Album / Tour Updates from Bono via RTE

Original Story by Aaron J. Sams (2025-05-24)

Bono did an extended interview with Brendan O’Connor on RTÉ Radio 1 this morning. The full interview is available here. The interview focuses on Bono’s upcoming film Stories of Surrender, out next week on Apple TV+.

During that interview Bono was asked about what was next for U2. He replied, “I can’t wait for the next U2 album. And I know some of the songs. I’m very excited about it. I’m excited about the future. Perhaps dealing with the past gets you to the present. We have to get back to now, in order to think about the songs of the future.”

O’Connor asks about what the music on the new album is like, and Bono shares, “It sounds like four of us in a room at times. And at other times it sounds like something I’ve never heard before. The opening song, if it stays the opening song, is called ‘Go’ it’s an extraordinary introduction, I would want to be at that gig, I certainly want to be in that band.”

The conversation turns to Larry and Bono is asked if Larry is back with the band full force, 1000% in the studio. Bono shares that if anything Larry is more innovative, “More interested in being in the studio for long hours. just going over his parts. Realizing that’s how he speaks. He was very funny at the Ivors, very deadpan humour and all that, but his real conversation is the way he plays. I was saying are we ok? Are we ok here? And he goes ‘yeah. I feel amazing.’”

O’Connor then asks when the album will be out, if it will take another five years to put it all together now that they are back in studio working together on it? Bono answers, “We want to release some of this album. Why it might take more than a week to come out. We want to play some of it live. We’ve promised ourselves that since our first album. Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could just play this live? Maybe even play it live first, and then put out the album. That’s another thought we’re playing with.”

That’s a very different answer than his answer to date. Previously his answers have always suggested the new album would come first before we see the band live again. Bono shares, “Could we turn up somewhere unexpected? Yes. But announcing a big [tour], you know, you can’t do more mega…you can’t do a more sci-fi extravaganza than Sphere. So we have to figure out a new way of being on the road and meeting our audience and all of that.”

Asked again when it will be out Bono answers: “That’s what I’m saying. We don’t know.” Next year? “I don’t know.” Adam Clayton was similarly vague about future plans when asked about the next album and live plans, earlier this month. It does sound like a new album will be some time off, and may arrive in pieces, but it now sounds as if there are some thoughts of some live appearances ahead of that, but a full tour may wait until the album is complete.

The remainder of the interview focuses on his movie, his feelings on the conflict in Gaza, his family, his thoughts on the USA and far more. The interview ends with the airing of “The Showman” from his film. The whole interview runs for fifty minutes and can be listened to now on RTÉ Radio. Following the interview, O’Connor goes through some of the texts from listeners received throughout the show.

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