IF U2 releases another sub-standard album will you see them live

[U2OnceAgain]

Its a negative when they have a new album out. A greatest hits tour is to raise money, thats all its about. I hope U2 retire before they become a greatest hits band. I can't wait to see Bono on Dancing with the Stars or Celebrity Apprentice.

This IS the rson that U2 has slipped so far, some fans would actually like to see them on a reality show. Oh how I miss the days when we used to starve for U2 information and when we got some it was so cool, now its everywhere and a bunck of BS. When did we all become 12 year old girls.

All tours are to make money on, since the major proportion of most big artists' income comes from playing live shows.  GH tours aren't necessarily negative, if the tours subsidise making new music - which is the most important thing to me.

And I think Bono would be pretty good on Celebrity Apprentice, or Celebrity Juice for that matter.

[Dali]

I'm not that much of a concertgoer and I have yet to see U2. But at the current ticket prices, that is out of the question. So all I can hope for from the band is a great new album.

[tigerfan41]

U2 will never do a theatre tour. It'll be stadiums or arenas. Anything smaller will mean they don't make enough $$$$$$. Plus they seem dysfunctionally obsessed with being the biggest band in the world with the biggest grossing tours. Modesty isn't a key feature of the U2 brand

They could play some theatre shows just for the hell of it, like the Stones do. 

They could always film a theatre show for future DVD release, which would bring in some money.

Exactly. The fans would love it, if taped it could make for a well selling DVD/CD, and it might even win U2 back some credibility and respect from critics.

What some bands do is play a concert where they play an album in its entirety, from start to end. In U2's case, they could easily do a Joshua Tree/Achtung Baby concert and I'm pretty sure it'd be a huge success since most of their best music comes from those two CDs. And I'd love to hear the whole AB album played live. And if they decided to do a 3 hour concert, they could probably even throw one other CD into the mix, perhaps whatever new one they come out with.

[Sugarcube]

U2 will never do a theatre tour. It'll be stadiums or arenas. Anything smaller will mean they don't make enough $$$$$$. Plus they seem dysfunctionally obsessed with being the biggest band in the world with the biggest grossing tours. Modesty isn't a key feature of the U2 brand

U

They could play some theatre shows just for the hell of it, like the Stones do. 

They could always film a theatre show for future DVD release, which would bring in some money.

Exactly. The fans would love it, if taped it could make for a well selling DVD/CD, and it might even win U2 back some credibility and respect from critics.

What some bands do is play a concert where they play an album in its entirety, from start to end. In U2's case, they could easily do a Joshua Tree/Achtung Baby concert and I'm pretty sure it'd be a huge success since most of their best music comes from those two CDs. And I'd love to hear the whole AB album played live. And if they decided to do a 3 hour concert, they could probably even throw one other CD into the mix, perhaps whatever new one they come out with.

This will never happen. The most you'll get out of our capitalist Irish chums is a stadium farewell tour. In this way they will add yet more money to their already massive money pot.

A smaller venue tour is a nice idea but it will never happen

[tigerfan41]

I don't expect it to happen, simply because few who are at U2's level are willing to downscale to such a degree. However, it's something that a lot of people want to see happen, and I'd like to think that U2, if they want to do something different, will consider doing a smaller scale thing. As I said, it would go a long way toward regaining some of the credibility they lost from critics/certain fans and provided they do multiple nights in one city, the biggest fans would get to see their favorite band even more up close.

[Tumbling Dice]

"There's more to life than a little money, you know. Don'tcha know that?"

- Frances McDormand, Fargo.

[Sugarcube]

I don't expect it to happen, simply because few who are at U2's level are willing to downscale to such a degree. However, it's something that a lot of people want to see happen, and I'd like to think that U2, if they want to do something different, will consider doing a smaller scale thing. As I said, it would go a long way toward regaining some of the credibility they lost from critics/certain fans and provided they do multiple nights in one city, the biggest fans would get to see their favorite band even more up close.

All they need to do to gain credibility is make great music again. They could learn some lessons from Coldplay in this regard

[TheSceneoftheAccident]

Never seen them. So yeah I would see them regardless of the album. I won't be there for the new stuff though, unless it's up to the U2 standard, which the last three albums haven't been.

I think this is a pretty self defeating idea, as they always play the new songs more vigourously, just like they did last tour and all the tours before. It's just a rule, they give their all to new songs. The big '80s classics have usually disappointed since Popmart, with the exception of Streets and Follow, and Bullet, up to and excluding Vertigo.

But as I said, I've never seen them before. So it doesn't matter how much performances of the classics stack up compared to how they were on Lovetown or Zoo TV. I'll still love them, because it's my first time. The songs from Behind and Bomb don't come across as exciting live songs. They all sound like they'd be rather uninspiring live to be fair. No Line had some songs which I imagine would be fantastic to see live - Magnificent, Moment of Surrender, Breathe, I'll Go Crazy (the live remix). But besides that, U2 of the 21st century haven't released anything that I'd say sounds exciting to see live. So yeah. If they're gonna release another album like their last three, I'd probably rather it end up like 360. I'd rather have a greatest hits tour than a tour of songs that just don't cut it live.

[Tumbling Dice]

I don't expect it to happen, simply because few who are at U2's level are willing to downscale to such a degree. However, it's something that a lot of people want to see happen, and I'd like to think that U2, if they want to do something different, will consider doing a smaller scale thing. As I said, it would go a long way toward regaining some of the credibility they lost from critics/certain fans and provided they do multiple nights in one city, the biggest fans would get to see their favorite band even more up close.

All they need to do to gain credibility is make great music again. They could learn some lessons from Coldplay in this regard

You mean, don't make the same mistake Coldplay made.

 

[mattressjedi]

Its a negative when they have a new album out. A greatest hits tour is to raise money, thats all its about. I hope U2 retire before they become a greatest hits band. I can't wait to see Bono on Dancing with the Stars or Celebrity Apprentice.

Yep. It's cashing in. And one thing U2 has always liked doing(even if they dont entirely succeed) is play new material. Theyve always been a "in the now" or forward band.
I would think they would realize that would be the end and would (hopefully) call it a day before they tarnish their legacy(at least I hope they would).

If all they're going to do is emulate the Stones from here on out, then I think that's sad.

How many songs off the new album did they play on the last leg of 360?

Hint: "even if they don't entirely succeed".

[Tumbling Dice]

Never seen them. So yeah I would see them regardless of the album. I won't be there for the new stuff though, unless it's up to the U2 standard, which the last three albums haven't been.

I think this is a pretty self defeating idea, as they always play the new songs more vigourously, just like they did last tour and all the tours before. It's just a rule, they give their all to new songs. The big '80s classics have usually disappointed since Popmart, with the exception of Streets and Follow, and Bullet, up to and excluding Vertigo.

But as I said, I've never seen them before. So it doesn't matter how much performances of the classics stack up compared to how they were on Lovetown or Zoo TV. I'll still love them, because it's my first time. The songs from Behind and Bomb don't come across as exciting live songs. They all sound like they'd be rather uninspiring live to be fair. No Line had some songs which I imagine would be fantastic to see live - Magnificent, Moment of Surrender, Breathe, I'll Go Crazy (the live remix). But besides that, U2 of the 21st century haven't released anything that I'd say sounds exciting to see live. So yeah. If they're gonna release another album like their last three, I'd probably rather it end up like 360. I'd rather have a greatest hits tour than a tour of songs that just don't cut it live.

If they breathed some new life into their oldies - through rearranging them - and play more rarities, they can still play them enthusiastically.  But SatDog is right about the way they vigorously approach new songs - until they vigourously drop them, that is.

[mattressjedi]

I don't expect it to happen, simply because few who are at U2's level are willing to downscale to such a degree. However, it's something that a lot of people want to see happen, and I'd like to think that U2, if they want to do something different, will consider doing a smaller scale thing. As I said, it would go a long way toward regaining some of the credibility they lost from critics/certain fans and provided they do multiple nights in one city, the biggest fans would get to see their favorite band even more up close.

All they need to do to gain credibility is make great music again. They could learn some lessons from Coldplay in this regard

I agree. Terrible since A Rush of Blood to the Head.

Timbaland? Hahahaha

[Tumbling Dice]

Its a negative when they have a new album out. A greatest hits tour is to raise money, thats all its about. I hope U2 retire before they become a greatest hits band. I can't wait to see Bono on Dancing with the Stars or Celebrity Apprentice.

Yep. It's cashing in. And one thing U2 has always liked doing(even if they dont entirely succeed) is play new material. Theyve always been a "in the now" or forward band.
I would think they would realize that would be the end and would (hopefully) call it a day before they tarnish their legacy(at least I hope they would).

If all they're going to do is emulate the Stones from here on out, then I think that's sad.

Ahem, excuse me, but the Stones have always enjoyed playing their new music too, even if sections of their stadium audiences don't enjoy it as much.

[mattressjedi]

Its a negative when they have a new album out. A greatest hits tour is to raise money, thats all its about. I hope U2 retire before they become a greatest hits band. I can't wait to see Bono on Dancing with the Stars or Celebrity Apprentice.

Yep. It's cashing in. And one thing U2 has always liked doing(even if they dont entirely succeed) is play new material. Theyve always been a "in the now" or forward band.
I would think they would realize that would be the end and would (hopefully) call it a day before they tarnish their legacy(at least I hope they would).

If all they're going to do is emulate the Stones from here on out, then I think that's sad.

Ahem, excuse me, but the Stones have always enjoyed playing their new music too, even if sections of their stadium audiences don't enjoy it as much.

Sure, your seat enjoys it.

Its a negative when they have a new album out. A greatest hits tour is to raise money, thats all its about. I hope U2 retire before they become a greatest hits band. I can't wait to see Bono on Dancing with the Stars or Celebrity Apprentice.

Yep. It's cashing in. And one thing U2 has always liked doing(even if they dont entirely succeed) is play new material. Theyve always been a "in the now" or forward band.
I would think they would realize that would be the end and would (hopefully) call it a day before they tarnish their legacy(at least I hope they would).

If all they're going to do is emulate the Stones from here on out, then I think that's sad.

Ahem, excuse me, but the Stones have always enjoyed playing their new music too, even if sections of their stadium audiences don't enjoy it as much.

You mean 99.99999% of the rest of the audience besides you and a handful of others? :p

[tigerfan41]

I don't expect it to happen, simply because few who are at U2's level are willing to downscale to such a degree. However, it's something that a lot of people want to see happen, and I'd like to think that U2, if they want to do something different, will consider doing a smaller scale thing. As I said, it would go a long way toward regaining some of the credibility they lost from critics/certain fans and provided they do multiple nights in one city, the biggest fans would get to see their favorite band even more up close.

All they need to do to gain credibility is make great music again. They could learn some lessons from Coldplay in this regard

I agree. Terrible since A Rush of Blood to the Head.

Timbaland? Hahahaha

This. I get depressed every time I think of the downward spiral Coldplay's music has been on since Rush/X&Y. Seriously, I want them to make great music because I'd love to be able to go to their concerts for many years to come, much like I wish I had been able to with U2 if I had become a fan sooner.