into something hip and cool why not the iPhone 6 it seems to be the coolest item coming to market right around the same time as U2 releases their new single and expected new album, which we have great hopes that the album will be called "Lucky 13".

We have journalists in Ireland, the band has been rumored to have shot a music video in Dublin starring the next generation iPhone. We have tweets about the band located in LA right now and yet its all silent on the home front.

U2 Afternoon Buzz

U2 Buzz:

Remember what we reported earlier. Lots of hype and lots of buzz going on right now around the world about U2.

So Bryan MacDonald really got the world a buzzing today with this little gem of a tweet!

"U2's new album will come pre loaded on the iPhone 6... Expect a promotion onslaught from next Tuesday when it'll premiere on Dublin's 2FM”

Then adding this one "The single will be out on the 9th - the phone doesn't get to shops right away, Takes time."

So back in LA Apple has been working on a stage, which is normal considering the announcement on the ninth of this month.  

So we have the band possibly in LA, we have a massive stage a couple of tweets suggesting that we might have a release coming. 

Has this stirred up the fans yet?  

Confirmed or Not Confirmed ! 2014

Many sites have reported news of U2's album release dates and possible push backs and delays and Bono's writers block and blah blah blah. 

Previously reported Rolling Stones story suggested that the band pretty much would not make the date and almost over a month pasted and now RS reports a new album is in fact on the way this year. 

Now sources have told The Sun that “The U2 comeback is very much on for this year. This album has been a real struggle for them to make. It’s taken a long time and Bono didn’t find it easy.

But they’re very confident now and are convinced the wait has been worth it.” Also we have heard Bono playing music from his lovely home which he has done in the past.

However wait more news that this could be the year for the release the boys have been working on a video shoot and we also well as others have reported the news of some video production work.

What can say to you is that while all of us that follow the boys know that U2's machine is strong and alive and well. The marketing power around U2 has done some pretty amazing work. Yes some fans will say its not official until its on U2.com.

However sometimes we catch a worm from time to time ( yea like the reference ) and we ( U2 blog sites) release the news ahead of the official page.  Now of course that's that not saying anything negative about the official sites or fan pages. The U2 fan pages have sources that are willing to share their information outside of the marketing machine rules. Allow us a few minutes in the sun.  

The fact is that many news agencies report the possible release date of the next U2 project and at this point all of us are running on speculation and of course our sources which all could be wrong or right depending on the source and the information that is released to the public.

Our goal is not to create any more hype or cause anyone to post nasty messages on forums where the release date will be posted.  Lets look at the facts and from that information we can wait just like the rest of the world. U2 will release new music and all is right with the world meantime go back and listen to some classics and enjoy.

We are band from the Northside of Dublin

Just 35 years ago “Three” was produced as a limited run of 1,000 number copies.

It of course has been reissued a number of times since, about six more times.

However, it remains the most rarest U2 release ever and was later released on a CD in 2008 as part of the bonus disco with the reissue of Boy.

The track order determined by a listener poll on Fanning’s radio show; Callers chose "Out of Control" to be the A-side of the record, with "Boy/Girl" and "Stories for Boys" as runners-up, constituting the B-side of the record.

Shortly after the boys released the singles "Another Day", "11 O'Clock Tick Tock", and "A Day Without Me" before releasing Boy, in 1980.

U2 performed all songs from Three live regularly in the band's formative years. The earliest known performances of "Out of Control" and "Stories for Boys" took place in August 1979. "Out of Control" was written on lead singer Bono's eighteenth birthday."Boy/Girl" may have also been played at this stage: a song named "In Your Hand" may have been related in some way to "Boy/Girl" but no recordings of it exist.

The first confirmed performance of "Boy/Girl" took place in October 1979. All three songs were regularly performed on the Boy Tour in 1980–1981, although "Boy/Girl" appeared less than the others.

"Stories for Boys," which premiered at an unknown date in August 1979, was used as a concert opener a few times before being moved to late in the main setlist, nearer to "Out of Control", which was typically the last song of the main set. In mid-March 1981, the Three songs were united to close the main set.

"Stories for Boys" was first, followed by "Boy/Girl", which segued into "Out of Control". This trilogy lasted until the end of the tour.

"Boy/Girl" and "Stories for Boys" did not remain in the band's live repertoire long after the end of the Boy Tour. "Boy/Girl" was played three times afterwards, while "Stories For Boys" was initially frequently performed on the October Tour before it was removed from the setlist in late March 1982.

"Out of Control", however, remained in the band's live show for longer, rotating with "Gloria" as the concert opener on the War Tour and the first leg of the Unforgettable Fire Tour.

It then appeared twice late in the Unforgettable Fire Tour before returning sporadically to the setlist on the third leg of the Joshua Tree Tour and three performances on the Lovetown Tour. "Out Of Control" then had an absence from live shows of over eleven years.

It was played again on 15 May 2001 on the Elevation Tour. After initial infrequent performances proved popular with fans, it became more regular in the setlist as the tour progressed. It was retained on the Vertigo Tour for special occasions; it was played a total of nine times, including instances in Toronto and Los Angeles where U2 performed it with local bands. "Out of Control" made its U2 360° Tour debut in São Paulo.It made 5 other U2 360° appearances.

The song was also the closer to the Glastonbury 2011 set. The Vertigo Tour also saw part of "Stories for Boys" return to the setlist - Bono acknowledged its lyrical relationship with "Vertigo" by snippeting some lyrics from "Stories for Boys" at the end of "Vertigo".

This snippet was a regular feature of shows on the Vertigo Tour's first leg but was done only sporadically on the second leg and never on subsequent legs.

What’s up next for the boys 35 years later? Lucky 13 is on the way and the boys are wrapping up some promotional videos and pretty much putting on the finishing touches to get ready for another massive year ahead.

Confirmed U2 Video Shoot

Confirmed by city council that the boys from Dublin had paid to around the bridge and the bridge closed for a U2 project that cost around 2,000 Euros per day and lets not forget the VAT charges.

The council agreed to close the bridge last Sunday, which was the worst possible time because of the rail strike. 

Not a chance anyone saw the boys because of the amount of security yet that did not stop fans from hanging around to catch a view.

Now that the album is finished, we can expect to see more of the boys shooting videos possible interviews as well as kicking up the marketing machines.

Why Another U2 Album?

Lots of emotions are flowing around the future of U2. We all feel the same way. 

I thought about my personal views on the idea and while I was never really one to share my thoughts on the future of U2 and wondered why not.

Why not share what I thought about the whole matter. 

However before we venture down that path here's the comments that have been flying around about the band and their future.

A source commented that: “They never wanted to be the kind of band who just toured over and over again without new material.

“Bono would rather pack it in if it got to that stage.

“At the earliest they will hit the road at the end of this year and after that it’s hard to see how they could carry on.

“Bono is always getting offers to go solo and write his own album. That’s looking like a very likely option in the coming years.”

Earlier this year Bono admitted the band were living in fear of becoming irrelevant.

He said: “We were trying to figure out why would anyone want another U2 album?

“And then we said ‘Why would we want one?’ There was some unfinished business.

“We felt like we were on the verge of irrelevance a lot in our lives.”

The idea of irrelevance really bugs the crap out of me. I think that I have a voice and that sometimes U2 music speaks well for me. I think that the future does belong to be as much as it belongs to that snot nosed little pisser of a kid that comes up behind me.

The music is more about beliefs in something greater than me. A higher place, a freedom from what holds me back. Yet I know that in order to grow I must let go of yesterday and look towards the future.

U2 has give us a great collection of music that can stand the test of time. The themes still hold true today. While some say that God has no place in music others delight in the idea that that you can be a bad boy or girl and be saved daily by grace.

Sure I would love for U2 to grow older with me and carry me into those remaining years.  U2 does not owe me the fan anything, the music was made for me to enjoy.

The shows  allowed me to breathe life into a community of friends. I am not mad nor upset if this really is the end. I know others will not agree. However that's what makes the whole idea of being a U2 fan beautiful.

And love, it's not the easy thing
The only baggage, that you can bring
Not the easy thing, the only baggage you can bring
Is all that you can't leave behind

Maybe hidden in those words was the message that you can't leave U2 behind that that U2 will forever be within your hearts and isn't that the place you would want them to be most often.

So ask yourself why do you want another U2 album ?

Fireworks over Lough Sheelin (CHAMBERS BAY)

John Books who lives along the banks of Lough Sheelin spent most of the evening wondering and wading through the swamp to capture this video.

Earlier in the day, he spotted some luxury buses and some expensive looking cars driving around.  

By Tuesday morning, work crews were on site to dismantle the scaffolding used the night before to support the professional filming equipment. This was an expensive show of fireworks, that wrapped up just after midnight as crews packed up no sign of any of the members of U2.  

A great light show and if it was U2 working on their new video its going to be pretty amazing.

Confirmed! U2 will release in 2014

Rumors, Speculations and just flat out crazy suggestions that the band has past its time have created enough chaos to make U2 fans scream.  Here is the deal, as we know it.

When you have as many producers has this next project looks to have Ryan Tedder and Paul Epworth both engage on this project things tend to take a bit longer.  

The band has always said that they will release in 2014 however with the noise about Bono and his “writers block” and the possibility of calling it a day, it seems to have created enough noise that they could be over. 

Well we have checked. Sources at the label have confirmed that we expect a single in the September and a full release in November.

Now remember the boys do have a new manager so we can expect some changes on how the project will be released. What we know is that leaks are bad! Both Venezuela and Columbia Uni offices had their hand slapped for posting on social media  

So what about a tour, we have check our sources at some of the bigger stadiums and well this does not look so good in fact we should expect a smaller venue tighter sets and multi day shows from the group. Think MSG and not Meadowlands.    

The band is in a restart mode so expect a lot of comment about going back to their roots, which will include everything from marketing, packaging, music and of course touring.

All of us agree we are older and maybe wiser yet we still dream of the U2 of yesterday however maybe its better to think about the U2 of the future and what could become the most amazing year ahead.