To be able to have; the money, the label support, fantastic producers, 40+ years of experience, positive energy from their fans, and the time to dive deep into music is every professional musicians wish. U2 was able to swim in that pond for many many years. I'm a bit jealous. Love The Edge and his dedication to his art!

I really appreciate and Love The Edge. He is historic and my hero

The Joshua Tree is still its own genre of music.

I'm an atheist myself and the names like Brian Cox and my personal hero Carl Sagan always hit home. Hearing The Edge talking about them with Brian being his close friend left me speechless! What are the odds! I have always admired The Edge since I was a teenager, but now, man, I wish I could just talk to him over a cup of coffee. Such a balanced, interesting and multidimensional human being. Thanks for this fantastic interview.

Even if U2 never creates or plays any new songs ever again, you can’t take away the brilliance of their expansive song catalog and illustrious career, though they seem to be doing just that on this new album retrospective.

Hopefully one day U2 and Rick can go back and finish that album... Window in the skies was a great song...

U2 GOAT! Until the end of the world!

I'm not going to knock U2 for carrying on longer than I would, but their best music was made when they did the ad-hoc, sit-in-a-room-and-figure-it-out together approach. They were a lot better when they weren't trying to write good songs. They're my favorite band. I just don't really feel their albums since "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb". They at least had 2-3 very good songs on every album up to that point. Since then, they have put out 1 or 2 decent songs per album that I never have an urge to go back to. But put on "Surrender" from War, or "A Sort of Homecoming" from The Unforgettable Fire, and I'll play them on loop for an hour and not get bored.

U2 is the reason why our band even exist . that simple

Excellent interview. A nice mix of poignant biographical detail of Edge’s early musical explorations end insights about his personal process and the way the band works collectively.

Love Broken Record; thank you! Am biased bc was a massive U2 fan in the 80s, but gotta say, listening to this I can’t think of another Rick interview where the interviewee matches Rick’s energy so well. They are both very much themselves. Love from MTL.

I'm really enjoying some of the new versions of the old songs!

I met and talked with the Edge in 1984 in San Francisco!

Their earlier transition albums are for me their most interesting work. That started with October (emerging from the success with Boy) and then The Unforgettable Fire (transitioning from War) and finally Achtung Baby (moving from the colossus success of The Joshua Tree). Those albums are nestled between more sound defining moments in their creative journey, at least for what first put them on the map.

Could you imagine Rick Rubin producing the new "more rock and roll" record coming after Songs of Ascent!!!??? Amazing interview!

For our generation, new video games were the closest comparison to that excitement he describes around having limited access to brand new records you wanted to hear as a kid but couldn’t buy so you did what you could to beg or borrow. That kind of hunger and appreciation has greatly diminished today with nearly all music being accessible at all times. It’s the hunger and appreciation that actually makes anything in life extraordinary & special.

What I wouldn't give to have a conversation with my Hero the Edge. Great chat love it and thank you for doing it.

Rick produced my favorite U2 song Window In The Skies, I hope the band comes back to it one day. Bummed it wasn’t on Songs of Surrender

Hey Alright! Good seeing this here today Peace ❤❤❤❤

Very good questions by Rubin and Edge is interesting to listen to. Nice interview indeed.

Great interview. He’s a well spoken person.

Rick, I’ve really been enjoying your podcasts. Glad to see you expanding your horizons.

….oh, and “Into the Heart” is such a great song. It has a taste of their phenomenal B-sides they released during their Unforgettable Fire and Joshua Tree days. Some of their B-sides (thanks in part to Eno) are other worldly. I really liked listening to the Edge talk about his interest in some scientific theories and his appreciation of how some of them can merge at times with forms of spiritual insight. The Edge has a bit more of “Sgt.Pepper” in him then I knew. I thought he was some what more fixed in place with a traditionally Christian perspective given the influences of his teenage years. That was enjoyable to hear.

Albums Pop and Zooropa are very underrated in terms of sonic creativity.

The idea of U2 re-recording intrigued me. But The Edge settled me on passing on it. I most liked the early U2 albums because I love the intensity. Chilling is not what I'm after. But I know that's just my own tastes and am sure millions will enjoy the album.

I love ❤️ U2 have done since my big brother said to me here you go mate listen to this it’s 91 I’m 10 and I’ve been given Achtung Baby and it blew me away the opening notes of Zoo station so I then got into their albums , for me everything they’ve done from War to All that you can’t leave behind are my favourite U2 Albums and it’s a hell of ride you know 7 albums all in the top five in album charts , but I’ve got to say everything since How to dismantle an atomic bomb, I don’t get it or understand what their trying to do every time I play U2 it’s always war to all that you can’t leave behind !!

U2 was my first concert in 1986.

"In a little while" And Van Diemems Land. Reach me

This is so good!!!!

37:50 up to 47.20 deeper layers of what we call: existence will be discussed ... I love when people share other deeper insights of life that are beyond mainstream :) ... I noticed they arranged a "break" after 9 minutes and 40 seconds of talking deep philosophy ... and bring the focus back to "normal musicians talk" ... I wonder if there was much more, and they decided to cut it out.

I think these reimagined songs would work a lot better if they were recorded live. That's what makes their simplified versions of songs special. I don't think it should have been a studio album. However, when they do these versions of songs live during a regular concert. It will be pretty awesome.

Well. It's basiclly one of my guitar teachers. Without the delay pedal (I didn't know). What an interesting way to learn.

when is u2 gonna put out a new album? i can't wait! it's been 31 years already, and i'm starting to wonder.

I think about acoustic U2 songs, and many titles come out: into the heart, the ocean, shadows and tall trees, tomorrow, seconds, drowning man, surrender, sort of homecoming... just the 80s hidden gems in their first 4 albums. For me, songs of surrender mean a surrender to that early inspiration that never will be back. They had enough with a 18-20 songs album. Everything else BORES me.

Wonderful Interview

U2 needs to go back in the studio with Rick or Danger Mouse. They need to stop making songs for the charts.

Why did Bono fall off the stage? He got to close to The Edge.

Hope the Edge discovers Rick Beato

Edge is the Erik Satie of guitar. Edit: Ha, Rick mentions Satie at about six minutes in.

Songs of Surrender is a mixed bag for me. Half of it works imo. I think It would have worked better as a 18 track album, keep all the stuff from Boy though, I thought that worked really well.

Thank you. Enjoyed this immensely.

It’s interesting how polarizaing this band is. Guess it’s either love or deep dislike . For me they were a fresh sound in 1980. I appreciate Sunday Bloody Sunday a lot. We’re still struggling over here.

Can someone please write the name of the new podcast there is anounced here please? I really don't understand & don't see it written in the info, thanks from Belgium

So… How about this U2 album produced by Rick Rubin

Heh heh, when I was 10 or 11, I saw Tower Records advertising the Grease soundtrack for $5 and I had $5 as a gift from someone. So I went to Tower Records to buy it on cassette but hit a snag. I discovered something called sales tax that day. I came back another day with $5.30 (CA charged 6% at the time).and that was MY first album.

Doing an album of "re-imagined" songs. How original.

Do it with all 4 members? Kind of. There isn’t much of Larry and a Adam to be found despite being 40 songs deep.

Collabolla!!!! 😀 🎸

The edge talked about a few books during this interview, can I find the list of these books somewhere?

Rick Rubin: "Amazing!" Coke Dealer: "... ... ..." Rick Rubin: "Amazing!"

Man, I still would love for Rick Rubin to produce a U2 album. I know they was trying to sometime ago, but I hope it will still happen.

U2 pablum since Pop, agree with many other posters here. Sad really, and the overwrought stage shows.

He never lost the Irish lilt.

I loved u2 when I was 10 , 1981 They just can't seem to get it together since pop record It makes me sad

Dear Edge, My name is Bob Guido and I would like to apply for the Record Producer role with U2. I'm excited about the opportunity to be considered for this role as I believe my character, personality, composition / arranging craft, production and engineering skills would make me a great fit for U2. Please reach out to me if you need any additional information. Kindest regards, Bob

❤

Some of U2's best and most underrated stuff in my opinion - is the stuff they did with Rick; Windows in the Skies and The Saints are Coming. A New U2 single is on the way this month - supposed to be a rocker. With U2 - I have learned to manage my expectations these days. They are capable of making big songs still - cause they still give a s***. No more punk rock attempts. That's like Madonna trying to do hip hop songs. Just doesn't resonate and or translate - to me at least.

Get John Frusciante back on again soon pls ✨

What a fabulous interview...Love both of these artists, Rick and Edge. Edge's guitar work has inspired me and I wish I could share that back with him in this track: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/ht2Tfa9jm6eppZc.html

Yo Rick, where's The Link to the SOS tracks?

Why did they have to move so fast? Album commitments to the record label? It doesn’t feel authentic. They’ve made an album of new material but set inside for the moment presumably because Larry is having surgery and they can’t tour it. perhaps they had yo release something and that is SOS.

I have been a fan since "Under a blood red sky" and spent countless of thousands of £s on U2 products and concerts but have refused to buy the last 3 albums. U2 seem to have become their own tribute band, reissuing material every year. I get the impression Larry is slowly distancing himself from the band. The time has come to hang up their dream of still being relevant and retire to their mansion's and grow old gracefully

I suspect 'Walk On' was lyrically influenced by the end of Hewson's father's life , the lyrics seemed to fit with that narrative more than I ever thought they were about that over-rated Burmese woman. u2 appear unaware of this, so perhaps it was Hewson's subconscious at work rather than deliberation? u2 should be a little wary of Hewson's tendency to idolize public figures in political causes he favours (as with that Burmese woman), particularly regarding Zelenskyy, it's not fully revealed quite whom or what Z. is yet personally, & I've seen a shadowy aspect of his nature in this regard. Supporting Ukraine's resistance to the tyrant in the Kremlin is a different issue. Pretty heavy interview this.

As a person who discovered U2 in 1982 and thought they were the only band that mattered throughout the 80s and 90s, I am just bored with most things they have come out with since the turn of century. And the energy of their amazing early work as men in their 20s doesn't need to to be "reimagined" by guys in their 60s. Its the most disappointing, un-rock thing ever.

Waiting to see Rubin with his usual brown nose routine.

Larry has been replaced by a metronome.

Just so you know, and as a friendly reminder: No matter where you live on earth, what color your skin is, what your religious beliefs are, or what language you speak, we are ALL immortal spiritual beings of light, who love and cherish each other beyond measure. Most of you, except a very tiny percentage of the population, have forgotten who you REALLY are. Where you’re actually from and that we are spiritual beings, who come from ONE (I AM) collective source of energy in the cosmos. Some believers will call this Heaven or just simply, the other side. It’s all the same, as far as I’m concerned, but some people find comfort with labels and there’s nothing wrong with that. Whatever makes you feel the most comfortable. Your consciousnesses and your soul are one in the same. Earth is NOT your real and true home. The place your consciousnesses goes when you die, pass away, or cross over, again whatever makes you feel comfortable, is all the same thing and it’s where our spiritual home really is. When you pass, It’s simply a matter of closing your eyes here and immediately reopening your eyes there, It happens instantaneously. Actually it happens so fast that most people that have NDE’s say that at first they didn’t even realize they were dead for a good while. Even the ones that died on the operating table in the hospital, for example, have said that they were wondering who was on the table in the room because they just felt that there wasn’t anyway that person could be them. Only when they don’t get a response from someone or suddenly walk through a wall is when they realize something happened to them. I know many people think I’m just making this up for fun, or I’m some kind of religious fanatic but I promise, you will eventually see what I’m saying is absolutely and undeniably 100% true, I have never played silly games with people about fantastical stories and I’m not about to start now. All I’m hoping to do is give someone hope that needs it or if someone has lost a family member or friend. Plus, with this ridiculous war Putin started would be a good time to give some comfort to those in need, maybe a soldier in the field perhaps. Everyone on this planet comes from the same realm of existence and has been around since the beginning of time. You have lived many, many lifetimes through reincarnation, hundreds or possibly thousands of times. More than likely, you have been every race, gender and lived from every time period. Again, you are immortal and have died many times throughout history. Every time your soul comes back to earth you pick your life’s blueprint of what you’re going to do and accomplish. Your not meant to just know this or remember this. You’re meant to discover this throughout life and on your own, learn lessons from it. If everyone was just told what they had to do, or easily remembered, you wouldn’t be able to properly get what you needed out of life. The core learning for each soul, is the ability to love one another and show compassion for each other. Until this is learned by each and every one of us, we will keep having to come back over and over again until it is learned. So please, please start now. For each of us, once you have accomplished this, you will only need to come back if you want to, and if you feel like you lack in some other area of your life. Please, 🙏 Stop the wars and fighting amongst each other and start to LOVE one another, as it should be. We are spiritual beings having a physical experience, not physical beings having a spiritual experience. Jesus spoke on the cross: ‘Father, forgive them…. Maybe we will be able to do the same one day. Forgive our enemies. I will get some comments saying some don’t deserve it, but that will be up to and between, you and God. If you want any other perspective/evidence or guidance on this information, and I suspect you most certainly will, watch the programs/episodes called: (The Ghost inside my Child), and NDE’s, (Near Death Experience) testimonials. Most of these are on KZfaq, but you can also find some on the premium’s as well. I watched all three seasons of complete episodes of ‘Ghost’, on my Prime subscription. All the NDE episodes, I watched on KZfaq. There are many different channels on KZfaq with different hosts, so try if you can to eventually watch them all. No two experiences are ever the same and all have different information that others won’t have. The more you watch and learn, the better of an understanding you will have of everything I have mentioned in here. Again, please watch as many of these videos/episodes as you can, because you will get a broader, more detailed understanding of what it’s all about and what’s to come. I PROMISE YOU, this will completely change your life for the better and you will NEVER fear death again. Some of you have said it’s the fear of pain you associate with death, you fear mostly and I get that as well. It will also give you a complete sense of peace and perspective for all things in your life. You will become exponentially more compassionate towards people and animals. You will learn to love yourself first and foremost and that in return, will help you learn to love others better as well. I completely understand if you can’t and/or won’t initially except some of what I’m telling you. But I do hope and pray that you will try to expand your mind from what you’ve been taught. Trying to get rid of what you were taught since birth and accept something completely new and what some have called, ‘fantastical’ isn’t the easiest thing to do, especially if you like the way things are in your life and don’t except change that easy. I myself have been accused by my family and friends for being what they have called ‘Pig Headed’. I’m not that way anymore, I have completely changed since learning the truth. I’ve had some ask me about the situation with babies or young children and cancer or illness, disease and ‘why god takes them at such a young age’. Saying, ‘how’s that fair, they didn’t do anything to deserve that’ or ‘why would they pick a life just to turn around and die’. I initially had issues with all that as well, but over time and learning, it became clear that sometimes the life blueprint that’s picked, is not always about you, but those you choose to be born unto. A mother or father may need to experience/learn humility or sacrifice and yes, sadly the suffering for the loss of a child, just to name a few. I know it sounds cruel but for whatever reason, it was ultimately necessary and Gods plan. We’re not meant to know or understand everything, that’s essentially in Gods hands. I was a devout nonbeliever and hardcore sceptic, (as most people are these days) when I first heard about this, but the more knowledge you learn and acquire, the more you will realize it all to be true and not just a ‘nice story’, as one guy responded back to me recently. Please don’t ignore this, it has everything to do with why you’re here. Some things are true whether you believe them or not. I would like to say though, that I’m not in any way an expert on the subject or claim to know everything, not even close. I encourage you to do your own research and come to your own conclusions. May God Bless YOU, the people of Ukraine 🇺🇦 and the world.

dave, like me, can't shred

He said edges there is only one 😂

Wonder if The Edge ever gives credit to John Martyn for inspiring his (over) use of the Echoplex guitar sound..

WWG1WGA is the Real U2.

Not an album for me, as a long time fan. With three less than affecting albums and a now a greatest hits residency, it seems like the lads are on the precipice of 'packing it in' and it is OKAY TO DO SO. For me, Actung Baby was their pinnacle.

I could see new album as "radical" in the original meaning of the word, "at the root", so it's going back to the root of the past songs. Not sure if the new album succeeds, though would need to listen to all the songs. Afraid they will be kind of Lounge versions of the originals.

"High School" ??? Edge?? C'mon, Primary School, Secondary School and 3rd Level tis called in Ireland 😂

Agree with some comments here that since ATYCLB or maybe HTDAAB they hadn’t release a great record as they used to through 80’s and 90’s, they’re my fav band but I really can’t stand their late material… BUT… as a live band… they still got it! I just saw some of the sphere… maaaan that’s mindblowing, got to see them on the joshua tree 30th anniversary, it was amazing. To understand U2 you gotta go live, they’re just the best live band!

the incessant graphic gives me a headache and i feel pre stroke....unsubscribe

It's about as radical as my Cat strutting. Reimagined for sure , but not much imagination in the rearranging. There are better "reimagined" U2 covers by kids on here. I am extremely disappointed, not one rearrangement is attractive..... really it's just Bono strutting without an audience, like my Cat does. Rick is massaging egos here, how can he possibly think its radical ? It's not!!! It's like watching the tv without turning it on, you can see yourself in it but it's a pale shadow. What the heck has happened U2 ?? Really, I've been a fan, I've got the T-shirts (a few signed by edge actually😊), I've paid my money and it was well spent but these guys have completely lost their mojo and "Mofo" 🤔. Just go out and give us your top 20 hits in original versions live and dangerous(?), stop trying to blind us with this garbage Edge, it's not working on any level and if it's just something deeply personal then just keep it for your living room then you don't have to come on trying to justify something that's truly brutal. God help us if it was Bono who was on with Rick and telling us all about it............. Meanwhile, several hours later.... wtf , w...t...a...F Bono & Edge ?.... almost 50yrs telling us that it's a four piece unit or nothing and now it's not. I once heard Bono telling some fans that the sum of all the parts (members) was greater than any individuals.... Well never had it been soo damn obvious. BTW... I can testify that Edge is a really nice bloke. But can I launch the MUGA campaign right now. Make U2 Great Again!!😢😢😢

That’s what satan is, something that is almost it but turns out to actually not be it.

2 things that are starting to tick me off about U2 after being a lifetime fan since 1983, I have to say playing shows without Larry to me is outrageous that's not really in the spirit of U2 and also doing 40 songs stripped down and lyrics changed to suit whatever arty farty thing that their into now is self indulgent and like so wish they could get back to rock'n'roll. I'm starting to get tired of this. The Edge will always be my guitar hero, but it's like the guitar playing is really starting to runout of gas. Sure there are moments, but like the iconic songs and sounds are starting to really fall off the wagon. ,

They are fine until they talk about physics

The Edge getting his nose brown with these fake carnivorous guru

Bla bla bla

What is the point of "reimagining" stuff already recorded? It is not "radical," it is boring and uninspired.

God, he's so boring. Edge sits between Neil Peart and Robert Fripp.

Terrible album. Complete copout. Release new material or step down.

The Edge should talk to Bono about changing his ways. Donating less than 2 % of all proceeds from Bono's charity is dishonest, and absolutely repugnant. I refuse to listen to their music for that reason.

The Edge has mangled all the songs. The problem is when the Edge thinks he's found out who he is and what he does. Starting to believe the hype. It's an appalling collection where the purpose of the songs has aside from about 3 or 4 been vampirically drawn away from them. It's been creeping up for a long time, but somebody needs to seriously take back control of the situation. The new versions are in danger of revealing that U2 are a production deal. He really seems to have tried to do a Sufijan Stevens, it's really not the point of their back catalog !!! Sure you can do Some days are better than others, but this is just terrible...!!!!! U2 need to do a humdrum album about like furniture catalogs, dirt on a windscreen, coffee filters, and stuff like that. Miami, laid back precise reflections. It's terrible to the point of making me into a critic. Probably that one where he was on with Jimmy Page and the nation army dude, was the beginning of the end !!!

Radical ??

They should retire now .

Yep, U2 achieved extreme pretentiousness in a new and refreshing way.

Radical? It's plain awful, like a sad friend's party.