U2's Bono: "We have to make hits to survive"

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U2's Bono: 'We have to make hits if we are to survive'
Source: uncut.co.uk

U2 frontman Bono has questioned the band's future again, declaring that if the four-piece are to "survive" they need to come back with an album of hits.

The singer admitted they have struggled to produce hit singles over the last few years especially on their last LP 'No Line On The Horizon' with the first single off the record 'Get On Your Boots' failing to chart in the Top 10 while the remaining singles didn't even get into the Top 20.

Bono made the admission as the band prepare to re-issue their 1991 seminal album 'Achtung Baby', which spawned 1991 UK singles chart-topper 'The Fly', on Monday (October 31).

He told The Sun: "We've been on the verge of irrelevance for the last 20 years, dodged, ducked, dived, made some great work, I hope, along the way – and the occasional faux pas.

"But this moment now, for me feels like really close to the edge of relevance. We can be successful and we can play the big music and the big places. Whether we can play music for small speakers of the radio or clubs or where people are living right now, remains to be seen, we have to go to that place again if we are to survive."

The singer recently said he would be happy if U2 wrapped up their career now. He added that if the four-piece do return it will be some time before they resurface.

[borneoman]

on the verge of irrelevance??? they're totally and utterly irrelevant

[ManicKangaroo]

This article is from last October

[TheThorne]

hate the term 'relevant' so condescending and precious. I was listening to the Radio 1 Review show when they played Gotye and 2 of them said it didnt sound 'relevant'. Frank Turner jumped down their throats it was hilarious. Oh and how right they were

[Earl Purple]

U2 have enough of a legacy that they can survive as a band touring and performing old songs without having to ever record anything new, never mind anything that sells large numbers of copies. The Rolling Stones have got by this way for a long time now.

[borneoman]

^but does Bono need more money??

[Razzle Dazzle]

they jumped the shark years ago, bono and his cocky self importance is badly misplaced, these days they are cringe worthy at best

[yeahyeahtron]

Feb 19, 2012 19:39:06 GMT 1 TheThorne said:

hate the term 'relevant' so condescending and precious. I was listening to the Radio 1 Review show when they played Gotye and 2 of them said it didnt sound 'relevant'. Frank Turner jumped down their throats it was hilarious. Oh and how right they were

If music was to be counted by what's "relevant" then every song released has to feature a DJ/producer a rap verse and an autotuned chorus... if that was the case, all the songs would sound the same and would you call that art??? Besides is that what you call music??? There's no such thing as relevant or irrelevant... Such people who come up with such statements are in a poor mental state, so they try to impose on other people... On the other hand I'm sure they're amongst the most wealthy... of course they don't understand what music's supposed to be, so they're like puppets of the music industry...

Calling Gotye irrelevant is like saying the sky is red... Against all odds it becomes a monster hit... What makes it stand out is the fact that it sounds completely different to what's out at the moment, yet these days it breaks on any radio station... What I'm definitely sure about is that STIUTK will stand the test of time while songs like Dappy's Rockstar are already forgotten..

[Earl Purple]

U2 were "relevant" in the 1980s by NOT sounding like other bands did at the time. I don't really like the term but you can think of it to mean "in the future will they be remembered for this work?".

That is not the same as whether it sells millions of copies.

[yeahyeahtron]

Mar 23, 2012 13:04:27 GMT 1 Earl Purple said:

U2 were "relevant" in the 1980s by NOT sounding like other bands did at the time. I don't really like the term but you can think of it to mean "in the future will they be remembered for this work?".

That is not the same as whether it sells millions of copies.

agreed however I do believe their album Achtung Baby will also be remembered... they had their moments ever since for instance "Beautiful Day", "Numb" & "The Sweetest Thing" were all decent songs however I don't think they stand up as their earlier material did!