U2, the Irish rock band formed in 1976, is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a golden jubilee performance at Mount Temple Comprehensive School in Dublin, where the members first met. The band—Bono, the Edge, Larry Mullen Jr., and Adam Clayton—remains unchanged in lineup and roles since their inception, a rarity in rock history. To mark the occasion, they released their first full-length album since 2017, *Carnaval De Luz*, following two EPs: *Days of Ash* and *Easter Lily*.
In an interview with the New York Times, Bono and the Edge discussed their enduring partnership, friendship, and artistic purpose. The Edge emphasized that U2 still aims to write the best songs and deliver transcendent performances, blending rock ’n’ roll with activism, fine arts, and spiritual exploration. Bono admitted to a grandiosity shared by great bands like the Beatles and Nirvana, expressing a desire to bring metaphysical and gospel themes into the mainstream—a legacy he believes has been underrepresented for white artists in rock.
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing